The Book Thread

[egg man]

Completing WOT is something I want to do, but just do not think I can ever.

[CarbonCore]

Started listening to the audiobook version of 'It' before going to bed.

 

It was a bad idea.

[The Wolfy among us]

Richard Branson's autobiography is available for Rs. 1 on Google Play Books.

[Sach4life]

Can anyone recommend me a good book on World War 2?

[Aftrunner]

Man I think I am finally gonna have to knuckle down and get a Kindle. I have nothing to read at the moment and the physical versions of all the books I want on my list currently cost 1000+ at least going all the way up to 2000+. I cant afford to blow that much on books.

 

Can anyone recommend me a good book on World War 2?

 

You are gonna have to get a lot more specific than that. Which theater of WW2 do you find interesting? Eastern front, western front, Pacific, Asian? And after that what are you looking for? Boots on the ground soldier perspective or more of a general overview of the conflict?

[Madmage]

Man I think I am finally gonna have to knuckle down and get a Kindle. I have nothing to read at the moment and the physical versions of all the books I want on my list currently cost 1000+ at least going all the way up to 2000+. I cant afford to blow that much on books.

 

 

You are gonna have to get a lot more specific than that. Which theater of WW2 do you find interesting? Eastern front, western front, Pacific, Asian? And after that what are you looking for? Boots on the ground soldier perspective or more of a general overview of the conflict?

 

 

Obligatory -- Welcome to the dark side !!

 

 

Go for the paperwhite man

[Sach4life]

Man I think I am finally gonna have to knuckle down and get a Kindle. I have nothing to read at the moment and the physical versions of all the books I want on my list currently cost 1000+ at least going all the way up to 2000+. I cant afford to blow that much on books.

 

 

You are gonna have to get a lot more specific than that. Which theater of WW2 do you find interesting? Eastern front, western front, Pacific, Asian? And after that what are you looking for? Boots on the ground soldier perspective or more of a general overview of the conflict?

 

To be honest, i want to read a book on each main facet of the war. Be it the pacific war or the invasion of Poland and other European countries by Germany or the Chinese invasion by Japan.

Edited May 20, 2014 by sach4life

[ALPHA17]

Can anyone recommend me a good book on World War 2?

 

Depends on what you want to read about. If you want a general over-view of the entire war, you cannot go wrong with Mr. Churchill's World War 2.

 

If you want a more grounded approach, Antony Beevor has some excellent books on old topics but with a lot more detail and unsavoury detail to go along. Stalingrad and D-Day are mine personal favourites.

 

If you want to read about The Pacific theatre you will not find much from the Japanese P.o.V., most works are by USMC men who wrote the stuff after they were discharged. Good stuff none-the-less.

To be honest, i want to read a book on each main facet of the war. Be it the pacific war or the invasion of Poland and other European countries by Germany or the Chinese invasion by Japan.

 

Go with Antony Beevor then, start with The Spanish War --> Stalingrad -->Crete -->D-Day (Normandy).

 

Really informative and never gets dry.

 

If you want to read about The Pacific theatre of war, check out

• With the Old Breed, Eugene Sledge
• Helmet for my Pillow, Robert Leckie

You can also, check out this book called The Illustrated history of 20th Century Conflicts. It is less detailed but encompasses everything till the early 80's.

 

World War 2 is just too big of a subject matter to stuff into one over-view.

 

I suggest you focus on the focal points of the conflict. Decisive battles / events and if that builds your interest, go into the more obscure theatres of the conflict, like the Balkan states, NEFA and Indo-China, Singapore.

Edited May 20, 2014 by ALPHA17

[Sach4life]

 

Depends on what you want to read about. If you want a general over-view of the entire war, you cannot go wrong with Mr. Churchill's World War 2.

 

If you want a more grounded approach, Antony Beevor has some excellent books on old topics but with a lot more detail and unsavoury detail to go along. Stalingrad and D-Day are mine personal favourites.

 

If you want to read about The Pacific theatre you will not find much from the Japanese P.o.V., most works are by USMC men who wrote the stuff after they were discharged. Good stuff none-the-less.

 

Go with Antony Beevor then, start with The Spanish War --> Stalingrad -->Crete -->D-Day (Normandy).

 

Really informative and never gets dry.

 

If you want to read about The Pacific theatre of war, check out

• With the Old Breed, Eugene Sledge
• Helmet for my Pillow, Robert Leckie

You can also, check out this book called The Illustrated history of 20th Century Conflicts. It is less detailed but encompasses everything till the early 80's.

 

World War 2 is just too big of a subject matter to stuff into one over-view.

 

I suggest you focus on the focal points of the conflict. Decisive battles / events and if that builds your interest, go into the more obscure theatres of the conflict, like the Balkan states, NEFA and Indo-China, Singapore.

 

Thanks a lot man. Would look into one of the books and start with it.

[Sach4life]

Will this book be a good way to start, alpha?

 

http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/0297844970/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1400589665&sr=8-1π=AC_SX110_SY165

[Aftrunner]

^^Max Hastings All hell let loose is probably the best overarching book of the second world war. And probably the best jumping point for someone just starting to read about the subject. Better than Beevors IMO, especially if you are a noob to the topic.

 

Hastings covers all fronts with a much more personal/human touch so you get to see the war from people's eyes. Beevor on the other hand is a little bit more academical and the book feels like a hawk eye look at the war. Not that there is anything wrong with that but it does make it a drier read.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Aftrunner

[Sach4life]

^^Max Hastings All hell let loose is probably the best overarching book of the second world war. And probably the best jumping point for someone just starting to read about the subject. Better than Beevors IMO, especially if you are a noob to the topic.

 

Hastings covers all fronts with a much more personal/human touch so you get to see the war from people's eyes. Beevor on the other hand is a little bit more academical and the book feels like a hawk eye look at the war. Not that there is anything wrong with that but it does make it a drier read.

Hhmm, one thing missing from hastings' book is that it doesn't cover the Japanese invasion of China and that is one part i am pretty curious to read.

 

I am also thinking of ordering Japan at War - An oral history!

Edited May 20, 2014 by sach4life

[piper]

Herman Wouk's following novels :

 

Winds of War

War and Remembrance

 

For those who want to know about WWII but as the backdrop of a story. He does give a lot of factual information in the form of essays/papers written by a character : (fictional) German general.

[Aftrunner]

Hhmm, one thing missing from hastings' book is that it doesn't cover the Japanese invasion of China and that is one part i am pretty curious to read.

 

Thats not actually true.

 

Also please tell me you arent getting into this for all the gory Nanking and the biological experiments and stuff. :/

[Madmage]

Y u no buy kindle yet

[Aftrunner]

Sell me yours.

 

I am probably not gonna get a paperwhite. Looking for a cheap used one since I still plan on getting most of my books physically when they are reasonably priced. Cant seem to find a decent deal.

 

I really should have picked the regular one for 4500 last year when it went on sale on Amazon. Kicking myself now for not doing it.

[Sach4life]

Herman Wouk's following novels :

 

Winds of War

War and Remembrance

 

For those who want to know about WWII but as the backdrop of a story. He does give a lot of factual information in the form of essays/papers written by a character : (fictional) German general.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. Would surely look into these

 

 

 

Thats not actually true.

 

Also please tell me you arent getting into this for all the gory Nanking and the biological experiments and stuff. :/

 

Na na. I was actually reading somewhere about how PS4 might have difficulties in China due to Japan's strained history with them. I knew that China was under Japan's control at one time but didn't know the history. So, i searched on wikipedia to read about it. From that, i read about World war 2. I knew about the war, the participants and the result but didn't know the details and exact history behind it. So, as i read, i found it pretty interesting and immediately felt the urge to read about the war in detail right from the rise of Nazi Germany to the fall of third reich, from Japan's invasion of China to the attack on Pearl Harbour etc.

[ALPHA17]

Also please tell me you arent getting into this for all the gory Nanking and the biological experiments and stuff. :/

 

Unit 731, Gulags, Concentration camps, they make my skin crawl.

 

And the best part, Legitimate regimes funded, oversaw and saw eugenics, racial pseudo-science and medical experimentation on minorities and the defeated as correct and justified.

 

Gross.

[playstation]

Sell me yours.

 

I am probably not gonna get a paperwhite. Looking for a cheap used one since I still plan on getting most of my books physically when they are reasonably priced. Cant seem to find a decent deal.

 

I really should have picked the regular one for 4500 last year when it went on sale on Amazon. Kicking myself now for not doing it.

Afty,

Rs 4800

 

http://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B007HCFU90/ref=amb_link_181528067_3?ie=UTF8&nav_sdd=aps%2F&pf_rd_m=A1VBAL9TL5WCBF&pf_rd_s=center-B1&pf_rd_r=139RY5AS674YD7JVNV4Y&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=493055247&pf_rd_i=1320006031

[Ne0]

started with the black company trilogy, lets see if it'll hold my attention for long ....