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MICHAEL'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2011
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41.
by
Corrie Ten BoomFinishing Date: 23rd of July
Rating:B
A great book that shows how the good in people can shine through from the darkest depravity of human behavior
43.
byTim ClaytonFinishing Date: 27th of July
Rating:A
Tim Clayton has bought the World War II story of British Submarines alive in this extremely well written book. A perfect balance of fact and first hand accounts makes this book a pleasure to read.
44.
bySimon ChambersFinishing Date: 31st of July
Rating:B-
n interesting enough read about working in private security in Iraq. The authors style is entertaining and had me feeling the frustration that comes along with the job.
Mod
Dale Carnegie
I agree we are in need of morales and general decency in today's society
45
by
Karl MarlantesFinishing Date: 7th of August
Rating: A+
Up there as the best fiction book I have read. The author has managed to mix every major cliche about the Vietnam war into a powerful, raw and emotive book that works so well. Leaves me wanting more.
46.
byJay BahadurFinishing Date: 12th of August
Rating:B+
Really enjoyed this book it was easy to reaqd and very engaging. The author has done a great job at looking at piracy in Somalia as well the other surrounding issues. I was left wanting to read more which in my book is a great thing.
47.
by
Tim ClaytonFinishing Date: 20th of August
Rating:B
The author delivers a thrilling easy to read account of British Navy life during the late 1750's. Taking in all rank and class and not skipping in details, I navigated my way through this book with a sails set.
48.
byEdward GirardetFinshing Date: 28th of August
Rating:A
The author has delivered within the pages of this book a must read for anyone even vaguely interested in the recent history of Afghanistan, it's people, and the issues facing this breath taking country. Edward Girardet has been reporting from within Afghanistan since the 70's and bring a unique insight to this country and some of its key players. As well he has a thorough understanding of the history and political background which has made Afghanistan such a unique country. From his writing you can sense his frustration in the West to comprehend and understand the ways of the country and it's people. This book is sure to become a classic on Afghanistan it left me with a sense of understanding I have yet had from any other book on this subject.
49.
byRichard RhodesFinishing Date: 3rd of September
Rating: B+
Richard Rhodes delivers a book like few others the sheer horrific nature of the subject is delivered in such a way that pulls at your soul. A difficult book to read at times but a must for all if only to remind us why it can never happen again. Rhodes gives a masterful mix of fact and firsthand accounts from both sides and delves into the question how can humanity visit the horror of the holocaust on itself.
50.
byIshmael Beah
Finishing Date: 7th of September
Rating: A
A book that made me have to keep reminding myself that this happened and the person doing it is just a child. The bravery shown by Ishmael Beah to share with the world his story of being a child soldier and all the horror that goes along with it, is unlike I have never seen before. He doesn't seek forgiveness or makes excuses he just tells his story as it happened to him. The only thing that stops me from giving this a 5 star rating is abrupt ending, it left me feeling that something is missing, but maybe that’s the point.
51.
by
Jamil AhmadFinishing Date: 10th of September
Rating: B+
An interesting read that reveals the many intricacies of tribal life in Afghanistan in a series of short stories all linked together by one character. I found it hard to put this book down as I was wanting to find out where it was going to take me next.
52
by William LubbeckFinishing Date: 14th of September
Rating:C
As far as WWII German Soldier memoirs go this one was disappointing. It was more of a historic overview of the operation the author was involved in, without ever going into any great detail. For me a good memoirs puts me right there in the authors shoes, feeling what he is and seeing what he is, in this regard this book was a failure. While it was at times an entertaining read I found myself often wishing the book was over so I could move onto my next read. As an avid WWII consumer of books I fail to see what in this has got it such high reviews.
Just came back from 4 days R&R in the caravan and I am on a roll with some great 5 star reads.53.
by
Jim FrederickFinishing Date: 22nd of September
Rating: A+
Not what I was expecting but so much more. Follow a Platoon in Iraq as they spiral down into chaos and what results when leadership does not listen.
53.
by
Iris ChangFinishing Date: 23rd of September
Rating:A+
This book was such a compelling read I finished it in a day. An important but disturbing book which everyone should read. The rape of Nanking was an atrocities which was nearly lost due to the over shadowing atrocities of the Nazis. This is what History is about to learn, never forget and never repeat. The author has written a well balanced book dealing with all sides of the event. It is a book I will never forget.
54
byAlex KershawFinishing Date: 1st of October
Rating:B+
I found this book a great and easy read. The author took me right into the action and the drama which was the USS Tangs last patrol. As a WWII submarine enthusiast I found this book ticked all the boxes.
55.
Roger MoorhouseFinishing Date: 14th of October
Rating:A++
This book is a shining example in a sea of books of World War II history.
Roger Moorhousemanages to bring wartime Berlin to life in the readers mind. The book is exhaustedly researched and covers a wide range of topics the author bring together both personal accounts and academic research into a Tour de force. From the dreams of the Third Reich to build a capital like no other to the day to day struggle for survival of the normal citizens this book an addictive read.In the front running for my book of the year.
56.
by
Kenneth H. BlanchardFinishing Date: 16th of October
Rating: B-
A fantastic take on a difficult subject. Came away with a fresh new look on change, change management and the forces at play against change.
57.
by
Khaled HosseiniFinishing Date: 25th of October
Rating: A
There is not much I can say about this book which has not already been said. Do yourself a favor if you have not read this book make it your next read.
58.
by
Kenneth H. BlanchardFinishing Date: 30th of October
Rating:B-
A quite interesting short read on self leadership.
59.
byRichard RhodesFinishing Date: 7th of November
Rating:B
Working in corrections I found this book I real interesting read. It looks at how people become "vilonetized" and Lonnie Athens life long research to discover this. The book for the most part is an excellent read but for me it did seem to wonder a little bit. All in all when I finished reading this book I felt like I had learned a bit more about the mechanics of violent behavior.
Mod
I have surprised myself by how many books I have read this year
60.
by
Art SpiegelmanFinishing Date: 13th of November
Rating:A+++++
WOW such a deeply moving story. I loved the way the story move from now with the author listening to his dads story of the holocaust to taking us into the camps. Never before have I read such a powerful story and to think its a comic/graphic novel form. Breath taking in both its originality and delivery i take my hat off to the author and thank him for sharing his dads and his own life with us.
61.
by
William L. ShirerFinishing Date: 22nd of November
Rating:A+
An epic historical masterpiece.
William L. Shirerdelivers an exhaustive account of the Third Reich that even to this day has been surpassed by none.
62.
byJane RobinsFinish Date: 23rd of November
Rating:B-
A well written and interesting book covering a serious of murders and the start of the career of Bernard Spilsbury the father of modern forensics. The book is well balanced but for me seemed to lack something I could not quite put my finger on.
63.
by
Terry PratchettFinish Date:29th of November
Rating:B-
Terry Pratchettturns his eye onto the magical world of Holly Wood. A great story full a great satirical humor and a thousand elephants!
64.
byRobert KershawFinish Date: 2nd of December
Rating:A solid B
The author has done a great job in delivering both a book on the history of Tank development and those who fought and lived in them during world war II.
65.
byHans-Ulrich RudelFinish Date: 11th of December
Rating: A
What a rip snorter of a read. This book is pure action and puts you right in the cockpit with the author, kicking the rudder bar, watching the tanks burns and dodging the flak. This memoirs reads like the author is sitting in a pub telling his story why sharing a drink with you.
66.
byAlbrecht WackerFinish Date: 16th of December
Rating: B-
This book was a great account of a German sniper operating on the Eastern Front during World War II. It shows the conflict as a horrid and dirty war. I had to hold back on a 4 star rating as some parts of this book showed the author's arrogance and this for me detracted from the story.
Back from a 4 day trip away in the caravan, great for getting some serious reading done!67.
by Kevin FlynnFinish Date: 18th of December
Rating:A++
The book as others have mentioned was hard to read. A mixture of pure horror and truly amazing personal sacrifices mixed with amazing tales of survival. I read this book in two sittings it was such a compelling read even though the end is known.
68.
byStephen GreyFinish Date: 20th of December
Rating: B
A very well written and balanced book. From the dirt, dust and sweat of a patrol to the political machinations and diplomacy of the big picture. A fitting tribute for those who put their life on the line and for those who have lost their future so we can have ours.
Mod
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
OPERATION SNAKEBITE The Explosive True Story of an Afghan Desert Siege (other topics)102 Minutes: The Unforgettable Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers (other topics)
Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knights Cross (other topics)
Stuka Pilot (other topics)
Tank Men: The Human Story of Tanks at War (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen Grey (other topics)Kevin Flynn (other topics)
Albrecht Wacker (other topics)
Hans-Ulrich Rudel (other topics)
Robert Kershaw (other topics)
More...
Finish Date: 14 of July
Rating: A
A well balanced book on a relatively unknown subject. The author gives a great view of life as a Predator pilot and the unique issue fighting war in Iraq and Afghanistan from 7,000 mile away as well as rotation on the ground in the sand, from the professional hurdles to the personal issues.
This book also gives some great background on the conflicts as well as the general history of Iraq and Afghanistan and some of the key players. The authors thirst for knowledge and understanding comes through in his writing.