Gary Brecht (illuminater) - Le Claire, IA (232 books)

Gary Brecht gave

to:

Theatre of Fish: Travels Through Newfoundland and Labrador
by John Gimlette

My rating:

Gary Brecht gave

to:

Shakespeare: The World as Stage
by Bill Bryson

read in March, 2011

My rating:

Having read many books about Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age, it would seem that one about the same subject by a native of Des Moines Iowa would be a joke. But in fact, it’s not. Bill Bryson cuts through the fog and reveals that we know very, ver...more

Gary Brecht gave

to:

The War for All the Oceans by Lesley Adkins

The War for All the Oceans: From Nelson at the Nile to Napoleon at Waterloo
by Lesley Adkins

My rating:

Essentially a chronicling of the major sea battles fought by the British navy during the years England contested Napoleon’s dream of world conquest, this book makes a perfect compliment to Patrick O’Brien’s historical fiction on the same subject. The...moreEssentially a chronicling of the major sea battles fought by the British navy during the years England contested Napoleon’s dream of world conquest, this book makes a perfect compliment to Patrick O’Brien’s historical fiction on the same subject. The central theme of this historical account is that the British navy, through discipline, technology, and strategic persistence combined with the superior leadership of its naval commanders, managed to thwart Napoleon Bonaparte’s ambition to rule the world. In so doing, as the authors point out, the British navy set the stage for world dominance of the seas. Not only did this enable their army to survive several disasters until Napoleon was defeated on land, but it also helped to establish an economic empire for Great Britain.

What makes this history a bit more interesting is the detail the authors bring to the story. By providing us with first hand accounts (ranging from lowly combatants to political leaders of the time) we get eye witness views of events. Moreover, we are allowed to follow the careers of several of the lesser known naval commanders of that era. In many other histories we seldom get much beyond the descriptions of the major battles. The Adkins have chosen to inform us about other aspects of that era which are normally ignored. For example, we learn how prior to a significant accident along the English seacoast shipwrecked corpses were dismissed as objects to be looted. Subsequent to a major sea disaster the law was changed and thereafter required victims to be recorded and properly buried. We also learn the grisly details of how each side treated prisoners of war. These chapters of the book ought to be required reading for the U.S. government today. Americans should be proud of how well they treated their captured British counterparts when compared to how the British and French treated each others’ captured participants.

Also some national pride can be garnered from recounting the U.S.A.’s few naval victories against the British during the War of 1812. Moreover, the account of the Battle of New Orleans reminds us of how fortunate we were to defeat the British who had the strongest army and navy in the West Indies at that time.

This history underscores the vast breadth of territory the British needed to cover in order to become masters of the world’s oceans. Even if their dominance, in the scope of recorded human history, was only for a short time, nevertheless it is impressive. After reading this book one realizes how much was sacrificed and what an incredible achievement this was.(less)

Gary Brecht gave

to:

Bitter Waters: America's Forgotten Naval Mission to the Dead Sea
by David Haward Bain

read in December, 2011

My rating:

While essentially a retelling of the U.S. Navy’s mission to explore the River Jordan and the Dead Sea, this is also a glimpse of the formative years of the United States Naval Academy. The two principal protagonists in this narrative are Matthew F. M...more

Gary Brecht gave

to:

1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
by Charles C. Mann

read in December, 2011

My rating:

Like his previous work, 1491, the author uses Christopher Columbus’s European discovery of the New World as a pivotal point in history; in this case, what changes occurred to our world in the wake of this momentous discovery? The task of deciding whi...more

Gary Brecht gave

to:

The Whites of Their Eyes by Paul Lockhart

The Whites of Their Eyes: Bunker Hill, the First American Army, and the Emergence of George Washington
by Paul Lockhart (Goodreads Author)

read in October, 2011

My rating:

Paul Lockhart debunks what he feels are common myths and misconceptions of America’s first great battle of the Revolutionary War. The author paints vivid portraits of the generals of both the American and British forces thereby illuminating this famo...more

Gary Brecht gave

to:

Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge
by John Gimlette

read in September, 2011

My rating:

It takes someone with no fear of the unknown and a keen sense of adventure to explore this untamed corner of the world. Add to this daring spirit a wry sense of humor and you get a most entertaining travel book. John Gimlette focuses upon the northea...more

Gary Brecht gave

to:

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
by James D. Hornfischer

My rating:

This is now one of my favorite World War II histories. It focuses on one event; the Japanese navy's nearly successful attempt to thwart the American's effort to recapture the Philippines. Were it not for the bravery of the navy's back up forces, the ...more

Gary Brecht gave

to:

Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz

Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War
by Tony Horwitz

My rating:

Unlike the majority of books written about the American Civil War, this one does not dwell on the particulars of a specific battle, nor does it examine in great detail the lives of its Generals. Instead it examines the ripples emanating over the cent...more

Gary Brecht gave

to:

Finding Everett Ruess: The Life and Unsolved Disappearance of a Legendary Wilderness Explorer
by David Roberts

read in August, 2011

My rating:

Prior to plucking this book off the library shelf I’d never heard of Everett Ruess. Being thus unaware of this “legendary wilderness explorer” I was able to enjoy the roller coaster ride narrated by David Roberts. The ending would have been ruined ha...more

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Gary Brecht gave to: Theatre of Fish: Travels Through Newfoundland and Labrador by John Gimlette	My rating:
Jan 30, 2012 10:28am
Gary Brecht gave to: Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson read in March, 2011	My rating:
Having read many books about Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age, it would seem that one about the same subject by a native of Des Moines Iowa would be a joke. But in fact, it’s not. Bill Bryson cuts through the fog and reveals that we know very, ver...more
Jan 03, 2012 05:42pm · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: The War for All the Oceans: From Nelson at the Nile to Napoleon at Waterloo by Lesley Adkins	My rating:
Essentially a chronicling of the major sea battles fought by the British navy during the years England contested Napoleon’s dream of world conquest, this book makes a perfect compliment to Patrick O’Brien’s historical fiction on the same subject. The...more
Jan 03, 2012 05:25pm · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: Bitter Waters: America's Forgotten Naval Mission to the Dead Sea by David Haward Bain read in December, 2011	My rating:
While essentially a retelling of the U.S. Navy’s mission to explore the River Jordan and the Dead Sea, this is also a glimpse of the formative years of the United States Naval Academy. The two principal protagonists in this narrative are Matthew F. M...more
Dec 19, 2011 01:57pm · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann read in December, 2011	My rating:
Like his previous work, 1491, the author uses Christopher Columbus’s European discovery of the New World as a pivotal point in history; in this case, what changes occurred to our world in the wake of this momentous discovery? The task of deciding whi...more
Dec 09, 2011 10:09am · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: The Whites of Their Eyes: Bunker Hill, the First American Army, and the Emergence of George Washington by Paul Lockhart (Goodreads Author) read in October, 2011	My rating:
Paul Lockhart debunks what he feels are common myths and misconceptions of America’s first great battle of the Revolutionary War. The author paints vivid portraits of the generals of both the American and British forces thereby illuminating this famo...more
Oct 16, 2011 03:50pm · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge by John Gimlette read in September, 2011	My rating:
It takes someone with no fear of the unknown and a keen sense of adventure to explore this untamed corner of the world. Add to this daring spirit a wry sense of humor and you get a most entertaining travel book. John Gimlette focuses upon the northea...more
Sep 13, 2011 06:03pm · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour by James D. Hornfischer	My rating:
This is now one of my favorite World War II histories. It focuses on one event; the Japanese navy's nearly successful attempt to thwart the American's effort to recapture the Philippines. Were it not for the bravery of the navy's back up forces, the ...more
Aug 25, 2011 04:18pm · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz	My rating:
Unlike the majority of books written about the American Civil War, this one does not dwell on the particulars of a specific battle, nor does it examine in great detail the lives of its Generals. Instead it examines the ripples emanating over the cent...more
Aug 25, 2011 03:58pm · see review
Gary Brecht gave to: Finding Everett Ruess: The Life and Unsolved Disappearance of a Legendary Wilderness Explorer by David Roberts read in August, 2011	My rating:
Prior to plucking this book off the library shelf I’d never heard of Everett Ruess. Being thus unaware of this “legendary wilderness explorer” I was able to enjoy the roller coaster ride narrated by David Roberts. The ending would have been ruined ha...more
Aug 23, 2011 09:02am · see review

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