What Are You Currently Reading? 2009

[slapout9]

Strategy MCDP 1-1 from the SWJ Library. Cain't believe I missed this. Practical very practical......might have to give up M.O.M.


http://smallwarsjournal.com/documents/mcdp1-1.pdf

[jmm99]

None of us are perfect.

You might consider these as well for an all-levels of warfare tutorial as seen by the Corps:

MCDP 1-2: Campaigning

MCDP 1-3: Tactics

MCDP 3: Expeditionary Operations

I expect you also know MCDP 1: Warfighting, which is the capstone.

I like the writing style of these USMC pubs - not quite Hemingway, but easy to read.

[slapout9]

None of us are perfect.

You might consider these as well for an all-levels of warfare tutorial as seen by the Corps:

MCDP 1-2: Campaigning

MCDP 1-3: Tactics

MCDP 3: Expeditionary Operations

I expect you also know MCDP 1: Warfighting, which is the capstone.

I like the writing style of these USMC pubs - not quite Hemingway, but easy to read.

I have, I just assumed the USMC Strategy model followed the Army,what is that saying about assume.

[slapout9]

The Maneuver Warfare Handbook by Bill Lind. Finally found a paperback copy for $14.95 instead of the 50 bucks for a hard copy. I always wanted to see what the controversy was over this document. I always try to get the original documents to see if the author really said or meant what people say he said or meant. So we shall see.

[William F. Owen]

Hamely's "Operations of War," the 1909 edition. Well worth it if you can find a copy. Google Books has it here

[Cavguy]

Just returned from a week in the UK for a conference. Read three good books on the plane.

Resolved to finally read Nate Fick's One Bullet Away and Craig Mullaney's The Unforgiving Minute. Both are similar in a number of ways - smart, articulate, idealist young men become officers, head to combat, and find themselves conflicted by the experiences it imparts upon them. Of the two, I enjoyed Fick's much better (also added some perspective to my earlier read of "Generation Kill") but both were good narratives. Fick's ability to articulate not only what happened but eloquently describe his feelings and reactions to it set his work far above Mullaney's. I found myself identifying with Fick quite a bit.

I remain disappointed that both of the above got out of the military, essentially because (they don't say it directly, but read between the lines), they didn't see their intelligence and insight would be appreciated inside the system if they stayed. Both officers found themselves too reflective and bothered by their experience which contrasted with most of their peers. I think they are not as alone as they perhaps thought they were. However, both had lucrative post-military options drawing them out given their education.

I finally read council member Tom Odom's Journey Into Darkness. Excellent, excellent read, and heartbreakingly frustrating. A book that should be read more widely than perhaps it is. Tom, I'm going to have to email you after I digest it some more. My hat's off to you and Stan.

Niel

[MikeF]

Just returned from a week in the UK for a conference. Read three good books on the plane.

Resolved to finally read Nate Fick's One Bullet Away and Craig Mullaney's The Unforgiving Minute. Both are similar in a number of ways - smart, articulate, idealist young men become officers, head to combat, and find themselves conflicted by the experiences it imparts upon them. Of the two, I enjoyed Fick's much better (also added some perspective to my earlier read of "Generation Kill") but both were good narratives. Fick's ability to articulate not only what happened but eloquently describe his feelings and reactions to it set his work far above Mullaney's. I found myself identifying with Fick quite a bit.

I remain disappointed that both of the above got out of the military, essentially because (they don't say it directly, but read between the lines), they didn't see their intelligence and insight would be appreciated inside the system if they stayed. Both officers found themselves too reflective and bothered by their experience which contrasted with most of their peers. I think they are not as alone as they perhaps thought they were. However, both had lucrative post-military options drawing them out given their education.

I finally read council member Tom Odom's Journey Into Darkness. Excellent, excellent read, and heartbreakingly frustrating. A book that should be read more widely than perhaps it is. Tom, I'm going to have to email you after I digest it some more. My hat's off to you and Stan.

Niel

Niel,

I concur. A memoir from MAJ Fick or Mullaney after company command time would have been much more impressive. Oh well. On their behalf, they did a good job of describing our life to the public given their limited experiences.

I'm gonna order Tom's book now .

v/r

Mike

[Spud]

Resolved to finally read Nate Fick's One Bullet Away

Just finished it today after having read Gen Kill a couple of years ago ... my thoughts on Nate Fick are exactly the same as yours.

Interestingly I picked up a H/C from a second hand store without looking too closely. Whoever the clown was who had it before me treated it like a text book and highlighted/annotated the text all the way through. .. I hate people that do that to books. What concerns me is some of the conclusions “Mel” draws. Linkages to Ataturk? Every section in which the moral decision conflicted with the tactical/operational decision is highlighted with random annotations like " War is a bitter fruit; a devil's egg, born by devilish politicians and high Government officials."

Thanks "Mel"

[Tom Odom]

On the professional side, I just finished Foot Soldier: A Combat Infantryman's War in Europe By Roscoe C. Blunt, Jr.

The book lives up to its name and that of its author; it is a blunt account of the infantry war immediately after Cobra (the breakout) until the crossing of the Rhine and surrender. The book is not without its issues; look at the reviews on the Amazon page linked above. Some of Blunt's stories seem far fetched; single handed combat against a King Tiger is but one example. There are others. As a memoir it is entertaining. As a historical account I have my doubts. Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe are also part of history.

I tentatively recommend it to all as a sample memoir; I got to read it as it showed up in a care package. You will, of course, have to decide for yourself.

On the lighter but entertaining and informative side, I am nearing the end of my Richard Sharpe (Sharpe's Rifles) reading festival. I have but 2 books and 2 short stories left to read out of the 25 books. The Peninsular Wars as put forth in the series are interesting and relevant to today's never-ending discussion of warfare. I have two more of the command group on them as well.

Best
Tom

[Van]

Tyl Ulenspiegel By Charles de Coster (also found on Google Books for free).

Not an obvious choice, but a bit of fantasy fulfillment about the Spanish abuses of Flanders in the Sixteenth century, and a Flemish peasant who pushed back. Being of Dutch/Belgian (Flemish; the family name used to be van Koert until we got to Ellis Island) descent, I am seeing where my sense of humor came from. But more seriously, themes of religious conflict, a heavy-handed foreign occupier, and the oppressed population pushing back make this relevant to the COIN theme.

[Graycap]

I'm also reading Tom Odom's "Journey into darkness".

Great book.

I'm at the Ntarama church. I've paused to reason about it. If possible.

Thanks Sir for your book.

Graycap

[davidbfpo]

Tom,

On the lighter but entertaining and informative side, I am nearing the end of my Richard Sharpe (Sharpe's Rifles) reading festival. I have but 2 books and 2 short stories left to read out of the 25 books. The Peninsular Wars as put forth in the series are interesting and relevant to today's never-ending discussion of warfare. I have two more of the command group on them as well.

I have a way of passing this comment to the author. I am sure he'd be impressed. Now, do you want the agency for sales in your AO?

davidbfpo

[Tom Odom]

I'm also reading Tom Odom's "Journey into darkness".

Great book.

I'm at the Ntarama church. I've paused to reason about it. If possible.

Thanks Sir for your book.

Graycap

Graycap

Thank you for that.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Odom]

Tom,



I have a way of passing this comment to the author. I am sure he'd be impressed. Now, do you want the agency for sales in your AO?

davidbfpo

David,

Please do. And tell him that Sharpe and SGM Harper must march again!

Best
Tom

[davidbfpo]

A slight furore - when the comments are read - over what books to read if you're going out to Afghanistan: http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawam....html#comments

Some are familiar, others are for deeper reading.

davidbfpo

[Spud]

Just capped of The Logic of Failure by Dietrich Dorner as part of the reading for the complex planning elective I'm currently doing.

Still not sure what to take away from all his research. It's either:

a) No matter how good your efforts are now, the unintended consequences of your intervention/action in 10 years will probably make the situation worse anyway; or
b) People are incapable of recognising impending failure when it is staring them in the face; or
c) Both of the above.

I think we're doomed

[Ken White]

I came to that conclusion years ago. Solution: drink more, worry less -- and I'm still here...

Though I have watched a number of the great and good (in their own minds) who told us we were inept, rapacious, depraved, greedy and so forth who also ate right, avoided the minor vices etc. depart this mortal coil.

[Zack]

Sounds like an interesting book I will have to check it out.

I'm now reading Plato's Republic (don't know how I avoided it for this long) and Wilson's Ghost by McNamara and James Blight.

[karaka]

I'm now reading Plato's Republic (don't know how I avoided it for this long)

There were several years where I read that book annually. It's wonderful, I hope you enjoy it.

[Zack]

There were several years where I read that book annually. It's wonderful, I hope you enjoy it.

I love it so far. Socrates is hilarious.