What Are You Currently Reading? 2014

[Johannes U]

and so little time to read .
Wrong turn by Col Gian Gentile
The end of history and the last men by Francis Fukuyama
The soldier and the state by Samuel P Huntington
The Routledge Handbook of Insurgency and Counterinsurgency by Paul B Rich and Isabelle Duyvesteyn (eds)
The latest edition of The Journal of Military Operations (a big praise for that one)
The latest Edition of The Military Review
...

[carl]

I just finished War on the Waters by McPherson. It is a short history of two navies in the Civil War. It is a good overall narrative of the war on the salt and fresh water and does a good job of showing how important those operations were to the overall war effort, especially the huge and critically important contribution the Union Navy made to the defeat of the CSA.

One thing of interest from the small war point of view is the problem the Federal forces had in protecting their river supply lines from Confederate irregular forces. The rivers could be considered the MSRs of their day-MSR Tennessee and MSR Cumberland so to speak-and the steamers plying them were subject to attack via field artillery and small arms from the shore. What the Union Navy did was to arm and armor (lightly armored , hence 'tinclads') other river steamers and use them for convoy escort and patrol. An example tactic cited was a column of cargo steamers on its way with a number of tinclads interspersed. That sounds familiar.

http://www.amazon.com/War-Waters-Con.../dp/B0093A42XY

[jballard07]

Transforming Command by Eitan Shimar-

Focuses on Mission Command in theory and practice within the historical lens...held by American, British, and Israeli frames.

[Backwards Observer]

Telling It Straight by Marina Mahathir

interview

...

One Man's View of the World by Lee Kuan Yew

review

[Bob's World]

"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking." Albert Einstein

(For those who feel guilty about not being able to keep up with their reading - as I often do. If one must prioritize, keep up with your thinking instead, and read as you can on products focused on the questions that thinking generates in your mind.)

[Backwards Observer]

"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking." Albert Einstein

(For those who feel guilty about not being able to keep up with their reading - as I often do. If one must prioritize, keep up with your thinking instead, and read as you can on products focused on the questions that thinking generates in your mind.)

Hi Robert!

Regrettably, I didn't have time to read your entire comment, but I completely agree with everything you said; more people should learn to think for themselves! Especially the quote from Alfred Einstein. Focus is also important also as well, so true! I think

[BushrangerCZ]

"Siberian Education", Nicolai Lilin... probably strongly exaggerated, but relaxing read

[JMA]

Not sure anyone around here has reached that 'certain age' yet. So keep reading like there is no tomorrow.

Then there are those who plow through reading lists so as to tick off books read... while having missed the point or lessons of the book are the best reason to scrap these long course reading lists... unless the readers are required to present what they learned from each and ever one of the books.

"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking." Albert Einstein

(For those who feel guilty about not being able to keep up with their reading - as I often do. If one must prioritize, keep up with your thinking instead, and read as you can on products focused on the questions that thinking generates in your mind.)

[Firn]

Avoiding the Fall: China's Economic Restructuring

Pettis combines mostly basic macro insights and some original ideas with concise logic to connect many of the sometimes puzzling aspects of Chinas economy in a way which makes a great deal of sense. It is difficult to give much higher praise.

My personal views did conflict in some areas with some of his arguments. After reading his book it would be foolish to uphold most of them in the face of such evidence*. Unless the Chinese government does a brilliant job against considerable internal political pressure the GDP growth story can not continue as it did.

I truly hope that the China is able to transform as softly as possible and that the creditor citizien is no longer basically robbed by the debitor elite. In economic terms it would be also of considerable importance for the Western World, with countries like Germany being quite exposed and Australia basically relying on it. Who knows?

A nice interview of the author, but it lacks of course the compelling written case.

*The rural population is still very high relative to other countries with less massive malinvestment, but it should be quite a bit older.

P.S: The implications of Pittins analysis do not change the factor that China is and will very reliant on maritime trade. However the vast reform task ahead of the Chinese leadership might make some 'patriotic' actions more likely to divert some of the inner attention and energy.

[Backwards Observer]

Zen at War by Brian Daizen Victoria.

review - the zensite

...

Transforming Command by Eitan Shimar-

Focuses on Mission Command in theory and practice within the historical lens...held by American, British, and Israeli frames.

About halfway through this; good read. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Backwards Observer]

Article loosely related to Zen at War review above.

Was Japan An Aggressor Nation? by Tamogami Toshio

After the Greater East Asia War, many countries in Asia and Africa were released from the control of white nations. A world of racial equality arrived and problems between nations were to be decided through discussion. That was a result of Japan’s strength in fighting the Russo- Japanese War and Greater East Asia War. If Japan had not fought the Greater East War at that time, it may have taken another one hundred or two hundred years before we could have experienced the world of racial equality that we have today. In that sense, we must be grateful to our ancestors who fought for Japan and to the spirits of those who gave their precious lives for their country. It is thanks to them that we are able to enjoy the peaceful and plentiful lifestyle we have today.

...

Even now, there are many people who think that our country’s aggression caused unbearable suffering to the countries of Asia during the Greater East Asia War. But we need to realize that many Asian countries take a positive view of the Greater East Asia War. In Thailand, Burma, India, Singapore, and Indonesia, the Japan that fought the Greater East Asia War is held in high esteem. We also have to realize that while many of the people who had direct contact with the Japanese army viewed them positively, it is often those who never directly saw the Japanese military who are spreading rumors about the army’s acts of brutality. Many foreigners have testified to the strict military discipline of the Japanese troops as compared to those of other countries. It is certainly a false accusation to say that our country was an aggressor nation.
Japan is a wonderful country that has a long history and exceptional traditions. We, as Japanese people, must take pride in our country’s history. Unless they are influenced by some particular ideology, people will naturally love the hometown and the country where they were born. But in Japan’s case, if you look assiduously at the historical facts, you will understand that what this country has done is wonderful. There is absolutely no need for lies and fabrications. If you look at individual events, there were probably some that would be called misdeeds. That is the same as saying that there is violence and murder occurring today even in advanced nations.
We must take back the glorious history of Japan. A nation that denies its own history is destined to pursue a path of decline.

I didn't have time to read the entire article, but I completely agree with everything it said; more nations should not deny their own history! or deny! or something! Especially when not pursuing a path of decline! or pursuing! or whatever

[JMA]

Article loosely related to Zen at War review above.

Was Japan An Aggressor Nation? by Tamogami Toshio



I didn't have time to read the entire article, but I completely agree with everything it said; more nations should not deny their own history! or deny! or something! Especially when not pursuing a path of decline! or pursuing! or whatever

I think you misread the article.

[Backwards Observer]

I think you misread the article.

Please explain it to me.