This is a supremely entertaining book outlining Allied (mostly American) efforts to learn about and stymie Axis efforts to develop dirty bombs and atoThis is a supremely entertaining book outlining Allied (mostly American) efforts to learn about and stymie Axis efforts to develop dirty bombs and atomic weapons. Moe Berg, the retired baseball catcher about whom a film has been made, is featured prominently as are Werner Heisenberg, Nils Bohr, Leslie Groves and many others. Punctuating the episodes are descriptions of the relevant science described simply enough to be understood by the average reader. Underlying the text as a whole is an historical review of those researches which led to 'splitting the atom'....more
Ernst Hanfstaengl, an early friend and supporter, gradually turned against Hitler, ending as a refugee in various internment camps in Britain, Canada Ernst Hanfstaengl, an early friend and supporter, gradually turned against Hitler, ending as a refugee in various internment camps in Britain, Canada and the United States while serving as an intelligence source for the Allies. This memoir describes his life and contacts with the Nazi leadership during the period the early twenties to mid-forties. The focus, of course, is on Hitler himself and on his evolution during this period. Filled with detailed, usually first-person, reminiscence, this book is a fascinating read....more
I've read at least a dozen books about Trump, going back to his days as a real estate developer. This one concentrates on the end of his first term anI've read at least a dozen books about Trump, going back to his days as a real estate developer. This one concentrates on the end of his first term and into the campaign for re-election in 2024 and on the craven betrayal of their oaths to the constitution by most Republican officials, including especially Trump himself....more
I've read many books about Trump, including Wolff's prior, "Fire and Fury". A primary source for both appears to have been Steve Bannon. Trump himselfI've read many books about Trump, including Wolff's prior, "Fire and Fury". A primary source for both appears to have been Steve Bannon. Trump himself gets no respect, from either author or source, Bannon gets a lot--though one does not imagine that Wolff shares his political views.
As with Wolff's previous entry, there's a lot of dirt about Trump personally in addition to the usual chronological account of political missteps. Much of it concerns sex. Trump, for instance, is cited as bragging about receiving a blow job from Nikki Haley, about regularly fucking a White House intern, etc., etc. Otherwise it's the gang that couldn't shoot straight.
The greatest failing of this book is that Wolff only occasionally cites his sources in the text. Most are inattributed and there are no footnotes, no endnotes, no bibliography....more
This both a history of European racism and of the stigmatization and ultimate extermination of Jews (I dislike 'anti-semitism' as the category includeThis both a history of European racism and of the stigmatization and ultimate extermination of Jews (I dislike 'anti-semitism' as the category includes peoples not Jewish). As regards racism, some attention if paid to the skin-prejudices of many of the imperialist powers engaged in the exploitation of Africa, primarily France and Britain, but the focus of the book is on the history of the persecution of the Jews from the eighteenth century and culminating with the genocidal efforts of the Nazis. Significant attention is paid to how Hitler himself came to his delusional beliefs. ...more
My dad served in both theatres as a cryptanalyst. Although in the army, he was attached to the navy for amphibious operations whereby ship-to-shore coMy dad served in both theatres as a cryptanalyst. Although in the army, he was attached to the navy for amphibious operations whereby ship-to-shore communications were vital. He was involved in the North African campaign around Oran, in the landings in Sicily around Gela and in the first two landings in the Philippines, Leyte and Lingayen. For much of the war he was on board the Wasatch, Kincaid's command ship in, as I recall, the Seventh Fleet. This and the fact that much of my family lived in occupied Norway during the war has had me long interested in its history.
I recently finished Ian Toll's three-volume account of the Pacific war. If you're looking for a relatively light but thorough read, he is to be recommended. Morison, himself a Navy man and author of the definitive, multi-volume, account of the Navy in WWII delivers a drier, much more technical account. Written in the early sixties, this volume does not address the central importance of the code-breakers as most of that information was still under wraps at the time. ...more
The authors are popular writers, not academics or specialists. It shows. They rather uncritically pick and choose from extant literary sources to crafThe authors are popular writers, not academics or specialists. It shows. They rather uncritically pick and choose from extant literary sources to craft this history of Alexandria from its founding until the Moslem conquest. A light read, it served as my bedtime book for a few days....more
Dad served as a cryptanalyst aboard the USS Wasatch under Admiral Kincaid during the landings in Leyte Gulf. The 'Battle of Leyte Gulf' is a misnomer Dad served as a cryptanalyst aboard the USS Wasatch under Admiral Kincaid during the landings in Leyte Gulf. The 'Battle of Leyte Gulf' is a misnomer as the actual fighting, ship to ship, was to the south and the northwest. Except for kamikazes, the landings were virtually unopposed.
Given Dad's involvement there (and, previously, in North Africa and Sicily), and given that pretty much all of my adult friends and family had been in the war, either under German occupation or in military operations against Germany, Japan and their allies, I've long had an interest in the war. Beginning, while yet in elementary school, with Shirer's 'Rise and Fall of the Third Reich' and continuing to this day, I've read very many books on the subject, but usually with an emphasis on the war in Europe. Recently, however, I've been delving into the Pacific campaigns.
Naturally, with so many books read, there's a lot of redundancy. Craig's 'The Fall of Japan', however, treats of matters I've not read much about such as the liberation of the camps, the early stages of the occupation and the actual surrender. Sadly, this is an extraordinarily ill-designed book, with obvious lacunae and textual repetitions....more
The author details decisions and acts following upon them which shaped WWII up until the Wannsee Conference. The states treated are Germany, Italy, JaThe author details decisions and acts following upon them which shaped WWII up until the Wannsee Conference. The states treated are Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, the USSR and the USA. Most of this material was familiar but I did gain some insight into why Hitler declared war on the USA despite not appearing to be obligated to do so by the Tripartite treaty as well as a good representation as to how German decisions made sense given their aims (excepting their axiomatic racism)....more
The final volume of Toll's history of the Pacific war, primarily from the perspective of it naval operations, but inclusive of landings and with some The final volume of Toll's history of the Pacific war, primarily from the perspective of it naval operations, but inclusive of landings and with some considerable attention to the Japanese as well as to the councils of state on both sides. Chronological history is supplemented by first-person accounts, giving these volumes some depth....more
This is the second volume of a trilogy covering WWII in the Pacific. Considerable effort is given to representing the Japanese perspective. Little attThis is the second volume of a trilogy covering WWII in the Pacific. Considerable effort is given to representing the Japanese perspective. Little attention is paid the events not involving navy or marine activities. Maps are provided representing major engagements, though neither as many nor as detailed as I'd like....more
Author Hart was a military theorist whose books were much consulted by all sides in the thirties and forties and here he delights in recounting their Author Hart was a military theorist whose books were much consulted by all sides in the thirties and forties and here he delights in recounting their citation by the incarcerated German officers he was able to interview after the war. His focus having been on mechanized warfare, tanks in particular, there is an emphasis on this herein.
A military geek would find this book most interesting, given a strong background in the war in the west. For me, the technical details, oft repeated, became boring. Also, I had problems with the geography, the maps provided in this paperback edition being poor and my mental maps of Europe being inadequate....more
I recently read a historiography of books about WWII in which Toll was highly recommended. We had a copy of this, the first volume of a trilogy about I recently read a historiography of books about WWII in which Toll was highly recommended. We had a copy of this, the first volume of a trilogy about the war with Japan, at the shop, so I gave it a look, liked what I saw and read it during breaks at work.
The recommendation was well-founded. Toll manages to balance the objective progression of events in the Pacific theater with subjective anecdotes and reminiscences which flesh out, which humanize the narrative, and this from both sides, so that the text reads like a novel.
Having finished this volume, I've ordered the second and expect to order the third soon....more
I've been meaning to read this book since it came out in the early seventies, not having much knowledge or experience of the native peoples of North AI've been meaning to read this book since it came out in the early seventies, not having much knowledge or experience of the native peoples of North America. Guilt may have been a factor, our treatment of them being so terrible. Now, the reading of this book has directly addressed this emotion, increasing it, bringing it to attention. If anything, matters were worse than imagined.
In some respects this book is dated. Author Brown's estimate of the population of North America at this time of European colonization is far, far below current estimates. In addition, he fails to emphasize the effect of the diseases the Europeans brought with them.
The book is also narrower in scope than I had expected. It's really only about the western nations and, then, only from the period beginning with the Civil War and ending approximately in 1890--in other words, only three decades and only with a native population already much affected by European influences. His indians drink liquor, ride horses and carry guns. Many of them are already, ostensibly, Christian as, notably, in their Ghost Dance movement. Many of them have already been displaced from the birthplaces of their ancestors. And because of his narrow focus, there is no mention of the pre-Columbian civilizations of North America such as the Mound Builders and the Pueblos.
Still, as an almost unremitting exposition of greed, cruelty, injustice and inhumanity, this book does a grindingly good job......more
A slight book of historiography, author Keegan thematically discusses the literature about WWII, recommending some books, criticizing others and pointA slight book of historiography, author Keegan thematically discusses the literature about WWII, recommending some books, criticizing others and pointing to areas of research yet to be adequately pursued. Very readable!...more
This book appears to be a critical, level-headed expose of the whole Priory of Sion mythos as presented popularly through 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' andThis book appears to be a critical, level-headed expose of the whole Priory of Sion mythos as presented popularly through 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' and the books and movies based on Dan Brown's fictions (including parts of The Matrix films). The conclusion is that the Priory is one of several fronts for a right-wing pan-European movement originating in France.
I found much of this book hard going, mostly because of vast cast of characters. Many of them would be familiar to the French and to people well versed in French politics from the nineteenth century to the present, but I'm not and, so, found myself having to look back in my reading to keep track of the detail. What I did appreciate, however, was their representation of Vichy politics, not as it appears retrospectively, but as it was to people of that time....more
Excellent conclusion to the three-volume set reviewing the civil rights movement in the U.S.A. from 1954 to 1968. The focus is on King but the book giExcellent conclusion to the three-volume set reviewing the civil rights movement in the U.S.A. from 1954 to 1968. The focus is on King but the book gives a decent overview of the issues facing the country during that period, including especially the Vietnam war, poverty and the nascent womens' movement. President Johnson comes off well as a sincere advocate, his Great Society plans stymied by the war. King himself is represented as a complex figure, his marital infidelities mentioned when relevant to the basically chronological narrative. Contrasted with King, the hero, is Hoover, his antithesis....more
This book, like all or most of those regional picture histories published by Arcadia, has relatively little text. Overpriced, poorly edited, this partThis book, like all or most of those regional picture histories published by Arcadia, has relatively little text. Overpriced, poorly edited, this particular volume has redundancies both in text and postcard pictures. It does, however, have an index.
Merged review:
This book, like all or most of those regional picture histories published by Arcadia, has relatively little text. Overpriced, poorly edited, this particular volume has redundancies both in text and postcard pictures. It does, however, have an index....more
This slight book treats of the origins of the various scripts of the Western world back to ancient Canaan. An appendix traces the history of each lettThis slight book treats of the origins of the various scripts of the Western world back to ancient Canaan. An appendix traces the history of each letter of the modern (Roman) alphabet. The style is compressed, telegraphic, and no great read....more
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