What Are You Currently Reading? 2013

[Steve Blair]

Just finished: Blood, Steel, Myth: II SS Panzer Korps at Prochorowka

and about to start

Demolishing The Myth: The Battle of Prokhorovka

The large scale of the fighting highlights the significant impact of what may seem minor variations in TTPs between german Army (Heer) units and Waffen SS as well as the cumulative impact of combat fatigue and the impact of airpower.

On my Kindle I am currently getting through a very readable:

History of the Peloponnesian War

and have just finished:

The Heights of Courage: A Tank Leader's War on the Golan

More big war then small war at the moment.

Be curious as to your opinions about the two Kursk books. That's always been one of my favorite areas (Eastern Front).

[ganulv]

That's always been one of my favorite areas (Eastern Front).

As one of my professor used to write in the margins of my papers from time, “Are you sure that is what you mean to say?”

[Steve Blair]

As one of my professor used to write in the margins of my papers from time, “Are you sure that is what you mean to say?”

Maybe.....

[Bill Moore]

http://www.amazon.com/Gomorrah-Perso.../dp/0312427794

This book has been out for awhile, but I just recently got around to reading it. I give it two thumbs up a big toe and look forward to the author's next book on the Cartels in Mexico.

Roberto Saviano is powerful writer who knows what he writes about. His writing style very much reminded me of Michael Herr's writing style in his book "Dispatches" about the Vietnam war. Roberto writes about (although uses different terms) many topics of interest we discuss on SWJ ranging from global networks, criminal insurgencies (he points out that the mafia needs the state so it doesn't want to overthrow it, but it does want to control it and it does in much of Southern Italy), control of the populace through coercion and a prevailing fear, mixing legal and illegal business methods, etc. I think most will find it insightful and relevant to the study of Small Wars. A couple of excerpts.

Since I was born, 3,600 deaths. The Camorra has killed more than the Sicilian Mafia, more than the Ndrangheta, more than the Russia Mafia, more than the Albanian families, more than the total number of deaths by the ETA in Spain and the IRA in Ireland, more than the Red Brigades, the NAR, and all the massacres committed by the government of Italy.

Imagine a map of the world, the sort you see in newspapers such as Le Monde Diplomatique, which marks places of conflict around the globe with a little flame. Kurdistan, Sudan, Kosovo, East Timor. Your eye is drawn to the south of Italy, to the flesh that piles up with every war connected to the Camorra, the Mafia, the Ndrangheta, the Sacra Coronal Unita in Puglia, and the Basilischi in Lucani. But there's no little flame, no sign of conflict. This is the heart of Europe.

They cut off his ears, cropped his tongue, shattered his wrists, gouged out his eyes with a screwdriver--all while he was still alive, awake, conscious. then to finish him off they smashed his face with a hammer and carved a cross on his lips with a knife. His body was supposed to end up in the trash so that it would be found rotting in a dump. The message inscribed on his flesh was perfectly clear to everyone.

A discussion the author is having with his father,

"Robbie', what do you call a man who has a pistol and no college degree?"

"A #### with a pistol."

"Good. What do you call a man with a college degree but no pistol?"

"A #### with a degree."

"Good. What do you call a man with a degree and a pistol?"

"A man, papa!"

"Bravo, Robertino!"

If you read this book, or have read it already, you'll better understand why I posted this tribute to a heroic anti-Mafia fighter earlier.

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ad.php?t=18169

[omarali50]

Tombstone: the Great Chinese Famine http://www.amazon.com/Tombstone-Grea.../dp/0374277931

Its an amazing, moving book. And a must-read for anyone who still thinks the term "Maoist" is not a term of abuse. Though the Long March book http://www.amazon.com/The-Long-March.../dp/B008SMGP6A is perhaps even more of a mythbuster than this one.

[Red Rat]

Be curious as to your opinions about the two Kursk books. That's always been one of my favorite areas (Eastern Front).

I'll drop a further line in due course.

Blood Steel & Myth: Lavishly illustrated with maps and photographs and provides a day by day, almost hour by hour account of the battles of II SS Panzer Corps. Good statistics with sources and workings demonstrated (important when one considers the conflicting claims as to just who killed what with what at Prochorowrka). Some anecdotes of the soldiers' experiences.

Demolishing the Myth: Not as well illustrated as 'Blood Steel and Myth' and while the mapping is adequate it could be better. The content though is superb, setting the context extremely well and taking pains to explore commanders' backgrounds and experience often down to brigade level well. Perhaps because I am less familiar with the workings of the Soviet Army, but I am finding this book engrossing, hugely educational and very enjoyable.

Added by Moderator: See Post 31 for links to both books.

[Steve Blair]

I'll drop a further line in due course.

Blood Steel & Myth: Lavishly illustrated with maps and photographs and provides a day by day, almost hour by hour account of the battles of II SS Panzer Corps. Good statistics with sources and workings demonstrated (important when one considers the conflicting claims as to just who killed what with what at Prochorowrka). Some anecdotes of the soldiers' experiences.

Demolishing the Myth: Not as well illustrated as 'Blood Steel and Myth' and while the mapping is adequate it could be better. The content though is superb, setting the context extremely well and taking pains to explore commanders' backgrounds and experience often down to brigade level well. Perhaps because I am less familiar with the workings of the Soviet Army, but I am finding this book engrossing, hugely educational and very enjoyable.

Added by Moderator: See Post 31 for links to both books.

Thanks for the initial thoughts!

I've got this coming in the mail, which I'll update folks on if anyone's interested. SOG has always been an interest of mine, and this looks to be either good or hugely disappointing...

[ganulv]

I've got this coming in the mail, which I'll update folks on if anyone's interested. SOG has always been an interest of mine, and this looks to be either good or hugely disappointing...

Sure, keep us updated. That was “back when the Green Beanies were cool,” as a veteran of the 82nd who I once worked with informed me.

[bourbon]

Just finished Red Sparrow: A Novel by Jason Matthews, which is an espionage thriller centered on present-day Russia and the CIA vs SVR spy-war. This is an excellent novel from a debut novelist, who just so happens to have also served 33 years in the Directorate of Operations at the agency. Matthews was a denied area operations specialist and station chief in several locations.

In-short, Jason Matthews has taken his significant real-world expertise and gift for the written-word and created a first rate spy novel. I recommend Red Sparrow to anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre.

[jmm99]

WWI Marines - Wiki, Amazon, Youtube - movie is 1-1/2 hrs.

Regards

Mike

[gute]

WWI Marines - Wiki, Amazon, Youtube - movie is 1-1/2 hrs.

Regards

Mike

Years ago a bought an out of print book about Marines in WWI called Make the Keiser Dance. Look around for it and if it is something you really want to read, but can not find let me know and we might be able to arrange something.