Unauthorized Looks at Pacific War Books-Episode 319
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2024
- This week Seth and Bill fulfill another viewership request as they sit down and give a list of some of their top WWII Pacific theater-related books. This list is not in any order, nor is it comprehensive, but off the top of our heads. Hopefully, this will help some of you guys fill up your libraries. Next week we get back to the war.
Here is our list of books:
-Run Silent Run Deep (Edward Beach)
-Silent Victory (Clay Blair)
-Wahoo & Clear the Bridge (Richard O’Kane)
-War in the Boats (William Ruhe)
-Thunder Below (Eugene Fluckey)
-Ghosts of Bungo Suido (P. T. Deutermann)
-Submarine Operations in World War II (Theodore Roscoe)
-The Last Patrol (Harry Holmes)
-Nimitz (E.B. Potter)
-Nimitz at War (Craig Symonds)
-Mastering the Art of Command (Trent Hone)
-Master of Seapower (Thomas Buell)
-Quiet Warrior (E.B. Potter)
-The Admirals (Walter Borneman)
-Indianapolis (Lynn Vincent & Sara Vladic)
-Clash of the Carriers (Barrett Tillman)
-Joe Rochefort’s War (Elliot Carlson)
-And I was There (Edwin Layton)
-Shattered Sword-Jon Parshall/Tony Tully
-Surigao Strait-Tony Tully
-The Japanese Navy in WWII as told by Japanese Naval Officers-David Evans
-Fighting in the Dark-Trent Hone
-Saipan-James Hallas
-The Devil's Anvil-James Hallas
-Japan’s Imperial Army:Its Rise and Fall-Ed Drea
-The Knights of Bushido-Edward Russell
-Island Infernos-John McManus
-Fleet at Flood Tide-Hornfischer
-Utmost Savagery-COL Alexander
-Target Rabaul-Bruce Gamble
-Fortress Rabaul-Gamble
-Invasion Rabaul-Gamble
-Pacific War Diary-James Fahey
-Race of Aces-John Bruning
-Day of Infamy-Walter Lord
-Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors-Hornfischer
-Neptune’s Inferno-Hornfischer
-Enterprise-Tillman
-Whirlwind-Tillman
-Pacific Crucible-Toll
-Conquering Tide-Toll
-Twilight of the Gods-Toll
-Battleship Commander-Paul Stillwell
The Big E Stafford
-Hell from the Heavens-John Wukovits
-Battle for Hell’s Island-Steve Moore
-Pacific Payback-Steve Moore
-Guadalcanal-Rich Frank
-Downfall-Rich Frank
-Tower of Skulls-Rich Frank
-Myth and the Greatest Generation-Kenneth Rose
-Soldier from the War Returning-Thomas Childers
-Their Backs Against the Sea-Bill Sloan
-Helmet for my Pillow-Leckie
-Rampage-James Scott
-Black Snow-Scott
-One Square Mile of Hell-John Wukovits
-Tin Can Titans-Wukovits
-Ghost Mountain Boys-James Campbell
-Wake of the Wahoo-Sterling
-Pig Boats-Theodore Roscoe
-The Old Breed-Sledge
-The First Team-John Lundstrom
-The First Team at Guadalcanal-Lundstrom
-Black Shoe Carrier Admiral-Lundstrom
-Fading Victory-Matome Ugaki
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When I was in Junior High, I would rather take a beating than read a book. One day at the library, I discovered the History section. I picked up a copy of "Guadalcanal Diary". This became the first book I read from cover to cover. It ignited a passion for WWII history in me. A passion I passed on to both my sons and my daughter. My eldest son took the passion to heart and obtained a degree in History.
I was one of those kids that loved going to the library or the bookmobile. Probably got it from my mother as the only thing I ever saw my dad read was Field and Stream or Outdoor Life (1). Now I really actually read a physical book. I went the audio book route years ago. In the car. When doing yard work
etc.
1) Later l found out about the pieces that appeared at the end of the magazines. Many of these were written by Patrick McManus. Funny as heck. First heard them on a show on NPR called Radio Reader iirc. I know about Books on Tape as my mother was legally blind by then. Some good WWll audio books are Scott Atkinson's trilogy about the US Army in North Africa, Italy and Western Europe during WWll. Read by the author. Audio books really depend on the narrator.
Unauthorized Looks at Pacific War Books-Episode 319
I have another book about a heroic aircraft carrier called “Queen of the Flattops,” about the original Lexington. I always found and still do, that she was the most beautiful ship in the sea. Too bad she had to be sunk at Coral Sea.
I found 30 seconds over Tokyo in the fourth grade, did the same for me
Another fine episode. Always struggled with novels but any history was engrossing, it still is decades later
Japanese Destroyer Captain by Hara Tameichi. Capt. Hara has a very interesting perspective of the war and I especially found his perspective of the Barroom Brawl to be enlightening. His destroyer absolutely got clobbered by Helena and he somehow got the ship and the remnants of his crew home when it should have been a permanent resident of Iron Bottom Sound.
Enjoyed that book. He knew a thing or two about deploying torpedos, too.
There were parts of Hornfischer’s “Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors” that left me breathless. To paraphrase, in the entire history of the US Navy it never showed more gumption, guts and glory than the Battle off Samar.
Hornfischer s books are all top notch and very readable
I could not agree more. Many passages in that book put a lump in my throat at the heroism of those young men. It was IMHO the greatest display of valor in the history of the U.S. Navy. What made it so astounding was that every little ship in Taffy 3 responded to the call when it was almost sure suicide to do so.
My favorite book to come out of the Pacific during World War II is a pretty obvious choice, With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge. I don't know how many times I've read that book but it had the most impact of anything I've ever read. I'm 69 and I'm a voracious reader so that for me is saying a lot. Also, I just wanted to add that listening to your commentary when you bring up names like Surigao Straight or Subic Bay or any number of locations in the Pacific I have to say that with my dad being a veteran of World War II, Navy South Pacific, I think I knew where Subic Bay was before I knew where New York City was! This really is a trip down memory lane for me and really helps me to reconnect with my father and understand what he went through during that time. So thank you for all the hard work and the dedication you guys put into this!
Hard to argue with that choice.
My first WWII book (in library class in Anthony Wayne Elementary School in Detroit in 1961) was Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo by Ted Lawsen. In California in 1986, I shook Jimmy Doolittle’s hand at his 90th birthday party.
That must have been pretty cool!
Thanks to you guys I purchased Shattered Sword. Incredible book. Incredible details.
These three highly entertaining Americans, Seth, Bill, and Jon, have influenced and added to my reading material for 3 years.
Trent and Jon may have helped spark international focus on the Pacific Conflict.
I am so glad that Neptune's Inferno is a part of this list. It is probably the best book about a Pacific Naval Campaign that I have read since the 1980's. R.I.P. Mr. Hornfischer, he died to soon because only in the last few years do I think a forum for his work has emerged online. I do wonder what he would've provided for us if he was still alive today.
HORNBLOWER!!!!
(French curse word.)
@morganhale3434 WADDYA mean he died 2 soon ?? He left his mark : half a dozen significant books. The Tin Can S my fav, excellent drive in narration. Some of us just leave the planet sooner than others. Life is a gene-based LOTTERY - as is its culmination/intensification/intoxication - W A R ...
Welcome to NATO !
Semper fiNN 🇫🇮
Run Silent, Run Deep - I saw the movie and went to the public library to see if I could read the book. Well, the library had the book . . . but it was in the adult section and I was too young to be allowed to even go into the adult section. So, this was the first time I got my father (my mother refused) to check out an adult book for me. Funny thing about what you remember.
Don't recall how old I was or the title of the book, but I do recall going to check out something on WWII at the library and the librarian saying, "Oh, honey, this is probably a little too difficult for you", and replying, "but I've already read half of it." She let me check it out. Wish more people found the joy of simply reading history.
I'm glad to see your mention of Lord Russel of Liverpool. "The Knights of Bushido" is probably the most horrific book I have ever read. The atrocities committed by the IJN and IJA should never be forgotten.
I haven't read the book but I'm going to do a search and see if I can find it. So thank you! My dad was a veteran of the US Navy, South Pacific during World War II and he said there was a saying that went around back in the day that went, "Wherever the Japanese went rape, torture, and murder followed." Kind of speaks for itself.
@Jakal-pw8yq Lord Russell served as a prosecutor at both the Nuremberg and Tokyo war crimes trials. Wrote a book on both. And both books are very tough to read.
I was fascinated by Prange's "Miracle At Midway" when I first read it back in the '70s. It's dated now, since it relied too heavily on Fujita's now-discredited reporting on the battle, but it had some insightful takes on the strategies of both sides and what each did right and wrong. For an up-to-date overview of the battle, there's Symond's "Battle of Midway", but as stated frequently in this podcast, "Shattered Sword" is the gold standard, at least when it comes to the Japanese perspective on the battle.
I was one of your viewers asking for a list of books.
Now I have got one. Thanks for all the work you put into this lists and, of course, the podcast as a whole!
Carry on.
Some I always return to and enjoy:
'God Is My Copilot' Robert Scott
'No Surrender: My 30 Year War' Hiroo Onoda
'Crisis In The Pacific' Gerald Astor
Good to see you all taking a different turn from the usual fare, mentally refreshing to take different roads occasionally.
Hi gents, you guys are doing an outstanding job, I'm thoroughly enjoying your shows!
Bill thank you for your service, I enjoy your contributions and enthusiasm.
Seth, my wife and I visited the WW2 Museum in NOLA just over a year ago....what a great assembly of information, displays and beauty!
After 5 years I accomplished the goal of the seeing it. My wife who is not a history buff like myself (her grandfather was a tailgunner in a B-25 Mitchell and was downed by a mid-air collision in '44. He and 3 others bailed out and the other 3 did not)
She really enjoyed the museum!
Thanks for this list. I echo the kudos for James Hornfischer. "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" and "Neptune's Inferno" stand high on my list. Fortunately, my list is infinitely expandable, so I'm glad to add this list to my must-reads.
Bill Toti, "Age is a terrible thing." Toby Keith, "Don't Let the Old Man In" (RIP)
Bill's mention of the Surigao Strait brought up a memory. Our carrier group steamed through there on one occasion, and happened to do so during my watch. I had looked up estimated positions (i.e., lat/longs) of where Fuso and Yamashiro sank. At the beginning of the watch, I gave the coords to one of the Ops Specialists (OS's) and had them brought up as points on our large-screen display. Didn't initially tell anyone what they were. As we transited, we happened to roll right over Fuso's final resting place (again, estimated), and I told everyone in the team what those points were. A nice little history discussion ensued.
Thank you thank you thank you for this episode. Yes books are the cornerstone for studying history. Some good and some not so good but it is necessary to read the goods and bads to get a better understanding of a historical events. Seth made a point of an author from 1970 of which that author probably had access to information up to that time. So it's not a bad book by today's standards with much more information is surfacing making current writings more complete. Thank you again Seth and Bill with an excellent World War Two history podcasts. Keep doing what you are doing and stay the course.
I read The Silent Victory when it came out in the mid-70s. It came about the same time that The Ultra Secret. Both were able to use declassified material involving US code breaking efforts during WWII. I was a cadet at USCGA at the time. There was a book review that I read stating that all histories of the war were now obsolete because of the materials in these books. Thanks for mentioning The Silent Victory in this podcast. These books meant a lot to me.
At Dawn We Slept - by Prange was an excellant summary of the issues that lead to the attach on Pearl Harbor. I highly recommend it. Great work Guys. I really appreciate your show.
I was pleased that "Our Jungle Road to Tokyo" was mentioned. I bought it at a rummage sale for a dollar. Walking to my car, I found that not only was it autographed but there was a letter from General Eichelberger to the lady who bought the book. She had been on staff during the occupation and had worked with the general. He mentioned having his overcoat stolen from a room full of MPs while in Tokyo. I have read much about the general since getting his book.
I am currently reading a " A Torch to the Enemy" about the Tokyo fire raid.
Jungle Road is very good and gives you a close up view of Mac (not so pretty)
@bradleybarnhart4188 THE EPISODE elaborated by u sounds so far out it approaches being uncanny ....don t doubt it, but stuff like that happens in movie happenstances in real life only. Kinda chandleresque, like mine, which concerns an autographed copy of the memoir by LIGHTNING JOE COLLINS, personally signed to a FINNISH gen major - in Helsinki in the 60s: WAR IN PEACETIME - THE LESSONS OF KOREA - Houghton Mifflin 1969. Signed to WO = Warrant Officer, ret AARNE JUURIKAS, a WW2 recce pilot w 3 kills. = Quite a gesture from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff = ☆☆☆☆ to a foreign friend (maybe thru the Finnish-American Society channels ?).
I snatched it 20 yrs ago for €10 @ an antiquarian bs downtown H ... true story, sounds like fiction .. as does life, on an occasion here'n'ere ...
Welcome to NATO !! 🇫🇮
Starting a different post: I see the value in re-reading books that current scholarship have surpassed in ability to research or viewing the subject in current societal and accepted historical lights. Example in my library Lord's Incredible Victory, Prange's Miracle at Midway and of course Shattered Sword. The evolution of the scholarship leads to a deeper understanding of the subject and a look at the intellectual process of the times each book was written making them a valid piece of the historical puzzle.
yes, I'd really like the boys to comment on the progression of 1st hand accounts, Morrison, new stuff (Prange) after declassification, new Japanese sources with Parshall etc!
Bookmarked this episode for future shopping ideas. Thanks, guys!
ETA: Gerald Astor's "Wings of Gold" is a great oral history of USN fliers in the Pacific War.
ETA2: Another great personal memoir, from Ted Mason, "Battleship Sailor", shows a great perspective of a sailor's life before the war aboard a USN BB, up to the attack on PH.
Excellent podcast! Two authors to add: Edward Beach (anything by him) and Tameichi Hara for his *Destroyer Captain*--a great account by an IJN Officer. Another Japanese perspective is *Zero!* by Martin Caiden, Masatake Okumiya, et al. and *Samurai!* by Saburo Sakai. I read them first in 1965, and re-read them a number of times over the years. Eichelberger was my father-in-law's General from his service in the American Division. Visited his grave at Arlington. He worked in the shadow of MacArthur, and is not well known for that reason, I believe. Thank you for all these recommendations.
I really enjoyed Hara (Destroyer Captain). I'd like the boys to review the translated Japanese accounts (Hara, Sakai, several others) How much of this in the 50s was "cleaned up" for American readers?
The book that got me hooked on the Pacific War was Queen of the Flattops by Stanley Johnston about the USS Lexington.
Silent Running by Jim Calvert is an excellent submarine book! One of my personal favorites.
I really enjoy the podcast! You all do a great job covering the many campaigns - naval and land. Thanks for what you do.
Love this episode. It seems like catching the history bug happens when we hit 12-14,. I know it was that way for me. After seeing the movie Mr Roberts, and then reading the book, I ripped thru my father's library of Pacific War books. Walter Lord's Incredible Victory and Day of Infamy, The Big E, Admiral Halsey's Story, Strong men armed by Robert Leckie, Samuel Elliot Morrison's abridged edition of his 14 volume work called Two Ocean War and How they won the war in the Pacific by Edwin P Hoyt. I was a teenager when I read these, no wonder I went dateless in high school lol!
The Big E and Incredible Victory were my entry point for military history.
Imagine if Ching Lee had lived to write about his exploits. Such an interesting character.
And yes, i do have Battleship Commander.
This episode has cost me more money, and it's both of your faults.
From Shattered Sword, Learning War, Battleship Commander, Fighting in the Dark, Nimitz, Big E,
Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, are all on the shelf since 3 years ago on your first episodes, and now the Pacific Conflict is a library section. I still need the Balao Bilge Pump Technical Orders, so it isn't complete...yet.
Amazon should give you two a hefty kickback.
If buying books IMO better to buy history or biography. Fiction you can get at the library.
I agree with your comments about Ian Tolls trilogy on the Pacific War. I also was enthralled and could not put the books down.
My entry drug into WW2 history was the book They Were Expendable by W.L. White. I picked it up in my elementary school library and could not put it down. Later I saw the movie based upon the book and I was hooked for life. When I was in 9th grade I bought an abridged version of the 15 volume History of United States Naval Operations in World War II by Samuel Eliot Morison. Morison was a 54 year old Harvard Professor who asked President Roosevelt for a commission in the Navy and he was a witness to planning, operations, and battles during the war. His histories are well written and far from dry. No less a historian and writer than John Keegan said the book was the best written about the War. Morison was prolific winning a number of awards for his writing including two Pulitzer Prizes for histories about Christopher Columbus and John Paul Jones.
Morrison is like the fundamental source, although he, like Nimitz, didn't like to say anything bad about the Navy, but that kind of perspective comes with time, in the 40s and 50s we were still consolidating what we knew about what happened!
They Were Expendable was also my entry into WWII. I must have been under ten years old. I have read it probably upwards of fifteen times. It was written during the war so it was factually compromised. But I don’t think by design. Just that all of the information was not known until after the war. But for a book written during the war it was remarkably accurate in it's narrative. Surprised at Clark Field eight hours after Pearl Harbor, inadequate anti-aircraft protection, destruction of Cavite, inadequacy of the Filipino Army, For a book published in 1942, that was remarkably heady stuff.
I'm a big fan of your show and books are windows to the world of knowledge. Excellent discussion, keep the podcasts coming.
I might recommend Line of Departure: TARAWA by Martin Russ
Jon Parshall and John Lundstrom were on a podcast 10 years ago talking about the book "Refighting the Pacific War" written by John Bresnahan. Lundstrom made a comment that burned into me so quoting him, "If you have the background to know what you are talking about and you do your homework. Then information is very valuable but if you are doing pet theories and things off the top of your head that is nonsense. You have to understand what you are talking about." I use that as my mandate in my studies.
Seth, Bill, thank you!
I have been picking up your recommendations as the podcast continues, and I am having a blast. Please keep the recommendations coming.
Thanks for this, my reading list is now much longer. You guys are terrific. Allow me to mention my first read on the Pacific War, "Lonely Vigil" by Walter Lord, a gripping account for my 12-year-old self several decades ago.
Lonely Vigil, about the Coast Watchers in the Solomon Islands is absolutely excellent! Fascinating, especially the part about Donald Kennedy on New Georgia.
Another wonderful podcast gentlemen, I really enjoy spending Tuesday morning with you both. Thanks for this exhaustive list, it seems I jave a lot of reading ahead of me.
Read Shattered Sword when I first met Jon on your show. Fantastic. Waiting, patiently, sort of, for his book on 42. Will be checking out more now I have a list. Thank you. Agree... Hornfischer's books are incredible.
W.E.B. GRIFFIN's Corps series is my all time favorites , it is historical fiction but very well done
I've read (1) and enjoyed Griffin's fiction but I have to admit I find it repeating the same basic plot lines and characters. In all the series. I think I enjoyed the one about the cops in Philly the most. Stuart Woods Stone Barrington series is similiar in being formulitic.
1) Rarely crack a book now. Went the audio book route years ago. I can be doing something else while listening. Exercise, yard work etc.
I'm listening to this with great interest. My first and favorite WWII book was The Hundred Best and True Stories of World War II. I especially remember the stories of the sinking of the Lexington and the British ship Repulse and Prince of Wales.
Great show gentlemen.
"Pacific War Diary" by James Fahey was one of those books that was loaned to me, I took kind of a casual interest in it, but once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Talk about a sailor's eye view of the action! And coincidence of all coincidences, my father served aboard the USS Montpelier during that same time. I have no idea if he ever knew James Fahey, it was a big ship so... anyway I just wanted to put my two cents worth in and recommend the book. In some ways it's on the same level as "With the Old Breed". Not as gruesome but still riveting.
My father was your fathers shipmate , he used to follow the annual reunion before his passing, bless them all the best of the best.
Totally agree. Probably my favorite book about the US Navy.
I also recommend THE SECOND WORLD WARS by Victor Davis Hanson. A book that requires you paying attention, but will definitely give a unique perspective of WW2.
Once again to beat the drum as a airlifter and logistist, you cannot fully appreciate the war without the supply and support functions that forced the decision on how the war was fought.
Since professionals talk logistics a must read is Beans, Bullets and Black Oil. Every drop of bunker oil, gasoline, deisel fuel and often water had to be suppied by tankers. Food, clothing, shoes, toothpaste had to be supplied by shipping. One of the interesting facts that did not supprise me from this book was that cable was airlifted in to support the Okinawa assault.
One of the interesting ventures of interservice cooperation during the SOPAC campaign was Marine Air Group (MAG) 25. The unit initially existed as two Marine R4D (C-47) squadrons. The two USAAF Troop Carrier Squadrons (TCS) and the Air Medical Evacuation Squadrons were integrated under MAG 25 command. The only mention of MAG 25 that I have found in a book is the Thirsty 13th. The 13th TCS was one of the USAAF flying squadrons of MAG 25. The only other history of MAG 25 that I know of is a single article from the Marine Corps Gazette which makes no mention of the 3 USAAF squadrons. The campaign in the Solomon Islands could have been much differnt without the aviation gasoline flown in after the battleship bombardment and air evacuated casualties by MAG 25.
Oh by the way Seth, General Robert Eichelberger who was involved with the 41st Infantry Div. (The Jungleers) is our favorite General at the Oregon Military Museum. Thanks for mentioning his book. I will find a copy.
A treasure trove of recommendations for excellent books on WWII Pacific theater. I took to heart your movie recommendations and just watched the Great Raid and it was really well done. I look forward to all of your podcasts.
Goodbye Darkness, by William Manchester was my first WW2 Pacific War exposure. I was in the hospital and my dad brought me some books. It is an excellent book.
That was my favorite book as a teenager. I was obsessed with it and I read it multiple times. Unfortunately, Manchester fabricated many of those stories. Look it up.
@@Chevelle602 ah bummer, i liked it a lot too.
Many of these are more modern books, which of course reflects modern scholarship. Still, there are older books are I think were quite good and have aged well: How They Won the War in the Pacific by Hoyt and The Fast Carriers by Reynolds. Reynolds also captures the strengths and weaknesses of Jocko Clark in On the Warpath. And for sheer completeness there’s always Morison’s multi-volume history and Battle Report by Karig. I am also fond of Double-Edged Secrets by Holmes (who was a submariner). These might require some effort to find but they’re worthwhile.
I'm glad you said this isn't a definitive list, because there are a lot more excellent books about the Pacific War.
Yes, not in the list but Bill mentioned it, Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy. I thought I was the only one who had read this tome. Highly recommend, and thanks, Bill, for validating its worth.
Bill Run Silent Run Deep was my first war book I checked out and read in school.
I think I read that several times! Not as many as Seth!
Shattered Sword paired with Japanese Destroyer Captain is mine for naval stuff, also Shadows in the Jungle
That was great guys and thanks again. As an Australian I was quite ignorant of the Pacific War except for Pearl Harbour, Midway and Kokoda until about five years ago when I started reading Ian Toll's trilogy, before the last one was even out. Since then I've read 30 books on the Pacific War (and have Ed Drea's tome on the Japanese Army in the queue and just ordered Anthony Tully's 'Battle of Surigao Strait' on your recommendation). So, this was a very useful podcast for me, if not for my bank account. I was an early subscriber to your podcast and have not missed an episode - and listen to each at least twice (on YT and Spotify usually) because it was a very complicated war full of hard to remember names - and also because your podcasts are so enjoyable and I need something to keep me entertained while getting my daily 10k steps. I know that as a commentator I should also do some carping, so I'll just mention that there are maybe a dozen recent books by Australian authors - mostly about the New Guinea campaign. The quality is variable, but they tend to include first hand accounts. Maybe the best are Phillip Bradley's 'Hell's Battlefield' and 'D-Day New Guinea', but I found MIchael Veitch's 'The Battle of the Bismarck Sea' entertaining. Just one question for Bill - I know I've been a bit of a bludger but the only book that I have read on the Pacific submarine war was Charles Lockwood's 'Sink 'em All' (throwaway cheap on Amazon Kindle). That didn't make your list and I just wondered if it was because it had major flaws?
Tully's Surigao is great read!
In terms of technical books and deeper dive into warships operations, I would recommend US Destroyer Operations book by Theodore Roscoe, granted it's an old book and had lots of pages, but I got it from my Grandpa and one of the reasons it started my naval history passion. Another book I would recommend is the US Submarine Operations also by Theodore Roscoe, which I bought secondhand from a local bookstore for cheap 15 bucks, covered great detail about US submarine designs, weapons, tactics and combat history during WWII.
One of my favorites and a book puts you "there" is Wing Leader by Johnny Johnson. It follows him from flying on Douglas Bader's wing all the through the end of the war. Johnson was the leading ace of the RAF in WW 2. Great work fellows please keep it up!
I recently read "Helmet for my Pillow" Almost as good as a read as "With the Old Breed", once u get used to Leckie's style.
Both are excellent.
excellent episode with some great (and expensive) suggestions. One that was missing (even from the comments, which surprises me) is "Little Ship, Big War" by Edward P Stafford (who also wrote the first history of the Enterprise that I ever read). Great deck-level view of a DE in the second half of the pacific war.
What do folks think about the book “At Dawn We Slept” by Gordon Prange. I read it for pleasure when I was in College and was impressed by its detail and description of the diplomatic events leading to the attack. It was written about 45 years ago and given nothing else has come out since on PH, I assume that it is still the definitive account ?
I read my first military book in jr high.. It was Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo... At the time was interesting.. That book got my attention on WW II..
I know I was in grade school when I read it. My grade pushed reading and reading comprehension big time. By the time I got out of grade school I was reading at a HS Senior comprehension level.
Admiral - What did you do?
Fluckey - Well sir, there was this train and I was bored.
Thanks very much for this, guys. I've already purchased several books mentioned in previous episodes, but it's great to have more recommendations. 👍
Great recommendations guys!
You've read my mind (no pun intended) on several of great books on the Pacific theater. One that you didn't mention, that I read about twenty some years ago after it's release but I thought was outstanding then and I bet still holds out well in the opinion of Pacific War historians is Fire in the Sky by Eric Bergerud. An outstanding look at the air war in the South Pacific 1941-43, concentrating on the air campaign over New Guinea, especially regarding General Kenney's Fifth Air Force, and also the air battles over the Solomons with the Marines and Navy.
BERGERUD has a ch. Not much stuff on it. Communicated once. A silent guy, a prof in Oakland area.
First, you guys are awesome!! My favorite is The Pacific War Remembered, an oral history collection by John T Mason. He has interviews with 31 of the key players you guys talk about. He interviewed Thomas Hart about the time leading up to Pearl Harbor, John Thach talks about how he figured out the Thach Weave, Arleigh Burke with a different version of how he became 31 knot Burke, Draper Kauffman talks about "borrowing " battleships, Harry Hill and many others. This book makes an excellent companion piece to your series. Keep up the good work!
Great episode!
I grew up reading my dad's copies of some of those books (Pigboats, The Big E) I was given a copy of Silent Victory as a birthday present, and read parts of dad's copy of Morrison's work (While a huge undertaking, most codebreaking had been declassified by the '70s so much of Morrison's work was sadly out of date)
Now I know the titles of a more books to get!
I love your recommendations! I already bought the Willis Lee book because you recommended it. It's so good!! Thank you for your outstanding podcast/TH-cam channel. Keep up the great work! Now, I have to buy Seth's Enterprise book plus more!
I just turned this on so I don't know if they mention these 2 books, but I HOPE they mention Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys, both by James Bradley
Neptune's Inferno is also one of my favorite. Given how Mr. Hornfischer's last book covered the first fifteen years of the Cold War I wonder if it was intended as the first in a trilogy about the USN in the Cold War.
Also I would recommend getting a copy of The World Wonder'd by Robert Lundgren. It is a very technical book, unlike Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, but it likely has the best minute to minute breakdown of what happened in the Battle Off Samar.
Seth thanks for the heads up on Myth and the Greatest Generation and Soldier from the war returning already ordered both. All this list has been great, but can I make a suggestion? Touched with Fire the Land War in the South Pacific. Great read and includes our Australian allies quite prominently.
Very interesting episode. 1 hr is enough!
My first deep dive into US naval action was Samuel Eliot Morison's 15 volume history (in its entirety). At the time, most of the books on Seth & Bill's lists hadn't been written yet. Ugaki's diary is in a class by itself - lots of nuggets about what combined fleet was thinking.
Grew up reading Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis and Tarawa Diary by Robert Sherrod.
It's nice to get the book list, really top-shelf; it's a great start to more book-hunting. Thanks again!
Recently read 'Battleship Commander' and 'Australia's Secret Army' thanks to you, Started with 'Guadalcanal Diary'. Great books.
Thank you so very much for the booklist. Six decades ago (about), I started with S.L. Marshall. Have not stopped reading about WWII since. Many of the books I acquired are tied together with rubber bands, especially Strlings Wahoo history . Literally Stirling has no connected pages now. Easy to read except each page is loose necessitating spreading out the pages on a table. Again thanks for the booklist and your video series as well. Never miss and episode.
One of my favorites was "The Two Ocean War" by Samuel Eliot Morrison. If you are brave, take on the fifteen volumes of his "History of United States Naval Operations in World War II." It's not perfect, but it was written shortly after the war, and he had access to all the Navy's information.
Yes, Morison's works were not perfect, yet he wrote with first hand experience of many of the battles and campaigns. His works are very readable. Do not discount his works. The current historians use his works as a base for their endeavors.
@@timandellenmoran1213 Agreed; I read this series in 2018 and it is a great foundation to everything else discussed on this pod. Surprised there was no mention of it.
"Sailor From Oklahoma”, Floyd Beaver, Naval Institute Press, 2009
The memoir of an Oklahoma farm boy who enlisted in the Navy in1939. His first assignment was the USS Indianapolis and he devotes a seventeen page chapter to the experience. Great read.
Amazed how many these I’ve read… my first, in junior high, was also The Big E. My dad gave me the copy. My favorite on the subject is Toll’s Trilogy. Hard to top those, I think.
As for fiction, “Battle Cry” by Leon Uris, had the best description of Marine Corps boot camp ever.
Battle Cry was my first introduction to Guadalcanal, also Tregaskis "Guadalcanal Diary"
I really enjoyed Island Infernos, just wrapped it up. I'll throw a special interest book Silent Warriors of World War II: The Alamo Scouts Behind Japanese Lines by Lance Zedric. He'd be a great guy to get on if you do an Alamo Scouts episode.
Thank you Bill and Seth.
Jimmy Doolittle autobiography was incredible. Most influential American ever!!!
I really enjoy these book review podcasts/videos, and they usually end up costing me money. The first military book I can remember reading (more than once) was titled "Great American Fighter Aces of World War II". This is where I was introduced to men like Bong, McGuire, Boyington, Hanson and many others. I will take this opportunity to put in a plug for a book by Donald Kehn titled "In the Highest Degree Tragic" regarding the USS Houston and the rest of the ABDA debacle in early 1942.
I love this channel. You guys are awesome.
Very good episode, thanks.
Great podcast.From my father's bookshelf as a youth: Battle Cry by Leon Uris, Caine Mutiny by Hermann Wouk, and Away All Boats by Kenneth Dobson. Not famous but my father served on this ship; called Battleship at War by Ivan Musicant about USS Washington, BB-56.
I'm currently reading Shattered Sword. Very good so far. I just finished Peter Harmsen's Pacific War trilogy. I'm so happy to see a list of books for my library. Thanks guys for the wonderful recommendations.
Loved this episode Gentleman, I’ll just add one book to this exceptional list that I treasure, Battleship at War by Musicant Ivan. I’ve gifted it several times as the Battleship companion to The Big E which I also treasure. Cheers ! - Wright Sublette
Another great show. Amazon also liked it as I spent my months book allowance while listening.😎
Iron Coffins by Herbert Werner, read it every fall setting in a tree stand hunting deer. Bill it's about subs!!!!
That picture with all the pin up girls is epic
Thanks guys... I picked up a couple of books from this presentation to add to my library. 😅
Thank you gentlemen for giving me an excuse to take the weekend without football off to make another bookshelf. keep up the info please
RSRD is fiction but incorporates elements from real war patrols. If it's a choice between reading the book or seeing the movie, read the book. "The Big E" was written, IIRC, in 1957, and reflects what was known (or could be published) then, but definitely holds up well (unlike books about Midway that incorporate Fuchida's claim that Kido Butai's strike was within minutes of launching when Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu were hit). I used to have the same paperback edition that Seth showed.
Race of Aces was incredible, totally amazing.
Doolittle’s Raiders by LTC Carrol Glines. Interviews with a member of each crew and an in depth history of this historic mission. A friend gave me an autographed first edition end that is the best of my collection.
I had the same exact same feeling with Ian W Tolls' trilogy. It was as if I was on the edge of my seat, just waiting for the history that happened to change before my very eyes.
re John Lundstrom. Of course the two First Team volumes and Black Shoe Carrier Admiral are superb, and on my short list of favorites among Pacific War histories. But I'd mention also, don't overlook Lundstrom's first book, which I think is far less well known. "The First South Pacific Campaign", published 1976. For its time, a very original and thought-provoking look at the South Pacific campaign which culminated in the Coral Sea. Despite being almost 50 years old at this point, it still casts a "new light" on Nimitz' strategy and decisionmaking during this period, which in turn flows into his planning and decisions leading to Midway. The picture Ludstrom paints - pretty convincingly, as he always does - is that the (obviously successful) attempt at Midway to inflict disproportionate losses if possible to the IJN carrier force was a logical continuation of what Nimitz had already been pursuing for several months. The type of "calculated risk" major carrier engagement which occurred at Midway had also been his objective for Coral Sea and probable subsequent South Pacific engagements (which did not actually occur...the Kido Butai went to Midway instead). Well worth a read; brings out a lot of context which just doesn't show very well in even recent histories of the early/mid 1942 Pacific War.
Same first book and same age ( 5th grade) as Seth. I re read the Big E once a year. Keeps the history juices flowing!
Edson Parker here, THANK YOU GUYS, I'M 74, BORN AUGUST 19,
1949 , BECAUSE OF Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT BOOKS - I AM THE VERY UTMOST FAVORITE UDT, HARD HAT DIVER , SUBMARINE RESCUER, THAT THE HERO OF SUBIC BAY -- A. A.
MIKALOW ever graduated from Oakland School of Deep Sea Diving.
NOW after this episode on books I need your help to write a multi faceted book on
The BAD ASS SEA BEE
Subaru Sakai was a good book, a book about the Hellcat was awsome back in junior high school, a book about Tarawa was also nice as was my subscription to the WW2 series my parents gave me.