Moving on to Sherman?

[Mike]

Now that we are done with 1861, are people still interested in reading "Sherman's Ghosts" next as we originally planned? Here's a link to the book, in case you need a reminder:

http://www.amazon.com/Shermans-Ghosts...

If there isn't interest in this, please suggest an alternative title that you would like to read/discuss. I'm open to suggestions and looking to get as many of you involved as possible!

[Steve]

With Sherman's Ghosts being pretty new and probably not in most libraries yet it would probably be a good idea to find a different book although I would be interested in coming back to this one. How about this as an alternative.

[Chad]

I am rather unenthusiastic about Sherman's Ghost's. I briefly thumbed through it and found it to be, for the most part, a rant against US military policy in multiple conflicts by an English journalist, rather than an historian. While I believe that this country's military has made mistakes in the past, I frown upon cherry-picking the abuses to prove a point, but ignoring the many sacrifices this nation has made for others, throughout the world, in the past 100+ years. Especially when compared to other great powers and their militaries. I also have a problem taking seriously any author who writes about history and uses Rolling Stone as a source....

[Mike]

Fair enough! Do you have any preference for a next read? I can put a few options out there, but I'm open to suggestions. So if there's something you've been planning on reading, toss it out!

[Chad]

I'm currently reading McClellan's War: The Failure of Moderation in the Struggle for the Union by Ethan S. Rafuse. It started slow but as he gets into the military life and start of the war, it is becoming quite good. However, I probably would not recommend it for a general club "read". To read about Sherman, I would recommend Sherman: A Soldier's Passion For Order by John F. Marszalek.

[Steve]

If anyone is interested in reading something about more current history I just finished Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad by David Zucchino. He covers the roughly 5 day fight by the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division to get into the heart of the city in April 2003.

[Mike]

Chad - I just finished Sears' McLellan bio and I really enjoyed it. He's no fan of the general, but I found him extremely fair in his criticism.

Thanks for the recommendations! I will put a poll together tonight and see what gets the most interest.

[Chad]

I'm no fan of McClellan either... That being said, George B. McClellan: The Young Napoleon is in my favorites list and Stephen W. Sears is one of my favorite authors. I have yet to read anything of his that I did not enjoy!