Book reviews on military-themed books.
Washington’s Marines: Book Review
Washington’s Marines is a fantastic book about the history of the United States Marine Corps, and how the Marines helped Washington’s army win crucial battles during the American Revolution. In the book, author Jason Bohm (Maj. Gen., USMC) provides a comprehensive overview of the Marine Corps’ establishment in 1775. General Bohm expertly weaves the Marines’ […]
Three Great Military History Novels
Three Great Military History Novels There are many great military history novels to recommend. This list provides three. I believe these are must-read history novels for students of military history. These are the types of novels that people re-read many times. What makes these three unique? I will explain below. 1. Gates of Fire Steven […]
When China Attacks Book Review
Warning: China Will Attack Colonel Grant Newsham (USMC-Ret.) has a warning for us. The question is not will China attack. It is when will China attack. Newsham challenges the reader to think about what that attack will look like. The short answer is bloody and destructive. Are we ready for it? Can America fully comprehend […]
America’s Rise and Fall among Nations: Book Review
What would John Quincy Adams do? In September 2021, America lost a great mind. In a world of conformity on both the left and right, Angelo Codevilla’s life and work stands out. Codevilla’s mastery of history, politics, religion, and foreign policy appears in every paragraph on every page of his posthumously published book, America’s Rise […]
Stalin’s War Book Review
Stalin’s War: A New History of World War II By Sean McMeekin Great history books are revelatory. This characteristic makes them hard to put down. Often the revelation comes from new facts and historical data that the author discovers through lengthy research. It is becoming harder to find such works. This is not because there […]
The Chinese Invasion Threat Book Review
Name the only European country that has formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan? That is a good nugget of trivia. Perhaps when bars re-open and people socialize again, it will be a good one to keep in reserves. Answer: The Vatican. How do I know this? I picked up a fascinating, yet sometimes scary book by […]
The Fifth Domain book review
The following is a book review of The Fifth Domain: Defending Our Country, Our Companies, and Ourselves in the Age of Cyber Threats by Richard A. Clarke and Robert Knake After reading this book, I understand that cyber-attacks can shut down hospitals, electric grids, and create a trillion dollars in damage to the world economy. […]
Call Sign Chaos: How General Mattis turned the ‘good idea fairy’ into CHAOS
There is an unofficial term in the U.S. military (at least in the Marine Corps) for the officer (generally an officer), who says, “I have a great idea I want to try.” This term is not altogether endearing. It is typically attached to an exuberant Second Lieutenant Platoon Commander. Close second and third could be […]
Book Review of American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day
Honor. Courage. Commitment. These are the core values of the United States Marine Corps. Every Marine learns about them either in bootcamp at Parris Island or San Diego or Quantico for officers. The Marine Corps and the U.S. military put a premium on these values. They are the hallmarks of service that sets military men […]
Destined For War Book Review
“It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.” – Thucydides Is America destined for war with China? Dr. Graham Allison poses the question in the subtitle of a book called Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap?. If you’re like me and […]
“Retreat! Hell!” On Desperate Ground Book Review
“Retreat! Hell!”
Wake Up Early, Eat, Exercise: It’s The Power of Habit
It’s 5 am and an alarm is buzzing in your ear. What do you do? Slap the snooze button? Or wake up ready to workout. Most people opt for the snooze button although they may want to run the track or hit the weight room. So why can’t the second choice be as easy as […]
Extreme Ownership: The Perfect Mindset for Successful Leadership
How do Navy Seals lead and win? Jocko Willink and Leif Babin explain in their book, Extreme Ownership. The authors are former Navy SEALS and combat veterans. After multiple deployments to dangerous places like Ramadi, Iraq, they have valuable leadership principles to share. In Extreme Ownership they bridge lessons from the battlefield with challenges in the business world. […]
1776 by David McCullough
In honor of Independence Day, I recommend 1776 by David McCullough. 1776 is an excellent book. It won a Pulitzer Prize. Simon and Schuster published the book in 2005. Military history fans love this book. 1776 is easy to read, and very fast paced. David McCullough’s book contains excellent examples of leadership. It motivates because […]
“All the Shah’s Men” Book Review
On November 4, 1979, shouts of “death to America” and “death to the Shah” roared from the streets of Tehran. Outside the American embassy throngs of radical Iranian students pushed against the embassies’ walls shouting in visceral disgust at the American diplomats inside. It wasn’t long before these students brazenly scaled the walls and stormed the […]
More Book Reviews
- “How Terrorism Ends” Book Review
- War in the Shadows: “Confront and Conceal” Book Review
- Book Review: The Iran Wars
- Book Review: The New Tsar
- My Share of the Task by General Stanley McChrystal
- Book Review: Tribe by Sebastian Junger
- Scales on War Book Review
- Washington’s Immortals Book Review
- How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything Review
- Black Flags Review
- Blood Year Review
