Vietnam: A New Historical Perspective

Triumph Forsaken overturns most of the historical orthodoxy on the Vietnam War and shows that South Vietnam was a vital interest of the U.S.  Mark Moyer's revealing "Triumph Forsaken"  provides many new insights into the unnecessary overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963. The coup negated the South Vietnamese government's tremendous, and hitherto unappreciated, military and political gains between 1954 and 1963.LBJ's subsequent troop buildup was instituted as the result of faulty assumptions and inadequate intelligence, making such a buildup the only means of saving the country.

Top Recommendation for December

Triumph Forsaken,  by Mark Moyar ( 2006 - 512 pp)

Alternative view of Vietnam as vital to U.S. interests and Diem as a savvy, wise and effective leader who had done much to improve conditions in Vietnam.

Vietnam: The Making of an Epic American Disaster

A Vietnam classic! From the first incursion of the French in Indochina during the 1800's to the final mortar rounds at the famous Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, Neil Sheehan weaves the tragic history of America's involvement in Vietnam. In "A Bright Shining Lie", Sheehan describes how the French built its empire in the Far East in the 1800's and then lost it to the Japanese in the 1940's. Along the way, he introduces the great Ho Chi Mihn and those who, played such a massive part in the vast, tragic deception that took place. All Ho Chi Minh wanted for Vietnam from the beginning was simple independence.

Top Recommendation for November

A Bright Shining Lie,  by Neil Sheehan (1989 - 986 pp)

Pulitzer Prize winning historical fiction about patriotic U.S. Lt Col John Paul Vann in 1962 Vietnam and the tragedy that destroyed the country, the lives of countless Americans and thousands of Vietnamese.

FDR and The Birth of the Liberal Idea in America

Where did 'Liberalism' and the assortment of  liberal ideas that exist in the U.S. today come from? From the Alphabet soup of acronyms like the WPA, the AAA and the NIRA, David Pietrusza paints a picture of America during the Great Depression that brings FDR int focus for all. In "Roosevelt Sweeps the Nation", Pietrusza introduces the entire panoply of FDR's appointees, their foibles and fine points, and weaves in one famous famous FDR quote after another. Hated by many, loved by millions FDR started as a conservative and became the father of liberalism in America. He tried one new program after another until he found the combination that worked

Top Recommendation for September

Roosevelt Sweeps the Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Idea, by David Pietrusza (2022 - 450pp)

This is a book worth reading twice. In beautifully written prose, David Pitrusza captures the essence of FDR as he was coming into the Presidency in 1938. His character as a man with two sides...a totally charming personality that could capture the hearts and minds of Americans during the Great Depression.

In the Heart of th4e Sea - The Tragedy of the Whaleshi9p Essex

On November 20, 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry whale.  Within minutes, the twenty-one-man crew, including the fourteen-year-old cabin boy Thomas Nickerson, found themselves stranded in three leaky boats in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with barely any supplies and little hope.  Three months later, two of the boats were rescued 4,500 miles away, off the coast of South America.  Of the twenty-one castaways, only eight survived, including young Thomas. Author  Nathaniel Philbrick provides a vivid account of how the crew survived at sea and the aftermath when they returned to Nantucket. Island.

Top Recommendation for March

In the Heart of the Sea, the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex,  by Nathaniel Philbrick(1999-288 pp)

The true 1819 story that inspired Moby Dick. An unforgettable tale of endurance and survival for 3 months in open whale boats, 2000 miles offshore in the Pacific.end

Rowing and the Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics

The sport of rowing comes to life in this spectacular history of the sport. Daniel James Brown's "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics", In 1936 the World was on the cusp of a world war. Daniel Brown brings together several threads, the sport of rowing in the U.S., young men growing up in the Depression, Hitler's film maker, Leni Riefenstahl, and of course the great competition in the U.S. that made it all possible.

Top Recommendation for February

The Boys in the Boat,  by Daniel Brown (2013 - 416 pp)

Marvelous, inspiring story of the U-Washington coach and crew at Hitler's 1936 Olympics and their quest for gold against a heavily favored Nazi machine.

The Modern World of Energy, Politics and Power

Dan Yergin continues to tell his story of the greatest saga of our times - about the world intersection of oil, gas, politics and energy. In " The New Map: Energy, Politics and the Clash of Nations, Yergin gives a crash course on the way the wold now works, from seismic changes in the prices of oil and gas to the search for new sources of energy in nuclear, solar and wind . The "New Map" is a valuable history lesson for anyone interested in how these forces work together,  with particular relevance to Russia and the Ukraine.

Top Recommendation for January

The New Map: Energy, Climate and the Clash of Nations, by Daniel Yergin (2022 - 520 pp)

Daniel Yergin is one of America's foremost experts on energy and energy policy. He has already written two great books on the history of oil, The Prize and The Quest. The New Map is an education on the geopolitics of oil and gas in the world over the past 10 years and is an invaluable step toward bringing us all up to speed on new technologies such as wind and solar.

Valor in the Pacific - A Marine's Miraculous Escape

Lt Bill Harris led the escape of a few good Marines from the Japanese and the Bataan Death March. Surviving in the jungles of the Philippines they made their way to the Sulu Sea and southward. In "Valor: The Astonishing WW II Saga of Defiance against the Japanese", Dan Hampton's paints a picture of starvation, escape and capture by the Japanese ending with imprisonment on Honshu at the notorious Ogaku-Sojii prison camp where the jailers held sway over their lives.Their release in 1941 was nothing short of a miracle.

Top Recommendation for December

Valor: The Astonishing WW II Saga of One Man's Defiance and Indomitable Spirit, by Dan Hampton (2022 - 341 pp).

When Lt Bill Harris joined the Marines in 1939, it was to fight. Instead, he spent the next 5 years escaping from the Japanese in the Philippines, finally sailing to Morotai in New Guinea. Ultimately, betrayed and captured, he spent the last 6 month of the War in a Japanese prison camp on Honshu. This excellent book, captures the historic moments of WW II in the Pacific and tells the story of one man's desire to be free and re-enter the war as a combat soldier.

The Code Breakers of WW II - America's Great Secret Weapon

The code breakers of WW II ultimately were the ones who helped most to win the war both in the Pacific and Europe. Elizabeth Friedman was a key part of the American code breaking team. In "The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A true Story of Love, Spies and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies, "Jason Fagone weaves a mesmerizing story of this young American and her amazing skills in dealing first with smugglers on the high seas,  the Japanese JN-25 code and ultimately Germany's  Enigma.

Top Recommendation for November

The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies, by Jason Fagone (2018 - 482 pp)

Elizabeth Friedman was 24 when she left Iowa to find work in Chicago. Her life transformed when she took a job first as a young code breaker in the 1920's tracking bootleggers for the US Coast Guard and blossomed into a career breaking codes for the US during World War II. With her husband, an equally gifted code breaker, the two cracked the Japanese codes and help the Brits with Enigma.

The Devil Dogs - The US Marines Finest Hour

World War II in the Pacific gave the US Marines one of their finest moments to shine on the world stage. Due to the short time for planning, the landing of the Devil Dogs on Guadalcanal was a superhuman feat on the part of Admiral King in Washington. And, many of the great battles of the Pacific raged around them, turning the tide of the war in America's favor. One Japanese general commented after their retreat, Guadalcanal "was the graveyard of the Japanese army". The "Devil Dogs" went on to fight on Bougainville, New Britain and Peleleau

Top Recommendation for October

Devil Dogs: King Company, 5th Marines; From Guadalcanal to the Shores of Japan, By Saul David (2022 - 628 pp)

Saul David's masterful account of the 5th Marines in WW II is an easy to read account of their many heroic conflicts from Guadalcanal to Bougainville and New Britain. Great description of the unbelievably short planning window (5 weeks) from inception to invasion at Guadalcanal, the impact of the famous Goettge Patrol, and Japanese Colonel Ishiki's humiliating assault at the Tenaru River.

Yellowstone - Saving America's Greatest Natural Wonder

Yellowstone was the world's first national park, created during the Presidency of Ullyses S. Grant and popularized throughout the world. In "Saving Yellowstone, Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America, Megan Nelson weaves the history of Yellowstone with the politics of reconstruction during 1870's America and gives a fascinating glimpse into some of the great characters of the times, Ferdinand Hayden who led the first survey team, Jay Cooke, the famous investor who built the Northern Pacific and many others.

Top Recommendation for September

Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America, by Megan Nelson (Mar, 2022 - 252 pp)

A wonderfully written, entertaining history of the discovery and exploration of Yellowstone, the first government expeditions to expand our knowledge, plus the  financing of the Great Pacific Northern Railroad by entrepreneur Jay Gould, The Great Northern greatly expanded westward expansion opportunities and brought the railroad to within 50 miles of Yellowstone.

Nimitz at War - America's Indispensable Admiral

Chester Nimitz was one of the great American heroes of World War II. Always calm and clear-headed, he led with quiet confidence. In "Nimitz at War, Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo," acclaimed naval historian Craig Symonds, draws a portrait of Nimitz from his early days behind a desk in Washington to the moment he took command of the U.S. Pacific fleet and led it to ultimate victory

Top Recommendation for August

Nimitz at War, Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo, by Craig Symonds (2022 - 466 pp)

Chester Nimitz was the great American Admiral that guided the U.S. Pacific Fleet to victory during WW II. His quiet leadership style inspired all around him and led to many of America's victories. From the Battle of Midway to Guadalcanal and other victories across the Pacific, Nimitz was unflappable and earned the respect of all.

Freezing Order -  Global Money Laundering in Putin's Russia

American hedge fund manager, Bill Browder, had the inside track on Putin's financial empire. From money laundering to massive private yachts owned by Putin's Oligarchs, Browder uncovers the flow of money worldwide and exposes Putin's private world. In Freezing Order,: A true Story of Money Laundering and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath, Browder exposes how wealth was accumulated by those few lucky enough to be on the inside with Putin and those unlucky enough to incur his wrath.

Top Recommendation for June

Freezing Order: A True Story of Murder, Money Laundering and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath, by Bill Browder (2022 - 336 pp)

A fascinating work by someone who understands the workings of the Russian economy. Browder exposes how far corrupt Russian officials and business people will go to defend their ill-gotten wealth, and how foreign lawyers, lobbyists and public relations firms enable them. He highlights the urgency of addressing the global plague of money laundering.

Red Notice - Murder and Intrigue in Putin's Russia

In 2005, American hedge fund manager, Bill Browder,was Russia's largest foreign investor. His lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was murdered for exposing a $230 million fraud committed by Russian government officials. Browder's "Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder and One Man's Fight for Justice", unveils the mafia-like nature of Putin's Russia in all its breathtaking scope and horror. Along the way, Browder has become a human rights crusader and earned the undying hatred of Putin and the Oligarchs.

Top Recommendation for May

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder and One Man's Fight for Justice, by Bill Browder (2015 - 419 pp)

From the opening scenes of  the murder of Bill Browder's lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, Red Notice reads like a spy thriller, but it's all true, important and a reflection of the way business is conducted in Russia and abroad. A fascinating, heart stopping account of how to take on Vladimir Putin.

 Quagmire in the Making - A Young Nation Flexes its Muscle

The Spanish-American War is forgotten history in the US and so is America's sorry tale of its first foray into nation building. Greg Jones's "Honor in the Dust - War in the Philippines, and the Rise and Fall of America's Imperial Dream" captures the jingoistic spirit of the times and tells the story of the American conquest and occupation of the Philippines, a venture that become mired in politics back home and an eventual quagmire with the abandonment of many American ideals.

Top Recommendation for April

Honor in the Dust, by Greg Jones, (2012- 448 pp)

Little known account of the abysmal US - Philippine relations after the Spanish-American War in 1898, US military occupation, brutal repression, and fierce Philippine resistance. This should have given some insights into how the US should have handled Vietnam.

Winston Churchill - Always Irascible,  Ever Thoughtful

We all know Winston Churchill as the consummate statesman, but few knew him better as a considerate, loving employer that the many women who worked for him and cherished all of his foibles. In "Working with Winston - The Unsung Women Behind Britain's Greatest Statesman", author Cita Stilzer compiles the recollections of the many women under his employ during the tumultuous War years and beyond. All were highly qualified and withstood the intense pressures at 10 Downing. Above all we see Winston as a kind, thoughtful benevolent employer who earned the undying respect and admiration of all.

Top Recommendation for March

Working With Winston - The Unsung Women Behind Britain's Greatest Statesman, Cita Stelzer ( 2021 - 393 pp)

A loving portrait of Winston Churchill as statesman told by the many young women who worked for him. Churchill was more that just a great statesman with a wide range of hobbies that involved all of his assistants. A portrait of Winston as both a demanding employer...and considerate father figure to all.

Typhoon Cobra and the near destruction of the U.S. 3rd Fleet

In December of 1944, Adm "Bull Halsey" is America's most colorful, 'fighting' Admiral. His successes are legendary, but so are some of his greatest errors. Bob Drury and Tom Clavin tell the gut-wrenching story of "Halsey's Typhoon: An Epic Storm and an Untold Rescue". Halsey tried to refuel his fleet of including his destroyers and sadly lost 3 of them. 800 sailors drowned as a result, more than in any other Naval combat at sea.

Top Recommendation for December

Halsey's Typhoon, by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin (2007 - 352pp)

Tragedy of the monster typhoon that sank 3 U.S. Navy destroyers, drowning 800 sailors of Halsey's 3rd fleet during a risky at-sea underway refueling operation.

The Invention of Nitrogen - The Revolution that Fed the World

In 1905, two German chemists, Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, created the process for manufacturing nitrogen, which is commonly used in agriculture today. They revolutionized life on earth and fed the planet. Nitrogen is also used to produce explosives. Thomas Hager's sensational "The Alchemy of Air: The Scientific Discovery that Fed the World, but fueled the Rise of Hitler",  tells how they  won the Nobel Prize, but brought down the Third Reich.

Top Recommendation for November

The Alchemy of Air: The Scientific Discovery that Fed the World, but Fueled the Rise of Hitler, Thomas Hager (Sept, 2021 - 368pp)

Today the world's agriculture runs on nitrogen. But, in 1905, it was not so easy to come by. German chemist Fritz Haber invented the process for creating it, and Carl Bosch created the manufacturing process. Nitrogen is also used in the production of explosives and by World War II, Germany had created a 3 square mile production facility with 35,000 workers - a key target of Allied bombing.

Electric City - Henry Ford and Thomas Edison at Muscle Shoals, Al

Henry Ford was at the top of his game when he decided to build an electric generating complex at Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River in Alabama. Along with his mentor, the great Thomas Edison, he used all his political might to pursue this dream.Thomas Hager's "Electric City: the Lost History of Ford and Edison's American Utopia"  provides a fascinating glimpse into the grand thinking and backgrounds of these two heroes of the age. Ford's proposal to build a hydro-electric generating station was rejected by congress and he withdrew his bid.

Top Recommendation for October

Electric City: The Lost History of Ford and Edison's American Utopia, Thomas, Hager (May, 2021 - 262pp)

A terrific history of the 1920'a and the Tennessee River Valley area. Ford and Edison had joined forces to build a modern utopia at Muscle Shoals along the Tennessee and created the historic town of Florence, Alabama. Power politics ultimately sank the deal, but it is a fascinating story about money, power and a great social engineering experiment.

WW I in Flanders - A portent of the Great War to Come

Flanders was the most dreaded place to be in all of the First World War, probably of any war in history. The Great Powers used all of the advances in technology to inflict horrors on each other. One of our favorite authors, Winston Groom, in "A Storm in Flanders: The Ypres Salient " tells of those who fought and the 1 million who died in this climactic struggle. The Ypres Salient, Passchendaele, the Christmas Truce of 1914 are all the stuff of legend and the mosaic of great armies locked in deadly combat

Top Recommendation for September

A Storm in Flanders,  by Winston Groom (2003 - 288pp)

Superb narrative writing by a top historian about the initial German invasion of Belgium, fighting in the Ypres salient ovver 4 years, infamous Passchendaele.and Christmas Truce of 1914

Twilight of the Gods - Final Days of World War II - Pacific

Ian Toll's 3rd book of his masterful trilogy on World War II - Pacific. No author has compiled a history on World War II - Pacific to equal the breadth and depth of this momentous and varied conflict. Ian Toll's "Twilight of the Gods: War in the Pacific 1944-1945" provides the high drama of the Burma campaign, Battle of Leyte Gulf, Okinawa, plans for the invasion of Japan, the Russian invasion of Manchuria so long ago and so forgotten, and the final battle of the War - Houtou, Manchuria.

Top Recommendation for July

Twilight of the Gods- War in the Wester Pacific 1944 - 1945, by Ian W Toll

This spectacular book (the 3rd in Toll's great trilogy) reads like a novel and provides an accurate account of the last days of the War in the Pacific and Japan's final capitulation under great duress. Great detail on the battle of Leyte Gulf including the fateful decisions of Ozawa and Halsey...and terrific accounts of the bombing of Japan, the Russian invasion of Manchuria and Japan's final surrender.

The Cuban Missile Crisis: When the Cold War Almost Became Hot

Not even President Kennedy knew of the immense danger. The Cuban Missile Crisis had begun and Kruschev and the Russians were hell-bent on placing nuclear missiles on Cuba. Peter Huchthausen served on board the U.S.sub Blandy and his book, "October Fury", details the harrowing scenario that confronted Kennedy. Four Russian subs, each armed with a nuclear missile, with orders to "fire" if provoked, were held back by cooler heads in a Soviet Captain and a Moscow staff officer who resisted pressure to do the unthinkable.

Top Recommendation for June

October Fury,  by Peter Huchthausen (2003 - 288 pp)

Chilling, head-to-head confrontation between U.S destroyers and nuclear-armed Soviet subs with orders to fire if provoked that was narrowly averted by a courageous Soviet sub Captain...and a Soviet staff officer in Moscow.

Six Frigates and the Tumultuous Birth of the US Navy

After the Revolution, the US Navy consisted of privateers and merchantmen. The debate to form a US Navy took center stage in the halls of Congress. And in 1795, work began on six Frigates that were the most powerful of their class of any navy in the world. Ian Toll's fascinating "Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the US Navy" provides a sweeping description of the building of "Old Ironsides" and the other 5 US Warships and chronicles their exploits along the Barbary Coast and their heroic performance in the War of 1812.

Top Recommendation for March

Six Frigates: The Epic Story of the Founding of the U.S. Navy,
by Ian W Toll (2008 – 592 pp)

Navy Buffs will love Six Frigates. Great overview of the U.S.N.’s first 6 warships and the famous battles they fought. The USS Constitution v. HMS Java etc.

Winston Churchill and The Last Great Hope of Civilization

A sweeping tale of Winston Churchill and his family during the worst moments of World War II beginning with the Blitz of London in 1940. Erik Larson's, "The Splendid and the Vile", covers the most poignant moments of the war and focuses on the intense pressures Churchill faced in leading the  British people. Essential to Britain's success was American participation and eventual entry into the War which came about with Japan's fateful attack on Pearl Harbor. Pamela Churchill's romance with Averell Harriman takes center stage as a major family drama.

Top Recommendation for February

The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz,
by Erik Larson (Feb, 2020 - 608pp)

A gripping, suspenseful chronology of the life of Winston Churchill and his family during the climactic years of the blitz, when so much was at stake and so much was uncertain. Churchill's first year as Prime Minister involved decisions that affected all of Europe and Western Civilization.

Four Immortal Chaplains and The Sinking of the Dorchester

In the dead of a bitterly cold winter in the middle of the North Atlantic on February 3, 1943, a German submarine torpedoed and sank an American ship, the USS Dorchester, with 900 on board. Only 230 survived. Dan Kurzman's. " No Greater Glory",  The Sinking of the Dorchester, tells the wrenching story of the attempt by Four Chaplains, all if different faiths, to save and console crew members as the ship went down. With arms linked, they said final prayers and went down with it. The Four Chaplains have been immortalized on U.S. postage stamps and with a beautiful chapel at the Philadelphia Navy Yard

Top Recommendation for January

No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in WW II, by Dan Kurzman  (2005 - 288 pp)

On the night of Feb 3, 1943, the SS Dorchester with 900 on board was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. This is the story of four American Chaplains of all faiths who gave their lives helping those on board to survive.

The Last Days of Night - The Epic 1888 Battle Between Edison and Westinghouse

In the heart of the 1888 Gilded Age, Thomas Edison has won the race to the patent office for the invention of electricity, but arch rival George Westinghouse is not far behind. Engaging a young, untested lawyer named Paul Cravath Edison sues Westinghouse for $1 billion. Cravath enters into a battle of wits between these two geniuses that puts him in the high society of New York. Along the way, famed inventor Nikola Tesla plays the role of spoiler in the battle to electrify America.

Top Recommendation for December

The Last Days of Night: A Novel, Graham Moore ( Nov, 2020 - 384 pp)

The world of the late 1880's in New York comes alive with this gripping mystery about the epic clash between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse for the control of the invention of electricity. Young, untested lawyer Paul Cravath is the go-between who reveals a world of intrigue in the highest levels of Society with genius inventor Nikola Tesla a the heart of it all.

America Comes of Age - Six Weeks that Saved the Nation

ON September 15, 1814 Francis Scott Key awoke to see the American flag still flying over Ft. McHenry during the British siege of Baltimore. Steve Vogel's comprehensive, thoroughly enjoyable "Through the Perilous Fight: Six Weeks that Saved the Nation" tells of the nefarious British Adm Cockburn, the invasion of Washington, burning of the Capital and attempted attack on a well defended Baltimore. Ft McHenry flew the two American flags made by local Mary Pickersgill, at the direction of Fort Commander Maj George Armistead.

Top Recommendation for July

Through the Perilous Fight, by Steve Vogel (2013 - 560pp)

Engaging, character-driven narrative, with battle-by-battle descriptions, great maps of the British maneuvers by sea, the attack on D.C and final retreat at Baltimore.

Thurgood Marshall - Murder, Mystery and the Birth of the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund

On June 13,1967 Thurgood Marshall, one of the pre-eminent Black lawyers in the U.S., became the first Black American appointed to the  Supreme Court. His 1951 defense of "The Groveland Boys", 4 black teenagers in FL accused of raping a white girl, was tried in the Supreme Court. Gilbert King's outstanding "The Devil in the Grove" recalls all the tension and danger of this nefarious era in Florida's Jim Crow history. Marshall went on to try the landmark Brown vs the Board of Education in 1963 and founded the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Top Recommendation for June

The Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Birth of a New America, by Gilbert King (2013 - 464 pp)

In 1949 a young Thurgood Marshall waded into Florida's Jim Crow country to defend 4 Black teenagers accused of raping a white girl. A corrupt local sheriff and the KKK did not deter Marshall from seeking justice for these young men in a case  he took to the Supreme Court.

The Making of Young Winston Churchill

Candace Millard, author of the highly  popular "Destiny of the Republic" and "River of Doubt", presents Winston Churchill with all his youthful exuberance and confidence and introduces us to The Boer War and his first duty station. Churchill was defeated on the field of battle, was imprisoned in Pretoria. His subsequent daring escape became the stuff of legend and helped  propel him to political office as Minister to  Parliament from Oldham, Lancashire.The rest is history.

Top Recommendation for May

Hero of the Empire: The Making of Winston Churchill, Candace Millard (20166 - 375 pp)

Great history of Winston Churchill and the Boer War where he suffered one of the great defeats of the war and was imprisoned. A daring escape from prison and South Africa became the stuff of legend and eventually led him to his first election to parliament as MP.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Making of the U.S. Forestry Service

The great Timothy Egan, author of the Depression era classic, "The Worst Hard Time", has created another masterpiece. In "The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America", Egan provides a spellbinding account of the largest forest fire in American History and the beginning of the U.S. Forestry Service under TR and the great William Pinchot. A wonderful portrait of life in the West before civilization set in....and a heartrending story too.

Top Recommendation for April

The Big Burn: TR and the Fire that Saved America, by Timothy Egan (2009 - 343 pp)

By 1910, TR had left the Presidency for Europe. A staunch conservationist, he left in his place William Pinchot, founder of the National Forest Service as guardian of the Western Lands of the U.S. The Big Burn forest fire of 1910 was the largest in American history, consuming 3 million acres, destroying 7 towns and killing 75 Forest Rangers. In the aftermath, the U.S. Forest Service was born.

Britain: the the Last Bastion of Civilization in Europe

Fabulous Lynn Olson has done it again. The author of "Citizens of London" has created another spellbinding WW II account of how tiny England helped save the continent. In "Last Hope Island" Olson deftly captures the spine-tingling moments of the invasions of Norway and Denmark, the Blitzkrieg into the Netherlands and invasion of France. The leaders of those conquered countries ultimately found refuge in England and a place to plot their resurgence later in the war.

Top Recommendation for March

Last Hope Island: Britain and the Brotherhood that Helped Turn the Tide of War,
By Lynne Olson (2018 - 576 pp)

A rip-roaring account of the the outbreak of WW II, the invasions of Norway and Denmark and the dedicated band of leaders who escaped to England to fight another day. Lynne Olson paints the picture of England as the last refuge for those who escaped from France and other nations on the Continent.

Ulysses S Grant - Lincoln's and America's indispensable man

A failed farmer and businessman before the Civil War, Grant rose to be commanding General of all of Lincoln's armies and doggedly ensured the surrender of the South. Ron Chernow's Grant, equals his works on "Washington" and "Hamilton". Grant truly became Lincoln's indispensable man after the failure of his other generals. Follow along with Grant from Vicksburg to Lee's final surrender at Appomattox. During his presidency, Grant helped shape reconstruction and bound the union together.

Top Recommendation for February

Grant,  by Ron Chernow (2018 - 892 pp)

A marvelous biography (of many) about one of the critical figures in American history. Chernow (author of Washington and also Hamilton), gives us a modern view of Grant both as a great Civil war general and as a President dedicated to Black freedom during the era of Reconstruction.

The Childrens' Blizzard of '88 - The Storm that Changed America

There had never been anything like it. Thousands of immigrant families were trapped in deep snow with sub-zero temperatures in log huts they had barely managed to cobble together. In "The Childrens' Blizzard", Author David Laskin describes the monstrous blizzard of '88 that stranded the Donner party in the Rockies and created a heart breaking nightmare for  unsuspecting settlers in the Midwest.  Laskin delves into the freakish physics of extreme cold and the desperate drive for people to survive to live another day.

Top Recommendation for January

The Children's Blizzard,  by David Laskin (2005 - 368pp)

Tragic story of the impact of the Blizzard of '88 as it swept suddenly upon unsuspecting immigrant settlers of the Great Plains threatening the lives of children, adults and precious livestock.

The Winds of War - An American Naval Classic of WW II

In December (Pearl Harbor), we shift gears with some great, classic naval historic fiction introducing U.S. Naval Comdr. Victor "Pug" Henry and his far flung family caught up in the convolutions of WW II. Accomplished author Herman Wouk's "The Winds of War" is great, light reading for the holidays. Travel with 'Pug' Henry and his family as they are immersed from Berlin to Hawaii and the Pacific in the very center of the War's maelstrom

Top Recommendation for December

The Winds of War, by Herman Wouk (1971 - 857 pp)

First-rate story telling marks this panoramic, thoroughly engaging story about WW II U.S naval officer Cdr "Pug" Henry and his family as he moves up the ladder of command as an attache in Berlin at the outbreak of War to command of a battleship in the Pacific.

The Korean War - The Great Escape of the 1st Marines

Trapped by by the Chinese in northern Korea at the Chosin Resevoir, the 1st Marines suffered temperatures of 30' below and a ferocious enemy. Gen O.P Smith heroically saved the day and his men. Hampton Sides,"On Desperate  Ground", The Epic Story of the Chosin Resevoir" vividly recounts how Smith carefully prepared his forces for the battle to come and assured their escape from an overwhelming enemy force.

Top Recommendation for November

"On Desperate  Ground", The Epic Story of the Chosin Resevoir and the Greatest Battle of the Korean War" by Hampton Sides (432 pp - 2019)

The 1st Marines came within a whisker of defeat and capture by the Chinese at the Chosin Resevoir in 30' temperatures. Only the farsighted actions of CO O.P. Smith and Chief Engineer John Partridge, who rebuilt a destroyed bridge, were able to save them.

The Battle of Brooklyn - The Maryland Regiment that Saved Washington' Army

The British advance on New York was so overwhelming that Washington almost lost the battle...and the war. Only a tiny band of 400 Maryland state militiamen stood between the British and his army's collapse at the Battle of Brooklyn. Patrick O'Donnell brings this long forgotten, heroic struggle to light in "Washington's Immortals", In the largest battle of the war, ultimate victory hung by a thread...and the lives of the 400 who died.

Top Recommendation for October

Washington's Immortals: The Elite Regiment that Changed the Course of the Revolution, by Patrick O'Donnell (2017 - 420 pp)

The Battle of Brooklyn with the added story of the 400  Independent Maryland Cadets who heroically charged a strongly defended British position at the Battle of Brooklyn, giving Washington and his army of 10,000 time to escape and fight another day.

Forging a New Continent - The Settlers Who Made America

With clarity and incisiveness, David McCullough details the experience of a brave and broad-minded band of people who crossed raging rivers, chopped down forests, plowed miles of land and suffered incalculable hardships, Braving a lonely frontier to forge a new American ideal, these were America's pioneers. Acclaimed  historian McCullough's  "The Pioneers", tells the story of the first Americans and their families who ventured westward to settle a new continent.

Top Recommendation for September

The Pioneers: The Epic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West, by David McCullough (June, 2019 - 352 pp)

David McCullough is at his best as a great storyteller, chronicling the lives of the many famous and not so famous pioneers that settled the West. His focus on the Ohio river region, the Northwest territories and greats like Johnny Appleseed, Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, et al will enthrall everyone

The War for America 1775 to 1777 - A Great New History (Part I)

From Lexington and Concord to Princeton and Trenton, the story of the American Revolution unfolds in marvelous detail. Rick Atkinson's, The British are Coming: The War for America has all the drama that a great story teller like Atkinson can muster, This densely packed, rousing military history of the first two years of the Revolutionary War is chock full of detail and information that will continue to surprise and entertain any reader. A wonderful update on the beginnings of our nation.

Top Recommendation for August

The British Are Coming: The War for America, 1775 -1777, Rick Atkinson (May, 2019 - 800 pp)

Book I of a three part trilogy on the American Revolution by acclaimed historian Rick Atkinson, author of the now famous WW II trilogy. An extraordinary explosion of new detail, quotes from participants, create a Tolstoyan, highly readable and informative.view of war.

Into the Wild Blue - Captain Cook and the First Explorations of the Pacific

Summer is coming and it's time to take off into the Pacific Ocean with one of our favorite writers, Tony Horowitz, as he follows the 18th Century routes of Captain James Cook, exploring the Pacific in one of the last great voyages of discovery. Tony Horowitz is at his amusing best in Blue Latitudes: Boldly going Where Captain Cook Has gone Before, retracing Captain Cook's epic voyages from Tasmania to Oregon, recounting exotic scenes of taboo rituals, cannibal feasts and human sacrifice.

The Erie Canal: Opening the Gateway to America

Completed in 1821, the Erie Canal took 10 years to build.  It cut transportation costs from carts pulled by draft animals by 95% and gave New York City an incomparable advantage over all other port cities. Ralph Andrist;s, The Erie Canal, gives an in depth look at the politics, financing and construction details of this remarkable engineering feat and describes how it affected the economic life of 19th century America.

Top Recommendation for May

The Erie Canal, by Ralph Andrist

There was nothing quite like it. And they said it couldn't  be done, but the Erie canal took 10 years to build and transformed the Central United States in ways unimaginable to everyday Americans, From the Great Lakes to the Hudson River and Atlantic ocean, it opened America to commerce.

Surviving The Great Midwest Dust Bowel of 1935

April 14, 1935 is known as "Black Sunday", a day when horrific dust storms engulfed the high plains of Oklahoma and Texas. Timothy Egan's "The Worst Hard Time: The Story of Those who Survived the Great American Dust Bowel", describes 12 families, their communities and desperate attempts to carry on through blinding black blizzards, crop failures, choking dust that killed young and old.

Top Recommendation for April, 2019

The Worst Hard Time: Surviving the Great American Dust Bowl,
by Timothy Egan (2006 - 340 pp)

At times, horrifying stories of 12 families who survived the Dust Bowl. A tale of survival against dust storms that brought a man-made scourge on the Midwest, blotting out the sun and bringing clouds of locusts.

Yorktown and The Genius of George Washington

In March, 1781 George Washington was at his greatest in planning the siege of Yorktown which depended totally on the inclusion of the French fleet under De Grasse. The great Nathaniel Philbrick's, In the Hurricane's Eye (2018), describes how Washington put all the pieces together to seal the trap at Yorktown, from overland marches to the great conflict at sea in the Battle of the Chesapeake Capes. A remarkable feat of his true genius.

Top Recommendation for March

In the Hurricane's Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown, by  Nathaniel Philbrick (2018 - 384pp)

Brilliantly told, behind-the scenes politics, machinations in drawing in the  French fleet to ensure final victory. All within the context of a world struggle at sea between England, France and Spain.

Stalingrad - Turning Point of War II on the Eastern Front

In February of 1943, the massive German army surrendered in the dead of a horrific Soviet winter to over 1 million hardened Soviet troops in what was the largest, most desperate battle of World War II. Acclaimed British historian Anthony Bevor's, "Stalingrad: The Fateful Seige 1942-1943" is a sweeping account of this titanic struggle with 2.2 million casualties that  decided the outcome of World War II and settled the fate of Germany.

Top Recommendation for February

Stalingrad: The Fateful Seige 1942-1943, by Anthony Bevor
(1990 - 560 pp)

Majestic, definitive account of one of WW II's most harrowing battles with 2 million casualties. A surprise Soviet counter attack destroyed the German 6th Army.

The Epic Story of the Conquest of the American West 

In 1846, the Army of the West moved through Santa Fe to occupy the Western territories claimed by Mexico. Acclaimed author Hampton Sides, brings this period to life in his sweeping,  "Blood and Thunder: the Epic Story of Kit Carson and the American West".   Under "Manifest Destiny", this land grab led to decades of conflict with the Navajos, fierce rulers of the vast Western mountains and deserts..

Top Recommendation for January

Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West, by Hampton Sides (2007 - 624 pp)

Sweeping portrayal of this pivotal moment in American history where the doorway to the future lay in the hands of the great men and women who risked their lives and fortunes to open the West.

An American Family in Hitler's Berlin

Chilling, riveting account of the family of Chicago history professor William Dodd who became ambassador to Berlin with his daughter Martha who proceeded to befriend and date various Nazi officials. One of our favorite authors, Erik Larson's "In the Garden of the Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin" will leave you breathless as Martha becomes involved with a Soviet spy, head of the Gestapo and Hitler himself.

Top Recommendation for December

In the Garden of the Beasts,  by Erik Larson (2012 - 480 pp)

Unforgettable book about U.S. Ambassador Dodd's family in Berlin in the 30's and the terrifying events that altered their perceptions of Germany.

Empire of the Summer Moon: The Rise and Fall of the Great Comanche Nation

This stunningly vivid historical account of the 40 year battle between the Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West, centers on Quanah, the greatest chief of all.  S.C. Gwynnes' award-winning "Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History" traces the rise of the Comanches and life of the pioneer woman who came to live with them

Top Recommendation for November

Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne

Award-winning book on the life of the great Comanche chief, Quanah Parker, his white captive pioneer mother and his historic battle for the West.

The Race to Solve the Greatest Navigation Problem of its Time

The greatest navigational problem of the 17th Century was solving the question of longitude and how to measure time at sea. Dava Sobel's "Longitude:The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time" provides a riveting account of maritime disasters, fortunes and wars lost because of the inability of ships to accurately compute their location. The solution was the invention of the Chronometer

Top Recommendation for October

Longitude, by Dava Sobel (2007 - 208 pp)

Just great. This short book tells the suspenseful story of the 17th century competition to invent the chronometer as a critical aid to navigation at sea.

Europe Before the Great War - Portents of a World in Conflict

A penetrating examination of a peaceful European world of 100 years ago in which the seeds for the great conflicts of the 20th Century were being laid. Master British Historian Barbara Tuchman takes us on a beautifully written voyage back in time with "The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890 - 1914, unravels the Dreyfus and Hay Market affairs, and the anarchist mood of the times that produced WW I.

Top Recommendation for September

The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World before the War, 1890 - 1914, 
by Barbara Tuchman ( 1996 - 608 pp)

Master historian Barbara Tuchman's colorful description of a European world at peace and lays the ground for the outbreak of a century of war.

Guadalcanal - Turning point of the War in the Pacific

On August 7, 1942 U.S. Marines landed on the island of Guadalcanal in the Southwest Pacific, signaling the  end of Japanese control of the Pacific. Joseph Wheelen's tightly spun "Midnight in the Pacific: Guadalcanal - The World War II Battle the Turned the Tide of War" chronicles the 5 land and 7 naval battles of the bloodiest battle of the Pacific. At risk was pivotal Henderson Field and control of the U.S. lifeline to Australia.

Top Recommendation for August

Midnight in the Pacific,  by Joseph Wheelan (400 pp - 2017)

The best account yet of the amazing struggle between Japan  and U.S. that left 67 ships in   "Iron Bottom Sound" and resulted in the death of 24,000 Japanese and 1400 Americans in a vicious conflict that encompassed land, naval and air forces.

The Basques Heroic Fight for Independence from Spain

Looking for summer reading off the beaten path?   Before WW II, Many Americans (Hemingway) fought in the Spanish Civil War. One unknown facet was the Basques' heroic attempt to secure their freedom as a nation. Mark Kurlansky's "The Basque History of the World" traces the origins of this mysterious culture with its own language and how Franco at Guernica tried to stamp it out. A great Basque recipe at the end of each chapter.

Our top Recommendation for July

The Basque History of the World,  by Mark Kurlansky
(2001 - 424 pp)

Best on audio, this amazingly interesting book covers the mysterious history of The Basques, Franco and the Civil War, the Destruction of Guernica by the Nazis, the obscure Basque language which he banned, and many great cooking recipes for Basque cuisine.

Vicksburg - The South Loses the Mississippi

The great Siege of Vicksburg in June, 1863 was the beginning of the end for the South during the Civil War.  Winston Groom's, "Vicksburg: 1863", paints a panorama of siege by starvation and a population that was reduced to living caves and eating rats to survive. Their surrender ceded control of the Mississippi to the North and ensured Lincoln's 'Anaconda' strategy.

Top Recommendation for June

Vicksburg 1863,  by Winston Groom (2011 - 512  pp)

Great storytelling of the battles leading up to Vicksburg including the final siege and fall, leaving the Union in control of the critically important Mississippi.

Dien Bien Phu - The End of France in Southeast Asia

The great Siege of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 sealed the end for France in Southeast Asia.   Bernard Fall's, "Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu",   is a vivid, informative, fascinating account of the violent clash between 2 great cultures that laid out the course of the Vietnam War.

Top Recommendation for May

Hell in a Very Small Place: The Seige of Dien Bien Phu:
by Bernard Fall (1966 - 528 pp)

Mesmerizing account of  France's stunning 1954 final defeat by Gen Giap and the Viet-Minh at Dien Bien Phu and the loss of "The Jewel of Asia". Great maps.

The Great Siege of Gibraltar - American Revolution at Risk

The best known sieges of the American Revolution were Boston, Yorktown, Charleston. But, the great Siege of Gibraltar 1778-1783, after France and Spain declared war on England, tied down British forces for years. Roy and Leslie Adkins' "Gibraltar: The Greatest Siege in British History" is a vivid, informative, fascinating account of the violent clash between 3 great nations that directly impacted the outcome of the American Revolution.

Top Recommendation for March

Gibraltar: The Greatest Siege in British History,  Roy and Leslie Adkins (2018 - 480 pp)

A page turner that vividly recounts the titanic, but little known, behind-the-scenes struggle between England, France and Spain that so dramatically influenced world events during the American Revolution

The Burma Road - China's Lifeline to the Outside World

By 1942, the Japanese had swept across China, closing its ports, and finally invaded Burma severing China's last lifeline to the outside world. Donavan Webster's "The Burma Road: The Epic Story of the China-Burma-India Theater in WW II" introduces the fascinating cast of Merrill's Marauders, Chennault's Flying Tiger's, Wingate's Chindits and the charismatic Joseph Stilwell. A sweeping tale of jungle warfare and survival against, mud, leeches and tropical heat.

Top Recommendation for March

The Burma Road,  by Donovan Webster (2004 - 400pp)

Terrific history of the the conflict in Burma, the building of the Burma Road to supply China, its eventual loss to the Japanese and final heroic recapture.

The Franco - Prussian War of 1870 - Sowing the Seeds for WW I

February 1870, marked the conclusion of the Franco - Prussian War that changed the balance of power in Europe for generations. With Paris starving, the French had no choice but an ignominious surrender.  Geoffrey Wawro's  "The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870" details the many famous battles and ill-fated reparations levied on France that paved the way for WW I and the future  cataclysm of the 20th Century.

Top Recommendation for February
The Franco - Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870,
by Geoffry Wawro (2005 - 346pp)

The earth shattering event that unified Germany,  impoverished France and sowed the seeds for World War II and the ill-conceived Treaty of Versailles in 1919

The Dreyfus Affair - The Scandal that Rocked France

In January of 1898, French literary titan, Emile Zola, published one of the most inflammatory news headlines in world history with "J'Accuse", attacking the French military's notorious conviction of innocent Jewish Major, Alfred Dreyfus, for espionage. Piers Read's "The Dreyfus Affair:The Scandal that Tore France in Two", is a riveting look at a highly anti-semitic France whose military was severely impacted on the eve of looming WW I. A great espionage thriller

Top Recommendation for January

The Dreyfus Affair,: The Scandal that Tore France in Two  by Piers Read,
(2012 - 432 pp)

Fascinating history of the notorious scandal that rocked France in the 1890's, exposing virulent anti-semitic sentiment in France and the deep tensions with Germany on the eve of WW I.

Catastrophe in Halifax - 100th Anniversary of the The World's Greatest Maritime Disaster

Today, December 6th, 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the catastrophic explosion in Halifax of the French munitions ship Mont Blanc. Thousands died in an instant and a harsh winter killed thousands more. The people of Boston rallied to their aid and to this day, Halifax  sends Boston its Christmas tree. Laura M. MacDonald's, "Curse of the Narrows", paints a vivid picture of the utter devastation and frantic efforts to save survivors from raging fires and a bitterly cold winter.

Top Recommendation for December

Curse of the Narrows, by Laura MacDonald (2006 - 372pp)

Highly compelling tale of the Halifax disaster, the largest man made explosion before the atomic bomb, caused by an exploding ammunition ship.

The Great Influenza - The Deadliest Pandemic in World History

The Great Influenza of 1918 spread rapidly around the world in 1918 by troops in WW I, and  killed 30 to 50 million making it the worlds greatest natural disaster. John Barry's superb "The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in World History" paints a vivid picture of its horrific impact and frantic efforts of governments around the world to develop necessary vaccines and medical responses.

Top Recommendation for November

The Great Influenza, by John Barry (2005- 546 pp)

The Great Influenza of 1918 killed 30-50 million (3% of the world's population), mostly young adults, making it the deadliest natural disaster in human history.

Rising Tide - The Great Mississippi Floods of 1927

2017's widespread flooding in Texas has happened in the U.S. before...only far worse, most notably during the great Mississippi floods of 1927. John Barry's superb "Rising Tide" paints a vivid picture of the economic, political, social and engineering issues of the 1920's that were in play and led to the displacement of over 1 million, greatly exacerbating the Depression for the nation as a whole and effecting flood control for a century to come.

Top Recommendation for September

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927,  by John Barry (1998 - 528 pp)

Fascinating, nearly forgotten account of how the great rains and flood of 1927 left 1 million homeless and displaced southern Delta populations North.

The Assault that Helped Ignite the Civil War

On May 22, 1856 ardent pro-slavery Congressman Preston Brooks of SC savagely attacked and critically injured anti-slavery Senator Charles Sumner on the floor of the U.S. Senate with a gold tipped walking stick. Stephen Puleo's "The Caning: The Assault that Drove America to Civil War", paints a vivid picture of the vitriolic climate of the times and  chronicles the major events of the decade leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Top Recommendation for May

The Caning: The Assault that Drove America to Civil War, by Stephen Puleo
(2012, Oct - 374pp)

Superb, easy-to-read, highly informative narrative that explains and links the key events in the years prior to the final outbreak of the Civil War at Ft. Sumter

The Climactic Carrier Battle of WWII in the Pacific

On June 20, 1944,  the U.S. Navy took on the the Japanese in the final carrier battle of WW II. The Battle of the Philippine Sea  was a disaster for the Japanese who lost 3 aircraft carriers and 637 aircraft.  Barrett Tillman's  "The Clash of the Carriers: The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot", vividly portrays this stunning victory of the newly mighty U.S. fleet.

Top Recommendation for June

Clash of the Carriers, by Barrett Tillman (2006 - 368pp)

Stirring account of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, a knock-out blow for Japan's navy air which lost 3 carriers, 600 planes and hundreds of pilots.

Krakatoa. August 27, 1883 - The Largest Explosion on Planet Earth

During this year of the first great Eclipse in 100 years, it is constructive to remember that the forces of Nature often control  the destiny of men. Simon Winchester's "Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded" paints a vivid picture of this catastrophic event near Java in 1883, one that killed thousands and affected the world's climate for years. A fascinating story of an amazing, long-ago event.

Top Recommendation for August

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded, August 27th 1883, by Simon Winchester
2005 (416 pp)

The catastrophic explosion of Krakatoa in 1883 is the largest to occur on planet earth. 35,000 were killed. The ocean boiled, the sun was blotted out, the earth's climate was changed for years. A great story by one of our favorite story tellers

Benjamin Franklin - America's Most Endearing Statesman

On April 14, 1790, Benjamin Franklin died at the age of 86 after an extraordinary life that began as a 15 year old runaway apprentice and culminated as America's most revered and accomplished elder statesman. Walter Isaacson's "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" chronicles Ben's adventurous life and and the qualities that made him so appealing.

Top Recommendation for April

Benjamin Franklin, by Walter Isaacson (2004 – 608pp)

A lively, casual and engaging panorama of Ben as a man of amazing depth and breadth who wore many hats and continued to reinvent himself.

Theodore Roosevelt's Greatest Journey - Survival on the Amazon

In March of 1912,after losing his bid for the presidency, Theodore Roosevelt set off on the adventure of his life, exploring the Amazon...and nearly died in the process. Adventure writer Candace Millard's acclaimed "River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey is rich, lush and filled with beautiful scenic descriptions and grisly depictions  of man-eating catfish, ferocious piranhas, white water rapids and the prospect of starvation.

Top Recommendation for March

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

Thoroughly enjoyable yarn about an ex-President's fervent desire for adventure and acceptance after his humiliating defeat for reelection in 1909. Candice Millard (2006 - 432pp)

The Revolution at Sea - Global Conflict and the Fate of the Americas

An extraordinary, behind-the scenes perspective on the American Revolution. Yes, there were great land battles - Brandywine, Saratoga, Yorktown. But, the war at sea was global, fought at huge expense by England, France and Spain. Sam Willis's recent (Feb, 2016) "The Struggle for Sea Power: A Naval History of the American Revolution" paints great fleets in constant battle across vast oceans and an American Navy, mostly privateers struggling to survive.

Top Recommendation for February

The Struggle for Sea Power, by Sam Willis (2016 - 616 pp)

A remarkably informative, entertaining and often humorous look at the global forces at work during the Revolution and the critical role and vast expense of sea power. (2016 - 608pp)

Pearl Harbor and The End of the Japanese Empire

December 7, 1941 was, as FDR famously said, "A Day that will Live In Infamy". The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changed the course of history and in 1945  issued in The Atomic Age. Naval historian James D. Hornfischer's new (Oct, 2016) "The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific"  recounts the savage battles of the last year of the war with an in-depth look at the defense plans for the Japanese Islands...an invasion nightmare.

Top Recommendation for December

The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific 1944- 1945, by James Hornfischer (2017 - 640 pp)

A master WW II historian's engaging look at the barbaric last year of the war in the Pacific from both the Japanese and American sides and why the A-Bomb was a necessity

The Mayflower - The Pilgrims' Epic Struggle for Survival

On November 27, 1620 the first passengers on the the Mayflower stepped from an open 21' shallop onto the wintery shores of Plymouth, MA and began their great experiment in democracy and religious freedom. Nathaniel Philbrick's "Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War" is a timely, readable account of their terrifying trans-Atlantic voyage and desperate attempts to survive against nearly insurmountable odds.

Top Recommendation for November

Mayflower:A Story of Courage, Community and War

Engaging, highly readable account of the 1620 voyage of the Mayflower and trials of the first settlers in an oft frightening, life threatening new world. Nathaniel Philbrick (2007 – 480pp)

MacArthur's Greatest Triumph - The War at the End of the World

Douglas MacArthur was controversial by any measure, but the campaign that cemented his greatness was the 2 year battle to drive the Japanese from New Guinea and prevent the loss of Australia. James Duffy's, "The War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight for New Guinea 1942-1945" provides a superb historical backdrop and riveting detail of the savage fighting that occurred across 1500 miles of Pacific jungle.

Top Recommendation for October

The War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight for New Guinea 1942-1945, by James Duffy (2016 - 448 pp)

A dramatic, forgotten narrative of the MacArthur's grinding, systematic campaign to reconquer New Guinea. A brilliant military achievement  with MacArthur at his finest (2016 - 448pp)

The Cold War is Alive And Well - A Mesmerizing Spy Novel

Dominika Egorova is a brilliant young SVR (KGB) officer sent to "Sparrow School" by her Kremlin handlers. Young CIA operative Nate Nash runs the CIA's top Russian mole in Moscow. This spell-binding, modern day spy novel is the first in Jason Mathews' riveting  "Red Sparrow" trilogy (1742 **** reviews on Amazon). 34-year CIA vet Mathews paints a fascinating picture of Russian cold war intrigue, trade-craft and culture (food recipes included) with a cast of characters in the best traditions of Le Caree and Flemming

Top Recommendation for September

Red Sparrow, by Jason Mathews (2018 - 5766 pp)

The Cold War is not dead in this cliffhanger spy trilogy that introduces beautiful Russian ballerina turned spy, Dominika Egorova, and her brash CIA counterpart Nate Nash (2013 - 448pp)

The Building of the Berlin Wall - The Cold War Escalates to New Heights

On August 13, 1961 the world awoke to the reality of the Berlin Wall and a shocking  escalation of the Cold War initiated by the USSR's Nikita Krushchev. Frederick Kempe's "Berlin 1961: The Most Dangerous Place On Earth" provides a nail-biting, hour-by-hour narrative of the cold war chess game between Krushchev and a young, untested JFK that began with the Bay of Pigs and led to the Cuban Missile Crisis and one of the most perilous moments in world history.

Top Recommendations for August

Berlin 1961: The Most Dangerous Place On Earth, by Frederick Kempe (2102 - 640 pp)

A brilliant, fascinating look at the U.S. foreign policy moves that perpetuated the Cold War and led to the ill-fated building of the Berlin Wall. Frederick Kempe (2012, Jan - 608pp)

Braddock's Defeat - The Spark that Ignited an Anglo-French World War

July 9, 1755 marks the anniversary of British General Braddock's historic defeat by the French and their Indian allies at the Battle of Monongahela, igniting an Anglo- French global conflict that persisted till Waterloo. Young George Washington organized a successful retreat becoming the "Hero of Monangahela".   Noted historian David Preston's  "Braddock's Defeat: The Battle of Monongahela and the Road to Revolution" provides vivid detail for this historic event.

Top Recommendations for July

Braddock's Defeat: The Battle of Monongahela and the Road to Revolution, by David Preston (2015 - 480 pp)

Excellent historical context for this world-shaking event. A force of 1400 British troops was decimated by the French and 22 year-old Col George Washington came of age

The Battle of Midway - America's Greatest Naval Victory

June 4, 1942 marks the anniversary of the Battle of Midway, one of the most decisive battles in world naval history and one that instantaneously altered the course of World War II in the Pacific. In a stunning turn of events, an overconfident Japan suffered a catastrophic defeat. Noted Naval Academy Professor Emeritus Craig L. Symonds' , "The Battle of Midway" provides an excellent historical context. We also highly recommend the acclaimed "Miracle at Midway" by Gordon w. Prange which provides a more in depth view.

Top Recommendations for June

The Battle of Midway, by Craig

The naval battle that broke Japan. With the ability to decipher Japanese codes, the U.S. baited the trap and destroyed 4 carriers, the heart of the Japanese fleet.

WW II in North Africa - The U.S. and Britain Seize the Initiative from Germany

May, 1942 marked the great turning point in WW II during which new U.S. recruits under Patton and battle hardened Brits fought the German army under Rommel, ultimately taking over 250,000 prisoners in Tunisia. Rick Atkinson's classic WW II trilogy begins with the acclaimed  "An Army at Dawn: the War in North Africa 1942-1943". The Allies avoided a potentially disastrous cross-channel invasion and the U.S. began its emergence as a world super-power.

Top Recommendation for April

An Army at Dawn: the War in North Africa 1942-1943, by Rick Atkinson (2007 - 541pp)

↓ Fast-paced, engaging, Pulitzer Prize narrative of an unprepared U.S Army's first encounters with its British allies against the Germans in North Africa.

Okinawa - The Last Great Battle of WW II in the Pacific

April 1, 1945 marked the beginning of the invasion of Okinawa and the 81-day land and naval battle that was the costliest of the war in the Pacific with over 12,000 allied and 100,000 Japanese killed. The ferocity of the battles and Japan's extensive use of Kamikazi attacks ultimately led to the decision to use the atomic bomb rather than invade Japan. Robert Gandt's, "The Twilight Warriors" provides a riveting account of this great final battle of the war. Winner of the 2011 Samuel Eliot Morrison prize for naval literature.

Top Recommendation for April

The Twilight Warriors: The Deadliest Naval Battle of WW II, by Robert Gandt (2011 - 400 pp)

Terrific accounts of Okinawa, the suicidal land and final desperate naval battles of the war in which the Japanese used mass Kamikaze attacks.

Dangerous Passage - WW II's Catastrophic War in the Atlantic

March 16, 1943 marked the height of the Battle of the Atlantic,  with 27 Allied merchantmen being sunk by German U-Boats in one day. England was at the end of its rope and Churchill doubted the War could continue. The nearly forgotten, fascinating  story of the Battle of the Atlantic comes alive in David Fairbank White's unforgettable "Bitter Ocean: The Battle of the Atlantic 1939 - 1943" which vividly recounts some of the most desperate hours in British history.

Monthly Recommendation for March

Bitter Ocean: The Battle of the Atlantic 1939 - 1943, by David White (2007 - 368pp)

Terrific, totally absorbing history of the war at sea. The Allies lost 2750 ships, 72,000 sailors and merchant seamen. The Germans a staggering 80%. David White (2007 - 368pp)

War in the Pacific - The Five Star Admirals who Engineered America's Great Victory

Only four U.S. Admirals have ever held the rank of 5 stars. Together, Admirals Leahy, King, Nimitz and Halsey forged a partnership that was largely responsible for the final defeat of Japan in WW II. February 24, marks the birth date of perhaps the greatest of them all, Chester W. Nimitz who orchestrated most of the key decisions of the war in the Pacific. Walter Borneman's, "The Admiral's" is a classic of naval history and vividly portrays their personalities, harrowing decision making and amazing leadership qualities.

Top Recommendation for February

The Admiral's: The Five Star Admirals who Won the War at Sea, by Walter Borneman (2013 - 608pp)

Exceptional naval history of the American Admirals who helped win the war in the Pacific. Great vignettes about theses lager than life figures who risked all for god and country.

The Wright Brothers - Kitty Hawk and the Dawn of the Age of Flight

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first sustained human flight and embarked on extraordinary lives that brought them heroes' accolades in France, Europe and the U.S. Their amazing exploits after Kitty Hawk were a thrill to thousands and their modesty and good character endeared them  to all.  Acclaimed writer, novelist and historian, David McCullough's  "The Wright Brothers" brings to life the story of two young, dedicated American inventors who inspired would-be aviators around the world

Top Recommendation for January

The Wright Brothers, by John McCullough (2015, May - 336pp)

Pulitzer prize-winner McCullough's emotionally engaging story of bike shop owners, Orville and Wilbur, and the events leading to their historic first-flight at Kitty Hawk (2015, May - 336pp)

The Invention of Wireless  - Guglielmo Marconi's Amazing Creation

On December 12, 1901, a self-educated, passionately creative young Italian Inventor, Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first trans-Atlantic wireless signal from Cornwall, England to St. John's, Newfoundland and soon to Cape Cod in the U.S., changing the course of history. Acclaimed writer, novelist and historian, Erik Larson's "Thunderstruck" weaves an amazing tale of scientific discovery with a diabolical turn of the century murder that gripped two continents.

Top Recommendation for December

Thunderstruck, by Eric Larson (2007 - 488pp)

One of the great tales of scientific creation. A thrilling saga of the persistence against all odds of Marconi, his invention of the wireless...and a spellbinding murder-mystery(2007 - 488pp)

The Treaty of Versailles - The Defeat of Germany and Rise of a New World Order

On November 11, 1919 England, France and Italy imposed the unconditional terms of a harsh, humiliating treaty on a defeated Germany marking the end of WW I. Acclaimed Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan's sensational Paris 1919: Six Month's that Changed the World paints a searing portrait of the final German armistice negotiations in a rail car and the treaty in Paris.

Top Recommendation for November:

Paris 1919: Six Months that Changed the World, by Margaret MacMillan (2003 - 624pp)

Totally fascinating account of the final German capitulation, how the Allies carved up the world at Versailles and the seeds laid for WW II. Margaret MacMillan (2003 - 624pp)

Victory at Yorktown - End of the American Revolution

October 19, 1781 marked the end of the Siege of Yorktown, Washington's miraculous victory and the final surrender of British General Cornwallis's entire army of 8000. Acclaimed historian Richard Ketchum's now classic "Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolution" is a masterpiece of great storytelling of this historic world event.

Top Recommendation for October

Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolution, by Richard M Ketchum (2004 – 368pp)

Dramatic coverage of Washington’s army’s remarkable overland trek from New York along with French troops from Newport and Cornwallis’s ignominious defeat at Yorktown.

Roosevelt in the Far East - Tragic Consequences for WW II

In the summer and fall of 1905, TR sent VP Howard Taft on a clandestine mission to the Far East. The result was a secret treaty that in effect ceded Korea to the Japan. Jame's Bradley's engaging "The Imperial Cruise" recounts the shameful behavior of the U.S. in the Philippines and the tragic consequences of TR's secret negotiations with the Japanese that led to WW II

Top Recommendation for September

The Imperial Cruise, A secret History of Empire and War, by James Bradley (2010 - 400p)

A great intro to U.S. early attempts to exert control in the Far East and the Philippines and TR's misguided policies that ultimately helped sow the seeds for WW II

Valley Forge - A Winter Miracle

Nothing stirs the patriotic imagination more than Washington's defeat of British' Hessian troops in Trenton which some say was the high water mark of his military career. History 500 has over 25 of best books on the American Revolution. including Washington's Crossing by renowned David H Fischer, and Through A Howling Wilderness, an astounding tale of winter hardship, survival and military disaster in Maine's Northwoods wilderness.

Top Recommendations for January:

Washington's Crossing, by David Hackett Fisher (2006-5766 pp)

The best account going of Washington's daring Christmas night crossing of the Delaware and the battles of Trenton and Princeton that changed the course of the war.