This could fall under IMHO, but since it’s about literature, I’ll leave my qquestion here.
I would like to suggest some books to various people who have recently become quite interested in world affairs. Of course, mine is only one perspective. If you were compiling a list of essential literature for educated readers on the following topics, what would you chose? If possible, please include a brief description of why you have chosen a particular work.
History of warfare, specifically various 20th century conflicts involving the US like WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea.
Modern tactics and strategy, including development of weapon systems like carrier battle groups, nukes, bio/chem
Modern Middle East history and politics.
Role of modern intelligence operations and their development including covert operations, reconnaisance.
Wow, that’s a tall order ! I’ll see what I can do. Since you just mentionned wide ranging areas, I will concentrate on general works. However if you want something more specific, please do not hesitate to mention them.
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[li]I would definitely recommend John Keegan’s books. The First World War and The Second World War as well as his A History of Warfare ;[/li][li]also recommended, Sir Basil Liddell Hart’s History of the Second World War, a bit dated, but a very good overview of the whole war ;[/li][li]for Korea, T.R. Fehrenbach’s This Kind of War, still appropriate after all these years (there is not much material on Korea) ;[/li][li] Bernard Fall’s Street Without Joy and Dien Bien Phu are very good for the French involvement in Vietnam ;[/li][li]now the following author is VERY controversial but interesting nonetheless (WARNING, do not recommend it to somebody with just a passing knowledge/interest in WWII, but for a well-read person in the subject), David Irving’s Hitler’s War. This author has been associated with Holocaust apologists and Neo-nazis (he’s persona non grata in Canada). However it is a very well-written and thought provoking book, but not for the neophyte.[/ul][/li]**
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[li]I would definitely recommend James F. Dunnigan’s and Albert A. Nofi’s books. Both authors have been in the milieu for over 30 years and they do know their stuff ;[/li][li] I would also recommend Tom Clancy’s non-fiction books on the working of various modern military units (Marines, Armored Cav, Fighter Wing, etc.).[/ul][/li]
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Sorry, not my field of expertise, but you might want to check T.E. Lawrence’s The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (yes, written by Lawrence of Arabia) to see how began this whole mess.
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Once more not one of my strong areas, but I can recommend Phillip Knightley’s The Second Oldest Profession for a general history of modern intelligence. The author is very critical of intelligence bureaucracies, but he asks very interesting questions. You might want to check also John Prados’ President’s Secret Wars for a critical review of American covert ops.
Let’s see… Barbara Tuchman’s The Zimmermann Telegram and The Guns of August are essential for WWI, I’d say. Good writing and interesting development of the personalities and how they influenced history. I’d heartily recommend her The March of Folly for the section on Vietnam. For WWII, how about Shirer’s The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich? It very detailed on the European war and the political aspects of WWII Germany. I don’t recall who wrote it, but At Dawn We Slept is great on the beginning of the Pacific war.
Don’t know too many, but Dunnigan’s How to Make War is very detailed on modern war and there’s a book out there called The Future of War, about the potential next stage developments in warfare.
Haven’t read anything that would fit with #3 and 4.
I read this last year; it was excellent, although at times he rambled on about the rocks and sand. One assumes that Faisal conquers all at the end, but we know this isn’t true. Is there a good follow-up, detailing the division of the Arab world after WWI?
Any book by John Keegan will be worth looking at. For a book on what a battle is like, try his The Face of Battle. For an excellent account of the Normandy invasion, see his Six Armies in Normandy.
For #3, I’ve finally yanked “The Battle for God” by Karen Armstrong down off my shelf. I bought it on the advice of fellow Dopers, and simply didn’t get around to reading it until now. It starts just agbout 1500, but it’s roughly chronological so I’m reading it in reverse. I’m starting with the last few chapters that explain about how various forms of fundamentalism (Christian, Islamic, AND Jewish) have arisen and gained power since around 1960.
I forgot to mention Tournament of Shadows, by Meyer and Brysac, which relates the past couple centuries of central Asia. It’s told from the perspective of the imperial powers and their explorers/soldiers, notably British India, Russia, China, the US, France, and Germany. A hefty little tome, but very readable, because it focusses on the daily triumphs and tribulations of individual explorers et al.
Not sure if it fits the bill, as that area usually isn’t considered the middle East anymore, and this book pretty much winds up by 1950.