What Are You Currently Reading?

In the last few months I've read Viper Pilot by Dan Hampton, The Lost Explorer by Conrad Anker, Islands of Destiny by John Prados, and am reading Pardon my Hearse by Abbott and Abbot.

Viper Pilot - Very good book about an F-16 driver from the 80's to his retirement after supporting the invasion of Iraq. Arrogant, (shocking for a fighter pilot...) and opinionated (duh) as he is, it is a good book.

The Lost Explorer - Anker's story about an expedition to find George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, an attempt to deteremine if they made the summit, and his climb of Everest in the same trip. After reading I've reversed my opinion they made it and died on the descent. I think Anker said they probably made the First or Second Step and we stopped by the 90' vertical climb. That in no way diminishes their accomplishments. Includes a detailed description of the search, discovery, and partial exhumation of Mallory's body, plus the fallout from the climbing community about disturbing the body. It switches between his narrative and a retelling of the 1924 expedition. If you're into climbing or that type of history, you should read the book.

Islands of Destiny - Covers from the pre-war era to the end of Operation Watchtower. Discusses American and Japanese politics, the campaign, individual islands, and especially ship movements. It is a little hard to follow, especially the portions on Guadalcanal, in part because his descriptions of land battles are brief. His focus is the naval aspect, especially the Japanese detroyers, and surprisingly on intelligence. This may be worth it alone to read about intel's role during the campaign. It contracts American and Japanese efforts, structure, and results. You wouldn't think it, but he paints a picture of a robust all source program using imagery, SIGINT, ELINT, RDF, code breaking, translation, and organization. I find it interesting that he alluded to this being the first F3EAD-like structure, particularly with tactical (literally on aircraft carriers with the fleet commander) applications. A better narrative of the naval battles for Guadalcanal is Neptune's Inferno by Hornfischer, but it covers the period to the Japanese pullout in Jan. 43. Prados covers everything and is worth it for the Japanese stories and intel focus.

Pardon my Hearse - An interesting autobio concerning the mortuary business in CA from the 50's to the present. The author participated in funerals for Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, and many others. He also describes the mundane day-to-day of handling and hauling bodies. Interesting book but probably buy this one used and turn it back to your local book store. Good book but not a keeper.
 
A rainy night at work had me rereading a David Kilcullen essay, Blood Year, on the rise of ISIS from someone intimately involved in Iraq at the time. The essay was first published here in Quarterly Essay (as an iBook also) and now expanded to a book which had just been published. With his direct style I'm interested to compare the two.
 
The Lost Explorer...Islands of Destiny...


These two sound good. The first because I'm interested in anything having to do with expeditions/survival in extreme cold. (Mallory and Irvine had cojones of steel trying an ascent back then, with the primitive gear they had. Nowadays climbers have so many advantages and they still die in droves on that mountain).

The second because it covers one of my favorite operations, land, sea and air, of the critical days of the Pacific War. An amazing 6 months or so, and absolutely incredible night surface actions. I'd be very interested to read his account of the intel, an aspect of the battle I'm not that familiar with-- except for the efforts at Pearl by Rochefort (and Layton) in breaking the Japanese Imperial Navy's code prior to Midway; and by the Navaho transmissions on Guadalcanal.
 
The second because it covers one of my favorite operations, land, sea and air, of the critical days of the Pacific War. An amazing 6 months or so, and absolutely incredible night surface actions. I'd be very interested to read his account of the intel, an aspect of the battle I'm not that familiar with-- except for the efforts at Pearl by Rochefort (and Layton) in breaking the Japanese Imperial Navy's code prior to Midway; and by the Navaho transmissions on Guadalcanal.

Because you mention Rochefort:

The Battle of Midway: The Complete Intelligence Story
 
These two sound good. The first because I'm interested in anything having to do with expeditions/survival in extreme cold. (Mallory and Irvine had cojones of steel trying an ascent back then, with the primitive gear they had. Nowadays climbers have so many advantages and they still die in droves on that mountain).

The second because it covers one of my favorite operations, land, sea and air, of the critical days of the Pacific War. An amazing 6 months or so, and absolutely incredible night surface actions. I'd be very interested to read his account of the intel, an aspect of the battle I'm not that familiar with-- except for the efforts at Pearl by Rochefort (and Layton) in breaking the Japanese Imperial Navy's code prior to Midway; and by the Navaho transmissions on Guadalcanal.

Ernest Shackleton's story is largely unheralded but perhaps one of the greatest Antarctic/ Arctic survival tales ever (even if his famous "Men Wanted" ad never existed). Anyone with an interest in the outdoors should read up on him.

Prados covered the big picture stuff we know of, but he also covered the mobile/ remote intel shops placed on aircraft carriers and ashore in places like Guadalcanal. He also spends some time on the Australian Coastwatchers and speaks highly of them and their native support. It delves into tha tactical world some, but spends most of the time addressing the big picture items, particularly the Japanese efforts. People point to Midway as the turning point, but the Solomons campaign broke the IJN's back. We gutted their destroyer force which had to have a major impact on our sub operations. We also destroyed or tied up so many of their transports other areas were deprived of adequate supplies. Both Army and Navy were bled white though the evacuation operations on Guadacanal and elsewhere were masterful. Their losses of aircraft and aircrew were unsustainable (Many personnel escaped from Midway despite losing 4 carriers). Their fuel oil expenditures weren't even close to the forecasts. It also worsened the divide between the Army and Navy through the perception that the Navy wasn't trying hard enough (they went long periods without battleships, carriers, and heavy cruisers. The Navy also suffered from poor, timid leadership The Cactus Air Force and Fifth Air Force made this happen. As the Army and Navy lost aircrews to our fighters, bombers were plastering anything that sailed during the daylight. By late '43 the new Essex class carriers were in theater and Japan's airpower a shadow of late '41's capabilities.

The entire campaign turned the tide, but it started with the sacrifice of the Marines and later Army on Guadalcanal. The crucial months centered on that island. The ground forces whipped the Japanese and held on to the airfield. The airfield provided the umbrella needed to interdict the IJN's resupply efforts. One really interesting fact I never knew: we asked/ practically begged the UK for a carrier when we were down to the Saratoga and a barely functional Enterprise. It sent HMS Victorious which spent several months in the Pacific operating under a US task force. When it departed it left its Avenger TBM's behind to make up for some of our losses.
 
Former OSS man and prolific historical writer, the late Walter Lord, wrote a terrific book about the coast watchers called Lonely Vigil. I highly recommend it along with his book on Midway, Incredible Victory, and his excellent Miracle of Dunkirk. In fact all his histories are top notch.

Sam Griffith's book, The Battle For Gaudalcanal, is out of print but still available from used book sellers, and I think it's one of the best accounts ever written about the great land and sea struggle in the Solomons. Griffith was the XO of the 2nd Raider Bn, later CO when Red Mike Edson took over 5th Marines, and wrote his account in the 1960s. In spite of its age, there's a great deal to be said of histories written by participants, especially those like Griffith, who was privy to command decisions and briefings.

 
I've become very interested in philosophy as of late; however, my school lacks any legitimate classes in the subject so, with the amount of voracious readers here, I'm turning to the forum for help. I know plenty of names for philosophers that I should begin with which will be slow going with all the classes I'm taking this year including physical preparation, but I'm looking for something a bit more technical than normative. I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction for a book or two to learn logic. I understand how to craft logical arguments, but I'd like to understand the foundations of logic to better pick apart what I'm reading.
 
Someone suggested I read the Mistborn series.. Going to listen to the audiobook during my work commute. So far it seems alright.
 
I've become very interested in philosophy as of late; however, my school lacks any legitimate classes in the subject so, with the amount of voracious readers here, I'm turning to the forum for help. I know plenty of names for philosophers that I should begin with which will be slow going with all the classes I'm taking this year including physical preparation, but I'm looking for something a bit more technical than normative. I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction for a book or two to learn logic. I understand how to craft logical arguments, but I'd like to understand the foundations of logic to better pick apart what I'm reading.
Not all on Philosophy but some books you may like.

The Stuff of Thought-Steven Pinker
Situational Ethics-Joseph Fletcher
Lateral Thinking-Edward De Bono
The Elements of Moral Philosophy-James Rachels
The Arrogance of Humanism-David Ehrenfeld
 
I've become very interested in philosophy as of late; however, my school lacks any legitimate classes in the subject so, with the amount of voracious readers here, I'm turning to the forum for help. I know plenty of names for philosophers that I should begin with which will be slow going with all the classes I'm taking this year including physical preparation, but I'm looking for something a bit more technical than normative. I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction for a book or two to learn logic. I understand how to craft logical arguments, but I'd like to understand the foundations of logic to better pick apart what I'm reading.
I will ask my son and his friends about better books on logic. They started a group and discuss-debate logic. I lose most debates with my son because I come from gut instincts-not their type of logic.

Anyway-I am reading a book on dreams. Dreams by Valerie Francis
 
I've become very interested in philosophy as of late; however, my school lacks any legitimate classes in the subject so, with the amount of voracious readers here, I'm turning to the forum for help. I know plenty of names for philosophers that I should begin with which will be slow going with all the classes I'm taking this year including physical preparation, but I'm looking for something a bit more technical than normative. I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction for a book or two to learn logic. I understand how to craft logical arguments, but I'd like to understand the foundations of logic to better pick apart what I'm reading.

Maybe not quite what you're looking for but an interesting read non the less. As this is a mil forum Morality and Political Violence by C.A.J. Coady explores the morality of wars, terrorism, WMD & PMCs'. amongst other topics. It's pretty contemporary and not merely a mechanical analysis.
 
I'm on page 50 right now so the author only covers the training and DEVGRU stuff. Few weeks ago I finished Lone Survivor book and I wasn't that impressed to be honest. Most of the book was bragging about how great Seals are and explaining BUDs training yawn... Hopefully 13 hours won't disappoint me.
 
I'm on page 50 right now so the author only covers the training and DEVGRU stuff. Few weeks ago I finished Lone Survivor book and I wasn't that impressed to be honest. Most of the book was bragging about how great Seals are and explaining BUDs training yawn... Hopefully 13 hours won't disappoint me.

We cover some thoughts on this book and the author elsewhere.
 
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