Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

43 Books About War Every Man Should Read
Art of Manliness ^ | 12-2-13 | Ryan Holiday.

Posted on 01/10/2014 5:48:26 PM PST by dynachrome

War is unquestionably mankind at his worst. Yet, paradoxically, it is in war that men — individual men — often show the very best of themselves. War is often the result of greed, stupidity, or depravity. But in it, men are often brave, loyal, and selfless.

I am not a soldier. I have no plans to become one. But I’ve studied war for a long time. I am not alone in this.

The greats have been writing and reading about war — its causes, its effects, its heroes, its victims — since the beginning of written text. Some of our most powerful literature is either overtly about war or profoundly influenced by it. Homer’s epic poems are about war — first, ten years of battle against Troy and then ten years of battle against nature and the gods. Thucydides, our first great historian, wrote about the Peloponnesian War — the great war between Sparta and Athens. Rome was built by war and literature, and the world has been influenced by that ever since. The American Empire is no different — our men came home and wrote about the Civil War, about the Spanish-American War, about WWI, about WWII. A new generation has come home and has written (and is still writing) powerful books about the counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The study of war is the study of life, because war is life in the rawest sense. It is death, fear, power, love, adrenaline, sacrifice, glory, and the will to survive.

(Excerpt) Read more at artofmanliness.com ...


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Reference
KEYWORDS: bookclub; bookreview; books; literature; war
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-142 next last
Have at the arguments!

I am surprised how many I have read and how many I now need to read.

1 posted on 01/10/2014 5:48:26 PM PST by dynachrome
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

There is a lot of money to be made in war. I’m surprised there’s no book about it.


2 posted on 01/10/2014 5:51:04 PM PST by Zuben Elgenubi (NOPe to GOPe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

“There’s no question it is a good thing a full generation has passed in the West without requiring the majority of young people to feel the full brunt of war.

At the same time, this can lead to a profound ignorance and naivete”


3 posted on 01/10/2014 5:51:28 PM PST by dynachrome (Vertrou in God en die Mauser)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

So women should be excluded? Maybe everyone should read them. One of my favorites is The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman. There are several books on the War of Secession aka The Civil War. Then there is the biography of Curtis LeMay, Ulysses S. Grant, Eisenhower, Churchill, etc. Not being argumentative and all but .....


4 posted on 01/10/2014 5:55:10 PM PST by SkyDancer ("How Can People Ask Forgiveness If They Won't Forgive Others?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

Why do I need 43 books about war?


5 posted on 01/10/2014 5:56:41 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

What you expect from a site called “The Art of Mnaliness”?

haha.


6 posted on 01/10/2014 5:58:13 PM PST by dynachrome (Vertrou in God en die Mauser)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

This idiot downplayz Sun Tzu. Chairman Moa’s Little Red Book was almost a verbatim plagiarism of Sun Tzu.

“The Art of War” was in fact and indeed the “ART OF WAR.”

Couple THOUSAND years OLD. And as new as the newest day.


7 posted on 01/10/2014 5:59:12 PM PST by ConradofMontferrat ( According to mudslimz, my handle is a HATE CRIME. And I HOPE they don't like it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

ps. Guns of August is very good. Should be on the list.


8 posted on 01/10/2014 6:00:07 PM PST by dynachrome (Vertrou in God en die Mauser)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

I agree with a few of the books but not most of the list.


9 posted on 01/10/2014 6:00:09 PM PST by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

I have read most of these books, and most of those that I haven’t read I will add to my list and read in short order. But, very few of these books would have made much sense to me until I had experience the unmistakable sound and pressure of a bullet passing by my eye. Until you have seen the elephant, you know little and can understand nothing. Manliness in the metrosexual context of present day has nothing to do with it.


10 posted on 01/10/2014 6:00:27 PM PST by centurion316
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyDancer

>> Not being argumentative

Are too! :-)


11 posted on 01/10/2014 6:01:05 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

The list cannot be taken seriously. He has Caputo’s drugged out freak fantasy on Vietnam which is an insult to Vietnam vets who served honorably. Caputo even makes insulting comments about the bodies of dead American soldiers.

The list is a hodgepodge made up over many minutes of consideration.


12 posted on 01/10/2014 6:02:49 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 (...even more American than a French bikini and a Russian AK-47)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Monterrosa-24

That is one I have not read. I’ll take a freeper’s word for it.


13 posted on 01/10/2014 6:04:33 PM PST by dynachrome (Vertrou in God en die Mauser)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: centurion316
Until you have seen the elephant

Well put.

14 posted on 01/10/2014 6:05:10 PM PST by doc1019
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

I was surprised that I had read several of these since I am not much of a reader.

I agree that Xenophon’s story of the 10,000 Greek Mercenaries is an absolute must not for just a military historian but for everyone.

Thucydides is a real treasure but it is really long and tough going. The amount of information is really incredible.


15 posted on 01/10/2014 6:07:32 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8: verses 38 and 39. "For I am persuaded".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome
One of the best I have ever read is “Jihad in the West. Muslim conquests from the 7th to the 21st Century. Paul Fregosi. It is riveting and explains the incredible expansion by the sword by the new found “religion” of the “prophet” Muhammed. I read it twice, it is that good and eye-opening. Reading this will give anyone ample evidence to refute any apologetic for Islam.
16 posted on 01/10/2014 6:08:40 PM PST by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome
It's actually not the best reading list IMO. There are so many great first hand accounts of war available that I don't know where to begin.

Perhaps with one I just finished. It's one of the best accounts of WWII submarine warfare I've ever read, and I've read several great ones:

Thunder Below!: The USS *Barb* Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II - by Eugene B. Fluckey


17 posted on 01/10/2014 6:13:36 PM PST by Errant (Surround yourself with intelligent and industrious people who help and support each other.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

Am not@! :)


18 posted on 01/10/2014 6:15:43 PM PST by SkyDancer ("How Can People Ask Forgiveness If They Won't Forgive Others?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

Read it several times. Very good agreed. But those others I mentioned are good too, esp. LeMay. I see a bit of James T. Kirk in the reading. I wonder ... hmmmm......


19 posted on 01/10/2014 6:17:36 PM PST by SkyDancer ("How Can People Ask Forgiveness If They Won't Forgive Others?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome

Guy stuff????


20 posted on 01/10/2014 6:17:57 PM PST by SkyDancer ("How Can People Ask Forgiveness If They Won't Forgive Others?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-142 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson