Just discover that Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' is available for free as an e-book (his copyright ran out about 2500 years ago) so I have stuck it on the iPad and am re-reading that. I still find it hard to wrap my head around how old this book is, and how little warfare and mankind have changed in the intervening years. He was a smart cookie, even for the ancient Chinese, but ruthless with it.

Just finished reading the new biography on Chesty Puller. It does a good job of laying out the facts and juxtaposes them with all the legends and tall tales that his heroic deeds spun into. He was the most badass Marine officer ever imo (Daniel Daly gets the nod for enlisted - earned 2 medals of honor along with being a mean fighting machine) and should've gotten at least 1 moh (though his 5 Navy Crosses looks pretty badass with all his other decorations) for Guadacanal or the Chosin Resevoir.

Am now re-reading the CB books. Is really neat as I pick up different information than I did when I first read them; am not trying to digest everything at once but sit back and enjoy the read.

Reading from the Osprey Fortress series over the weekend.

The Führer’s Headquarters, Hitler’s command bunkers 1939–45

Currently reading the first (I think) of Blair's U-baot books, The Hunters. Very enjoyable read so far! If i wasnt interested in UBoats via SH, I think I may find it kinda boring, but being able to imagine it from the perspective of both sides is really helping.

Are there any good books pertaining to life aboard a u-boat, rank structure, war stories, etc? I'd like to know more about the actual operations of the boat, and not the overall strategic view, as that's all I've really found in Blair so far.

I'm about 2/3 through that too, free kindle version FTW. My biggest issue is trying to get by all the commentators my version has. Each time it's been translated /edited, the 'editor' has added some comments of their own.

Moved on now and re-reading...

The Rocket and the Reich: Peenemunde and the coming of the ballistic missile era

By Michael J. Neufeld

Crash Dive is a great book. A very different feel to it's German or American peers imo.

Currently reading 'Carriers in Combat' by Chester G Hearn. Interesting enough but no great shakes.

Not relating to naval topics in any way but still a valuable read for anybody interested in World War One is Pyrrhic Victory: French Strategy and Operations in the Great War by Robert Doughty. In particular and by using French and American primary sources Col. Doughty's work shows Anglo-French relations in a considerably different light than the conventional wisdom as told by Terraine, Spears, Edmonds, Taylor and Neillands et al.

Am breaking in my new kindle correctly- Sun Tzu 'The art of war'

Currently reading great new MacLean´s book Dönitz's Crews - Germany's U-Boat Sailors in WWII, Schiffer.

Third the way in to....

Storming Eagles

German Airborne Forces in World War Two

By James Lucas

Currently reading Massie's "Dreadnought", a sweeping historical overview of the lead-up to WWI, which I'm seeing as a prequel to his excellent WWI naval survey "Castles of Steel". I love his writing style and treatment of personalities in his books - really fleshes out the history and makes it more than just technology and politics, and more than just about the German and British navies.

Also picked up Gannon's "Operation Drumbeat" and "Black May". Subjects need little explanation - looking forward to these :)

"Operation Drumbeat"-You won't be disappointed. Very good book. I like Gannon's style alot. The detailing of Hardegen's patrol with U-123 makes it worth the read.

His "Black May" is on my to buy list on Amazon.

:)

J.C. Masterman's The Double Cross System 1939 - 1945.

About how German agents were turned to our advantage, providing misinformation (mostly) to the Abwehr.

Not much about underwater stuff apart from MINCEMEAT, which most people now know about.

Next I've got another book about S.O.E lined up then it will finally be Kingmaker - sorry it's been so long Brag! :D

I'm currently about halfway through Brian Lavery's and Geoff Hunt's The Frigate Surprise. Really interesting book so far - but all the pretty pictures and Hunt's paintings make it hard for me to follow the text! :haha: