Tom Copeland's progress:
Tom Copeland has read:
Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan by which is on the U.S. Southern Command list.
I plodded through this book, but it was kind of a struggle... lots of unfamiliar names and political turmoil and whatnot. A scholarly work, but I found it slow going.
Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century by which is on these lists: Air Force, JFSC
This book has a few chapters reveling in the technical achievements of today's UAV producers and noting the decline of the traditional jet fighter pilot's career path. These are good fun, but just as interesting are the followup chapters where he asks questions like 'is a UAV pilot actually a warrior?' and 'how does warfare change when one side is in absolutely no danger of being harmed?' Definitely a worthwhile read.
The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic WWI Study of the Psychological Effects of War by which is on these lists: Marines, Canadian Army
This book outlines Lord Moran's experiences in WWI and the effects of that war on those around him. It's bleak, dark, and fatalistic, which probably makes it a good reflection of that war. The descriptions of the soldiers moving about as shells fall randomly makes you wish they had a CRAM. It's a sad and thoughtful read.
The Future of Freedom by which is on the U.S. Southern Command list.
Fareed Zakaria makes an interesting distinction between liberty and democracy, and he explores this difference in a variety of fields - politics, law, religions, etc. His views on the influence of democracy on religion were interesting - some churches have become so seeker friendly that they have excised the bits of the Bible that deal with sin, the need for forgiveness, and other jarring topics. This book is worth reading if only to annoy James Carville, who recently said that he'd like to "take a football bat" (whatever that is) to Zakaria.
Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy by which is on the U.S. Southern Command list.
Definitely a change from the usual reading list fare... it reminded me in content, if not in style, of Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner". The bits about Castro reissuing money (and stealing everyone's existing savings) are well done.
How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization by which is on the U.S. Southern Command list.
This is a quick read and a fun one... it reminded me of some of PJ O'Rourke's globe-trotting books. It punctures some of the optimism found in Thomas Friedman's books in that it shows how the freight train of globalization can be derailed by local corruption.
The Old Man and the Sea by which is on the U.S. Southern Command list.
Somehow I'd never read this book before... it's a classic, of course, and a good read.
The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-first Century by which is on the National Capital Region Medical Joint Task Force list.
I really enjoyed the parts of this book where Barnett talks about the Pentagon's "briefing culture". A white paper won't do, since the O-8's aides can just summarize it for him - you have to have a lively, entertaining, and insightful brief to get access to the upper reaches of the Pentagon.
This book was written in 2004, and Barnett made some bold predictions. He thought that Kim Jong-il would be toppled by President Bush, but here we are in 2010 and Kim Jong-il is sinking South Korean ships. Barnett also predicts that the U.S. will add some more states from bits of Mexico... that remains to be seen.
The book's thesis is that there is a "functioning Core" and a "disconnected Gap", and we need to encourage more of the former and less of the latter. It's an interesting strategic proposal.
One more thing I learned from this book - a great phrase from J.R.R. Tolkien: "Hope without guarantees". A wonderful thought!
The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century by which is on these lists: Combined Arms Center, National Capital Region Medical Joint Task Force
Col Hammes does an excellent review of what he calls "fourth generation warfare"; including brief studies of Vietnam, the Russian conflict in Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestine conflicts, and the Sandinistas. He doesn't mention the French-Algerian war, but that certainly has all the earmarks of this type of conflict. One point he made was that even though the Russians adopted a scorched-earth policy and indiscrimate bombings and shellings, that wasn't enough to ensure victory. So savagry doesn't always equal victory.
This book is notable in that Col Hammes actually has the boldness to offer some suggestions on how we can better fight these wars. Generally, he wants less focus on high-tech gadgetry and more focus on winning the media ratings war, hearts and minds, and an overhaul of the DOD rating system and bureaucracy. It's worth a read for this aspect alone.
Leading in a Culture of Change by which is on these lists: Coast Guard, USMC (Civilian)
This small book had some good insights - mostly about emotional vs coercive leadership, empowering folks, etc. It didn't get too soft and squishy; e.g., it acknowledged that sometimes someone has to select and direct. Not bad, and it's a quick read.
It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by which is on the Coast Guard list.
A quick read and a good one. The things he talked about reminded me of my USCG experience and areas where I fell short. But the same principles still apply when working with folks outside the military. Great stuff!
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): JFSC
Thomas Friedman is a lively writer and is enthusiastic about green jobs and energy efficiency and all that. One of his primary source in this book, however, is the IPCC, who is now in the process of admitting that their data was not as rock-solid as they had claimed. Friedman also offers solutions like a huge gas tax to make solar/wind more cost-effective - which is easy for him to say, but not so great for the E4 struggling along on $2K per month. There's also Friedman's "China for a Day (but not two)" where he bemoans the democratic process which prevents the technocrats from imposing their will on the ignorant masses. So despite his engaging style and the many interesting anecdotes, I don't think this was a good selection.
The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What It Means for All of Us by which is on these lists: Coast Guard, Navy
A pretty good overview of India and China's recent rise in power. Outlines the major challenges facing those countries, too - e.g., corruption and pollution. Unfortunately, her recommendations for how the U.S. can keep pace are all about big government - more money for Dept of Education, spending lots of money on government research centers, etc. Anyhow, the bit about China buying up lots of U.S. debt was especially relevant... would be interesting to see a 2nd edition in 5 years or so.
A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962 by which is on the Headquarters 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment list.
I wasn't even aware of this conflict before reading this fascinating account of France's slow and painful disengagement from Algeria. What an epic story - this will take you a while to get through but it's well worth it. The only change I wish for is for the author to have added footnotes supplying translations of the many French phrases he uses; but fortunately it's usually possible to infer their meaning from the context. A classic counterinsurgency story; don't miss it.
A Bell for Adano by which is on the Marines list.
This is a wonderful little story of an American major who oversees the small Italian town of Adano after the Allied invasion. It reminded me of Lederer's "The Ugly American"; it's even better, I think. The only character who seemed a bit overdone was General Marvin, the villain. Reading this was a nice break from the usual blood and guts of the USMC list. This was an inspired selection indeed.
Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy by which is on the Navy list.
This book is filled with interesting stories about the founding of the American Navy. The building of the first ships (including the difficulties in floating one of them), Stephen Decatur's burning of the captured Philadelphia, the naval engagements in the War of 1812 - it's all great stuff. Finally you'll know the full story of "to the shores of Tripoli"!
The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror by which is on these lists: Marines, Navy, Combined Arms Center, Headquarters 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, USMC (Civilian)
This is a great read as Bernard Lewis effectively boils down the issues facing Islam. One thing he notes is a difference between Christianity and Islam - in Matthew 22 Jesus says to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's" whereas there's no similar concept in Islam. This book is one you could re-read once every few years and still get good value.
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by which is on these lists: Army, Marines, General Eric Shinseki
This is a massive Civil War reference; it covers everything from details of all the major battles to the political maneuvering that Lincoln did to deal with his cabinet. It will take you a while to plow through this, but it's worth it.
American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Air Force
Patton: A Genius for War by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Army
This is an epic survey of Patton's life. One thing I found interesting was how Patton managed his career. He knew that in order to make flag rank he needed powerful allies, and he actively sought these people out even if it meant jumping the chain of command. The story of how he got to be Pershing's aide-de-camp in the Mexico campaign is a fine example of this.
Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolution by which is on the Navy list.
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by which is on the Coast Guard list.
Band of Brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by which is on these lists: Marines, General Eric Shinseki
The Kite Runner by which is on these lists: Coast Guard, Navy
This was a brutal book - towards the end of it I found myself turning pages hoping to find something good happening to the protagonist. It's definitely worth a reading, if only for understanding how terrible the Taliban have treated the people of Afghanistan.
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by which is on the Navy list.
One of the players mentioned in this book is Nick Swisher, who now plays for the Yankees. I'm a big Yankees fan so it's interesting to look at Swisher's stats with this book in mind. For example, Swisher hasn't been hitting so well (June/July 2009), but he's still got a high OBP due to all the walks he gets.
One thing Michael Lewis does well is relate the baseball chatter around the clubhouse and between the manager and scouts. It really rang true for me; it reminded me (on a much lower level) of the comments made by my college manager and pitching coach.
Closing With the Enemy: How GIs Fought the War in Europe, 1944-1945 by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Army
At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Air Force
The Ugly American by which is on the Marines list.
I expected to dislike this book just from its title - I thought it'd be all about how bad Americans are, etc. To the contrary, it weaves together a bunch of vignettes about several different Americans and their actions in and around a fictional eastern country. The scenarios and characters are reasonably believable, although the truly ugly Americans might be a little overdone. Definitely a classic about the difficulties of spreading democracy and fighting totalitarian ideologies - those tasks are hard enough without shooting outselves in the foot.
Billy Budd and Other Stories by which is on the Navy list.
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by which is on these lists: Marines, USMC (Civilian)
Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Power by which is on the Marines list.
The Savage Wars Of Peace: Small Wars And The Rise Of American Power by which is on these lists: Navy, Marines, Headquarters 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Army, National Capital Region Medical Joint Task Force
The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations by which is on the General Eric Shinseki list.
The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization by which is on the Canadian Army list.
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by which is on these lists: Navy, Coast Guard
The Peloponnesian War by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Army
Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda by which is on these lists: Navy, National Capital Region Medical Joint Task Force
Leadership by which is on the Navy list.
The Art Of War by which is on these lists: Marines, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Canadian Army
Empire By Default: The Spanish-American War And The Dawn Of The American Century by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Air Force
Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer by which is on the Navy list.
Face of Battle by which is on these lists: Army, Marines, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Canadian Army, General Eric Shinseki
This contains in-depth studies of several major battles - Waterloo, the Somme, Agincourt. John Keegan is a great historian, of course, but in this book he also details the human aspect of these battle. There's the exhaustion of the soldiers, the details of the terrain, the weapons; it's great stuff.
Imperial Grunts: The American Military on the Ground by which is on these lists: Navy, Marines, USMC (Civilian)
Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of World War II by which is on these lists: Army, USMC (Civilian), General Eric Shinseki
This is a classic day to day description of MacDonald's WW II experience. I recently read James Brady's "The Coldest War" and it reminded me of Company Commander. The soldiers are presented not so much as good or bad but just as people with their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.
The New Face of War: How War Will Be Fought in the 21st Century by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Army
In The Company Of Heroes by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Army
You'll especially enjoy if you've already seen the movie "Blackhawk Down"... this fills in a lot of the blanks. In the last part of the book, Durant talks about the flak he received from various folks saying that he shouldn't have spoken on film for the Somalis. Not sure what the SERE trainers say about that... but I think the idea is to stay alive.
Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam by which is on these lists: Army, Marines, JFSC
The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World by which is on the Navy list.
Touched with Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific by which is (well, used to be) on these list(s): Army
One thing I like about this book is that it gives you a great feel for the remoteness and size of this theater. At one point Bergerud describes how a person could have lived inland on one of the South Pacific islands and never have realized that there was a world war going on. The descriptions of the jungles, the Golden Staircase, and the conflicts between the tribesmen and the Japanese are all great stuff too.
An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943 by which is on the Army list.
Flags of Our Fathers by which is on these lists: Navy, Marines, USMC (Civilian)
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour by which is on the Navy list.
We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang - the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam by which is on these lists: Army, Marines, General Eric Shinseki
1776 by which is on these lists: Navy, Army
The Good Shepherd by which is on these lists: Navy, National Capital Region Medical Joint Task Force
On a personal level, anyone who has stood a long watch will sympathize with the description of the time that Capt Krause spends on the bridge in this book. The cold, the boredom with the underlying tension, the inability to leave the bridge to make a head call - it all adds up. This is a superb story of sub vs destroyer combat and one that bears rereading.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by which is on the Navy list.
The Caine Mutiny: A Novel by which is on the Coast Guard list.
Ender's Game by which is on these lists: Marines, Navy
This is the first book in the Ender series. I've read the sequels "Speaker for the Dead", "Xenocide", and "Children of the Mind" and this first book is by far the best. It's a little preachy at times, but overall a great story with an unexpected ending.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by which is on these lists: Navy, USMC (Civilian)
Master and Commander by which is on the Navy list.
The Cruel Sea by which is on the Navy list.
The Second World War, Volume 1: The Gathering Storm by which is on the Navy list.
In one of his many memorable quotes, Churchill said, "History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it". "The Gathering Storm" is the first in Churchill's superb series on WW II, and I think it's the best of the lot. I'm an American, so it was especially interesting to read a survey of WW II from a British perspective.