Book Recommendations

[Wondering Beard]

This reminds me of a passage in Bernard Fall's book "Hell in a Very Small Place" about the battle of Dien Bien Phu:

"The briefing held by Bigeard at 0200 was remarkable in many ways. He was a major commanding a battalion, who was "orchestrating" an operation involving five battalions, requiring air support that was to come from bases more than 200 miles away, and the firepower of more than two full artillery battalions commanded by a full colonel. Yet this was Bigeard and the place was Dien Bien Phu, and no one seemed to mind."

I'd highly recommend "Hell in a Very Small Place," I'll probably re-read it now myself that I located my copy to find this quote.

"Hell In a Very Small Place" is what got me to read The Centurions and The Praetorians.

Have you read "Street without Joy"?

Also, in one of the various books about the war in Algeria ( I can't remember which, maybe "a Savage War of Peace"?), there is a photo of him on something like three field phones at the same time coordinating an assault of various units.

[Coal Train]

I’ll contribute a couple from the last few months in no particular order. I would recommend all of them but obviously it depends on your tastes

We May Dominate the World
An overview of American Foreign Policy in Central and South America from the 19th and Early 20th Century.

The Escape Artist
The story of the only Jew to escape from Auschwitz

Mobilising Hate
A look at how the Nazi State corrupted one of the most cultured states in Europe

Charlie Hustle
In depth analysis of the career and downfall of Pete Rose

A Terrible Glory
Custer and the Little Big Horn

The Earth is Weeping
Overview of the Indian Wars. I would put this book right up there with Empire of the Summer Moon

Amusing Ourselves to Death
A Reagan era book and it is stunning how accurate this guy nailed things.

The Coddling of the American Mind
This should be required reading for all University Administrators. Instead they do the opposite

The Righteous Mind
Why can’t we all just get along?