Read a good book lately?

[OddDuck]

The Cold Dish, Craig Johnson.

It's the first Longmire novel. I liked it, I was a fan of the series so it's kind of interesting to see what they've done with the source material for the TV show. It's a good read, loads of dry Wyoming humour. If you look on Mighty Ape the books are stupidly pricey for what they are, though.

[HenryDorsetCase]

CHILDREN OF TIME by Adrian Tschaikovsky.

Holy shit, I loved this. Imagine. if you will, a dying Earth, terraforming projects then a war among the earth-men. A deranged Artificial Intelligence/human upload hybrid oversees a terraformed world so that the inheritors of man can get another start. But what if those inheritors aren't human.........?

Seriously this is fucking good. Especially the alien-y bits. Grab it if you see it you won't be disappointed: hard science fiction.

http://www.bookdepository.com/Children-of-Time-Adrian-Tchaikovsky/9781447273301?ref=grid-view

[Kickaha]

The Sheep look up - John Brunner

Not my normal sort of book but a pretty good read, the not too distant future with pollution out of control

[HenryDorsetCase]

The Sheep look up - John Brunner

Not my normal sort of book but a pretty good read, the not too distant future with pollution out of control

that last line has stuck with me for years. Try and find STAND ON ZANZIBAR if you can.

If you like Brunner you might enjoy Christopher Priest. Seriously weird. Look for INVERTED WORLD

[Erelyes]

The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss

Best fantasy I've read in a long time. I guess you'd call it hard fantasy, in that it is a fairly realistic world, but with a bit of magic here and there.

A rags to riches story of sorts.... I can't say much without giving it away, but give it a shot. I've just finished the second book in the series.

[Paul in NZ]

Just finished 'The High Mountains of Portugal"

Oddest book ever... Glad I read it but cant for the life of me understand why. A very odd tale (well 3 tales really) very well written...

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489094-the-high-mountains-of-portugal

[mada]

Clearing out my library and already given the sallies a nice load.

If anyone wants a copy of this book - happy to send it to you for postage + $1

http://www.smithsbookshop.co.nz/bookshop/bookshop-images/4535_1_Image_4.jpg

[mada]

The other interesting book is "Coverups & Copouts" by Tom Lewis. Which covers Christopher Lewis, Ron Jorgensen, and the Dunedin Pedo Ring.

[Tazz]

Well Kindle seems to be the popular choice. Cheers team.

Tablet isn't an option. Need an e-reader otherwise I might as well just get some extra battery packs for my phone (which come with their own hassles).

Well I ended up just using the phone and some power banks, which was great until some dodgy electrical fuckery killed almost all our devices in one day :wait:

For the record my partner had a tablet and kindle type thing, plus phone, and also had a bag twice the size and weight of mine (full tramping bag vs my day pack size bag for a month) :laugh: Her kindle thing (I forget the name, German brand) to it's credit did over a month of regular use with no charging.

So I read Orphan X, A Dark Orbit, a bunch of Warhammer 40K books (the quality of which varies widely) 2 other sci fi titles that were lack luster enough that I can't remember the names, Night Probe by Clive Cussler (which was terrible) and now I'm rereading THHGTTG, which out of that lot is the only thing I would recommend.
I really wanted to like Orphan X but it was missing that spark that a great book has.

I've earmarked a bunch of Frank Herbert stuff for the next round, whenever that may be.

[HenryDorsetCase]

THE EXPANSE books are good. I have finished #5 NEMESIS GAMES.

Currently reading SLEEPING GIANTS which was well reviewed and grabbed me with its first couple of pages.

[OddDuck]

Just about finished Richard Hammond's book about his jetcar crash and subsequent recovery.

It alternates between his voice and his wife Mindy, very much a detailed account of what it's like to be seriously messed up / trying to look after someone messed up, with day by day and sometimes hour by hour parts to the story.

It's pretty tough going sometimes but an honest and damn good book. Good on him and Mindy for writing this. Not fun, but necessary, that's probably the best way to sum this up.

[mashman]

Conversations With God. Books 1, 2 and 3. Interesting read enough to have me reading all 3.

[OddDuck]

The Last of The Few.

Battle of Britain, from beginning to end, mostly told by the pilots who flew in it. Most of the book is people speaking. The author's main work has been to arrange the interview transcripts in a way which tells a coherent story, and to lead each chapter in with a short, factual account of the relevant history and background.

It's short on technicalities or dry lists of division strengths and placements, it's long on people telling their own stories. The bad stuff is not glossed over. The result is that it's very hard to put down. The book's only fault - to my mind - is that it needed a little more quiet detail about life at the time. Otherwise it's an excellent WWII history.

[Paul in NZ]

This is a very good read...

http://www.whitcoulls.co.nz/the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-f-ck-a-counterintuitive-approach-to-living-a-good-life-6172965

https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck

Really helpful information not over egged - really enjoyed it...

[T.W.R]

The Last of The Few.

Battle of Britain, from beginning to end, mostly told by the pilots who flew in it. Most of the book is people speaking. The author's main work has been to arrange the interview transcripts in a way which tells a coherent story, and to lead each chapter in with a short, factual account of the relevant history and background.

It's short on technicalities or dry lists of division strengths and placements, it's long on people telling their own stories. The bad stuff is not glossed over. The result is that it's very hard to put down. The book's only fault - to my mind - is that it needed a little more quiet detail about life at the time. Otherwise it's an excellent WWII history.

You should have a read of some of these titles then :yes:

Most of these are 1st ed autobiographies and the German ones are 1st English translations
The 3 blue books on the right are Max Immelmann "Eagle of Lille" , Stuka Pilot - Hans Rudel's autobiography, & The Big Show - Pierre Clostermann

[James Deuce]

You should have a read of some of these titles then :yes:

Most of these are 1st ed autobiographies and the German ones are 1st English translations
The 3 blue books on the right are Max Immelmann "Eagle of Lille" , Stuka Pilot - Hans Rudel's autobiography, & The Big Show - Pierre Clostermann

The First and The Last is my favourite of those. Pierre Closterman was a big stinky liar and Hans Erich Rudel is such an appallingly bad human being he would have a cabinet position in Trump's government.

[Voltaire]

I'm waiting for much anticipated Materia Turei auto biography called " Friends With Benefits".

[Laava]

I'm waiting for much anticipated Materia Turei auto biography called " Friends With Benefits".

Do we need to crowd fund it?

[T.W.R]

The First and The Last is my favourite of those. Pierre Closterman was a big stinky liar and Hans Erich Rudel is such an appallingly bad human being he would have a cabinet position in Trump's government.

Ha what'd you expect.....Clostermann is a frog...he's bound to bullshit <_<
Rudel wasn't that bad and would have more brains in his little toe than anything associated with the looney tunes Trump administration. Admittedly he was used by Goering as the poster boy of the Luftwaffe and flew most of the prototype mods made to The JU88 and the only pilot to have used a operational version with the large caliber cannon mounted in the wing.
But the at least his autobiography wasn't sanitised down by heavy handed censorship & made all frilly for the masses
One of the best books I had was "The Battle of the River Plate" that was an absorbing read and exposed how dirty, under handed, & cowdly the Poms could be :yes:

[Katman]

<img src="http://www.critic.co.nz/files/article-6561.jpg"/>

[Maha]

This weeks TV Guide is crap, buy the following weeks issue, it may have better Mr TELLY stories.

[Swoop]

You should have a read of some of these titles then :yes:

"I flew for the Fuhrer" and Stringbag are very good reads!

[Akzle]

manhattan nocturne - colin harrison

fiction.
i found it a rather brilliant use of language, switches between voices rather effortlessly. story no great intrigue, but hefty characters that play off each other well. explicit and smattered with sex.
300 or so pages, not a huge commitment.

[Black Knight]

Power Of The Dog followed by The Cartel by Don Winslow-Fiction but spans 40 plus years of one guy trying to break the Mexican drug cartels,the author has done his homework,facinating reading,each book 500 plus pages and Winslow has a cool way of writing.

[pritch]

Inspired by a comment from motojourno Mat Oxley I recently re-read “Popski's Private Army”'.
In that book the author is effusive in his praise of the New Zealanders in the Long Range Desert Group during World War 2.

In discussion with a friend I mentioned this and he loaned me “Bearded Brigands”. The book is created from the diaries and photographs of Frank Jopling, edited by Brendan O'Carrol. The diaries only go to September 1942 when Jopling was taken prisoner.

The LRDG was comprised of four patrols, one Kiwi, one Rhodesian, one formed from Guards regiments, and one from Yoemanry units of the British army. The Kiwi and Rhodesian patrols seem to have been largely comprised of people with a farming background.

Jopling decribes the Libyan desert as being as big as India and largely unmapped. Their first tasks were mapping the desert and setting up supply dumps. Later observing and recording troop movements, and finally as far as Jopling is concerned, attacks on enemy aircraft and airfields.

Mostly the LRDG operated with considerable efficiency but there were lapses. Jopling is admirably restrained in his criticism of these lapses. On one occasion an LRDG officer and an RAF officer were escorting a German Afrika Corps prisoner. At an abandoned fort the two British officers decide they needed a wash so they put their clothes and weapons on the truck and set about getting cleaned up. Guess what? Yep. Their prisoner grabbed a revolver, held them up, took their truck and their clothes. Jopling comments, “It certainly was a bad show.” He wasn't kidding.

Fortunately their former prisoner was recaptured before he got back to his own lines and could get information about the LRDG movements to his friends.

Another passage of the book reminds me that some things never change.
“About a week ago it came out in Routine Orders that in future all navigators are to receive 1/- a day extra pay.” (That is one shilling, modern day equivalent 10c?)
“So Bing Morris went to see the NZ Administration Office and they told him the NZ Government wouldn't pay extra for navigators. The position at present is that Tommy navigators are getting 1/- per day while we don't get anything extra, which seems to be a very unsatisfactory state of affairs to me.”

These guys were sometimes operating in largely featureless desert 600Ks behind the German lines, and the guys navigating weren't worth a bob a day? And it isn't as if there were a lot of them, perhaps only a handful.

This particular book may be hard to come by, or a tad expensive, but there are other books about the LRDG available if you look around. I do note that one of the other books has exactly the same photograph on the cover but that isn't as surprising as it might be. During his time with the unit Joplin became the official unit photographer. He also did an Arab language course and he must have done it with considerable diligence because ultimately he knew enough that it saved his leg – and his life.

After the war and his return to civilian life, he was for some years a master on the Devonport ferry.

[Akzle]

the solace of leaving early, and, jessica.

reviews to follow

[pete376403]

Fire and Fury - if only half of it is true then it's an eye-opener. Actually seeing at serial litigator trump hasn't sued the arse off Wolffand anyone else involved in the book, possibly most of it is true.

[AllanB]

Revival - Stephen King.

I've not picked up one of his books for some years but really enjoyed this work over my break. Well written and it pulled me into the life of the lead all the while slowly building the sense of impending doom.

[Berries]

Have not read a proper book for years, but needs must over the holidays. Mick Herron, the Jackson Lamb series starting with Slow Horses and then take it from there, Real Tigers, Dead Lions and yet to read Spook Street but saving it for when I am sans kids.

[Black Knight]

Have not read a proper book for years, but needs must over the holidays. Mick Herron, the Jackson Lamb series starting with Slow Horses and then take it from there, Real Tigers, Dead Lions and yet to read Spook Street but saving it for when I am sans kids.

I agree with you there Berries,the series is a great read and very funny.Dont know if I would like Jackson as a boss though,but then again.

[Akzle]

the solace of leaving early, and, jessica.

reviews to follow

the solace of leaving early

in the voice of a quasi-intellectual, and people with what i can only assume are mental issues. Anchored in classic english literature, but set in Christian Town, USA.
is semi-autobiographical apparently. quite enjoyed, mostly for it's use of language.

Jessica

Bryce Courtenay. Who I rank as an author as he can turn his pen to pretty much any setting, age, language, and have it come over as authentic. I still find his work 50/50 - some great, some shit. The last one of his I read (set in an archaeological exploration, egypt) i found pretty tedious.
This one, not so. A condensed version of Four Fires (ish), set in old-timey strayaland, To say it was "The trials and tribulations of being a poor farmey folk lass called Jessica" would be selling it short as (this being one of his better ones) it encompasses a swag* of other lives, and all the characters are brilliantly presented. And while it's delivered through Jessica, you're still given that sense of a much larger world.


*e-points for straya pun!

[AllanB]

Power Of The Dog followed by The Cartel by Don Winslow-Fiction but spans 40 plus years of one guy trying to break the Mexican drug cartels,the author has done his homework,facinating reading,each book 500 plus pages and Winslow has a cool way of writing.

Yeah I'm a fan of Don Winslow - try The Winter of Frankie Machine.

[OddDuck]

+1 on The Winter Of Frankie Machine.

Also the Death And Life Of Bobby Z is worth a look - great pulp trash, never going to win awards but highly entertaining.

Am reading The Expanse series of novels at the moment, James S A Corey, SF set in the Solar System. Syfy did a TV miniseries which I've seen Season 1 of and they've done good work... once you get past Episode 2 (dire) and Episode 3 (ad break! Cliffhanger needed!!) it's actually pretty watchable.

[Black Knight]

Yeah I'm a fan of Don Winslow - try The Winter of Frankie Machine.

Have read this and all his others-Just waiting for The Force to arrive from Book Depository-In the meantime am reading James Ellory triology-American Tabloid-Cold 6 Thousand-Blood a Rover-Covers the Mob-FBI-CIA the Kennedy's-Hoover-Hoffa and uncle Tom Cobbly and all, from 1958 through May 1972-A big read at 1500 plus pages over the three books but absolutely fascinating.

[AllanB]

Have read this and all his others-Just waiting for The Force to arrive from Book Depository-In the meantime am reading James Ellory triology-American Tabloid-Cold 6 Thousand-Blood a Rover-Covers the Mob-FBI-CIA the Kennedy's-Hoover-Hoffa and uncle Tom Cobbly and all, from 1958 through May 1972-A big read at 1500 plus pages over the three books but absolutely fascinating.

Snap - I ordered The Force from Book Depository last night ;)

[oldrider]

The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of the Occupied Territories - Ilan Pappe. https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01C9O33LC&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_hxjFAbF99QNZB&reshareId=JDR8KZD0HQ3F0162G3ZY&reshareChannel=system looks like it could be an interesting read. :corn:

[Akzle]

the time travellers wife

i'm going to affront the authorress by doing that most offensive of things, and compare it to the movie.

the movie doesn't hold an unlit wax taper, let alone a candle, to this book.
thoroughly lacking the poetry, the sex, the chalance. the vintage, the music, even the places.

to pay dues, the movie would necessarily be about 4 hours long. and it would be great. it should probably star jennifer connelly, a "leon" era natalie portman or soarise ronan, and... i don't even know someone who could do it better than banna. maybe dan akroyd.

written in a diary-entry style from the two agonists' perspectives (i think she could have added the daughter, but perhaps that would have taken something from it... i think she would have done it to good effect), the style almost got tedious a couple of times, but shelving that, the narrative is so well put on that you'd forgive it.

I could wank on for a while on this one, but verbiage would be ultimately pointless. to use the same word twice in a sentence: beautiful, just fucking beautiful.

[Voltaire]

Just finished All Quiet on the Western Front, a German 19 year olds transition from being at school to cannon fodder on the Western Front in

WW1.

The idea that wars should be fought by the people who want them but fought by others never seems to have caught on.

Banned by the Nazi's in the 1930's and Erich Maria Remarque had his citizenship removed and exiled.

These days he probably would have just disappeared and Hitler would have said whats the fuss about, can we have some more weapons please,

and we'll keep an eye on the Russians for you.

[eldog]

Just finished All Quiet on the Western Front, a German 19 year olds transition from being at school to cannon fodder on the Western Front in WW1.The idea that wars should be fought by the people who want them but fought by others never seems to have caught on.Banned by the Nazi's in the 1930's and Erich Maria Remarque had his citizenship removed and exiled.These days he probably would have just disappeared and Hitler would have said whats the fuss about, can we have some more weapons please, and we'll keep an eye on the Russians for you.Iirc it was a good read, gritty and real, right to the very last page.

[Honest Andy]

Just finished All Quiet on the Western Front, a German 19 year olds transition from being at school to cannon fodder on the Western Front in WW1.
The idea that wars should be fought by the people who want them but fought by others never seems to have caught on.

Indeed...
I just finished a book "Forgotten Voices of the Falklands" which consists of transcripts of interviews with all sorts of participants. The feeling that the politicians on all sides had let everybody down was pretty strong. Then the general soldiery again had to pay the price of poor decisions by the brass.

[Macontour]

Just finished this book about the life if Pete Conrad, fighter pilot, astronaut and entrepreneur. Fascinating story, easy to read and not filled with jargon. A solid 10 out of 10.

[GazzaH]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the complete set of four Hannibal Lecter books.

Unusually, the films are almost as brilliant as the books thanks to superb acting and cinematography, but the books coupled with my vivid imagination trump them.

I enjoyed the books so much that I rationed myself to a few minutes of actual reading per day (in the "reading room") plus several hours to digest each delicious morsel. The writing is exceptional - horrific in parts, of course, but the sinister way the tension builds throughout is unparalleled. Fabulous story-telling.

15 out of 10 for Silence of the Lambs, 9 out of 10 for Hannibal and Hannibal Rising, and 6 out of 10 for Red Dragon (the prequel - not as coherent and polished as the rest).

[Laava]

The Nutters Club, Mike King.
A useful insight as to what it might be like to be suffering from mental illness, in many different forms. Well done Mike and thank you.

[HenryDorsetCase]

https://www.bookdepository.com/Autobiography-James-T-Kirk-David-Goodman/9781783297467?ref=grid-view&qid=1542237359671&sr=1-2


The Autobiography of James T Kirk, "edited" by David Goodman.

I loved this but I had decided to engage full Star Trek NERD MODE before starting.

It's well done, and a pleasing distraction from all the work related stuff I should be reading.

Fans only of the well-known documentary series STAR TREK need apply.

[Voltaire]

Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

Biographical account of his time in the Spanish Civil War in the Barcelona area.

Another Civil War fought in Proxy supplied by Superpowers who then were Nazi Germany and the USSR.

Orwell went there as he saw it as the working class Vs the the wealthy land owners/church, but he who supplies the weapons calls the

shots and in this case the Communists hijacked it.

His dealings with the various communist splinter groups and their Soviet methods formed the basis for 1984.

[HenryDorsetCase]

https://www.bookdepository.com/Beastie-Boys-Book-Michael-Diamond/9780571308040?ref=grid-view&qid=1543266252917&sr=1-1

I am about half way through this. It is fascinating. I am a late convert to the Beastie Boys but I am thoroughly enjoyng this. Worth it for the NYC music survey of the first couple of chapters and their early iteration as a hardcore band.... which I sort of knew about but hadn t really explored.

[george formby]

I'm dipping my toes into this tome of awe and edification.

Modernist Cuisine. The Art and Science of Cooking (https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/modernist-cuisine-the-art-and-science-of-cooking-hardback/8347477)

I found a memory stick in my man bag, no, the one I carry my school stuff in. This book is on it, all 6 volumes. 2Gb PDF.

This book is better than the internet. For me, food nerd. It shows a new world which prior to today I was never aware of. It's a document created by people, 40 or so, over 5 years in a space where money was no object. This experimental kitchen has a machine shop to build or customise equipment. Centrifuges, ultra sonic cleaners, MAPP and oxyacetylene are common equipment for recipes.

The result of an ex Microsoft dudes ideas. On him!:woohoo: Nathan Myhrvold (http://www.nathanmyhrvold.com/)

I would love to have it on my (reinforced, 18kg of paper) book shelf but it's very spendy.

Physically it must be stunning, digitally its beautiful. This book demonstrates why we should never get rid of books, a writers vision in a tactile form.

I'm off now, this book has the general appeal of rabbit punches to your kidneys. But is genuinely a stunning work!

[OddDuck]

A Biker's Life, Henry Cole.

I liked it. Gets a bit bitsy in the last third but up till then it's great... had me laughing quite a few times. Henry has been places and done things, as they say... He's straight to the point so it's a very direct style. Lots of strong opinions (agreed with nearly all of them), I'm not going to say it's literature by any means but still good reading.

[Aaron Wells]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[Kickaha]

A Biker's Life, Henry Cole.

He's straight to the point so it's a very direct style.

If it's anything like his TV show he'll use 16 words when he could have used 5

[pritch]

If it's anything like his TV show he'll use 16 words when he could have used 5

Henry has his idiosycracies and he's far from the world's best rider. He does take us places most of us will never go, and he has won his own battles. If I come across his book I'll read it.

[R650R]

https://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Raising-Submarine-S-51-ebook/dp/B00KQ6PK9E

Best read in long time. Salvage of a submarine in deep water in 1925.

All sorts of issues and near death experiences for saturation divers in a time before osh and modern technology.

[R650R]

Red Alert by Peter Bryant excellent read.

I’m sure most people here would have seen the Epic movie Dr Strangelove and the rogue B52 launch orders.... Well this is the book that it is based on but sans the black comedy of the movie and it’s a well written thriller even knowing the outcome.

[R650R]

Warnings Unheeded: Twin Tragedies at Fairchild by Andy Brown.

Written by USAF Military Police officer Andy who was patrolling on bicycle when he ended up as Johnny on the spot and shot dead a mass shooter on the base just four days before the Reckless B52 Pilot Bud Holland fatally crashed on base practice forbidden manoevoures for air show.

Neither event should have ever happened as there were staggeringly obvious red flags in both individuals before each disasterous event. Well written and interweaves the two stories in as close a timeline as practicality’s allows. Perhaps too much detail on the shooter side as so many individual victim stories but as a cop I guess he feels compelled to tell those.


https://youtu.be/7-S_NM--evM

[R650R]

Art of the Deal by Donald Trump

First part of the book is hard reading as he’s try’s to describe his daily schedule of business calls.
However it develops well into a great read and you learn the thought process behind his big business success stories. Gives a great insight into how these mega big property deals work and also how easy they can fail.
Love or hate him recommended reading for some great tips on building successful relationships and deals.

[pete376403]

Art of the Deal by Donald Trump

First part of the book is hard reading as he’s try’s to describe his daily schedule of business calls.
However it develops well into a great read and you learn the thought process behind his big business success stories. Gives a great insight into how these mega big property deals work and also how easy they can fail.
Love or hate him recommended reading for some great tips on building successful relationships and deals.


Does it go into detail about how to bankrupt a casino? Is not paying suppliers considered a great tip on building successful relationships?

[pritch]

Art of the Deal by Donald Trump
(snip)
Love or hate him recommended reading for some great tips on building successful relationships and deals.


Trump later sued Tony Schwartz, the author of "Art Of The Deal", and lost. Schwartz's account of the court case is likely much more interesting and instructive than the book.

[F5 Dave]

Is it about how to turn Dad's fortune into a comparatively smaller fortune despite starting with a shit ton of capital?

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have been re-reading The Expanse books preparatory to Book 9 coming out this year. I fucked up though I thought the book was due next month and it's November. Just finished Book 8 "Tiamat's Wrath".

This is the basis of the best currently showing science fiction TV show on any platform as well (its on Prime). Yes, including Star Trek (New Trek).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B00K7B2CRQ/

[OddDuck]

The Peculiar Case of the Electric Constable - a True Tale of Passion, Poison & Pursuit, by Carol Baxter

Steampunk title, 1850's Britain, a detailed account of a suspect in a poisoning caught by use of an electric telegraph outracing steam trains, and the subsequent investigation and trial. At the time the case gripped the entire nation: did he do it, or not?

What was dusty history comes back to life. It's a very well researched and written account of the times. The initial pursuit doesn't account for much of the page count, and the middle portion of the book is pretty hard work, but it's worth it in the end. One of the more memorable books I've had the chance to read lately.

[R650R]

Punks War by Ward Carrol

Tom Clancy style writing of fictional encounter of USA vs Iran fighter with an undertone of the various real world politics and troubles of carrier ops

[pete376403]

If you liked George R R Martins Games of Thrones books, the backstory of the previous 300 years is in "Fire and Blood"

[James Deuce]

I forgot how to read.

[Swoop]

Punks War by Ward Carrol

Tom Clancy style writing of fictional encounter of USA vs Iran fighter with an undertone of the various real world politics and troubles of carrier ops
His channel is quite interesting...

[R650R]

His channel is quite interesting...

Yeah I’ve watched most of his stuff. Did love that he threw political correctness out the door with the Hultgreen tragedy, he didn’t mince any words on women flying jets in there.

[Swoop]

Yeah I’ve watched most of his stuff. Did love that he threw political correctness out the door with the Hultgreen tragedy, he didn’t mince any words on women flying jets in there.
Yeah, Revlon's death was a clear case of not doing the wrong thing at that precise time. Pilot error alright!

The Tailhook '21 interviews have been superb! The one about 4 MiG kills in one mission (single handedly!) and then having it covered up is downright amazing.
As for not being "PC"... Tailhook conventions sealed that issue.:Punk:

[HenryDorsetCase]

My two science fiction recommendations of late are:

Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells - its really good. Sentient killing machine that might go on a murder spree but first has to binge-watch this TV series its really into.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Murderbot_Diaries

I also enjoyed this "Bobiverse" series. Lot of sci fi tropes but almost Larry Niven-ish "Hey what if.... then taking the idea to its logical extreme". I'd call it a light read but very entertaining

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_E._Taylor#Works

Also an honourable mention: I read this Stone Sky trilogy basically because it won all the awards. I dont enjoy "fantasy" books usually but this was brilliantly imagined and well done. Theres a reson it won the Hugo each year. Also it falls into the Arthur C Clarke category of "technology sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fifth_Season_(novel)


I am currently looking for recommendations too so if you have read anything good let me know.

[Naki Rat]

The Premonition by Michael Lewis is an excellent dramatisation of the functioning of the US health sector and its (mis)management which gives a great insight as to why the COVID issue has been dealt with so badly in the US. Lewis's previous books include The Big Short which is a novel covering the sub-prime mortgage market and its contribution to the GFC, and was also made into a movie.

As one reviewer wrote 'Lewis could write a book on can opener manufacturing and make it enthralling'.

[pritch]

Most recent completed book was Alex Vindman's "Here Right Matters". The oft used phrase 'needs no introduction' should apply. Vindman was a witness at Trump's first impeachment hearing. He writes about his family history in Ukraine, his grandma was both smart and tough. Staying alive under Stalin was not easy. Millions didn't.

He writes about his US Army military career, although we already had an idea because the various insignia on his uniform tell the story. He details the fall out from his appearing as a witness against Trump. I enjoyed the read but it might just make Trump fans angry. The ones that can read, and seriously, that's by no means all of them. But that's another book.*


I've started reading "Vietnam ANZACS" a history of the nine New Zealand rifle companies that served in Vietnam as part of Australian battalions.


* Next book is "Drums In The Distance: Journeys Into The Global Far Right". The author joined various far right organisations such as the Klan, militia groups in the US, and their British equivalents. There is an interview with the author Joe Mulhall here:

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuaG9zdGluZy50aGlzaXNkYXguY29tLzk1MT U4Y2ZiLWY3NGYtNGY5Yy04ZjQ3LTAwYmQ5NzZhYjAxZA/episode/MjkxOTIwYzItMWViYi00YTViLTljYjMtMWE2MTQzYmNkMmQ1?s a=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjIp7H3hJLzAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

[R650R]

Free download The Wirm in the Rose

Some great facts and physics of petroleum vs electric and the China problem

https://www.netzerowatch.com/content/uploads/2021/10/Prins-Net-Zero-National-Security-2.pdf

[R650R]

Another B52 bomber genre....

For Alert Force Klaxon... by Jim Clonts fiction.

It’s 1987 a military coup removed Gorbachev from power and some trigger happy ruskies kick off WW3. There’s some epic Sabre rating/cowboy actions at start that I won’t plot spoil that lead up to a full nuclear exchange. Some good background info on real world missions outside of bombing carried out by b52 included too.

And read previously very similar but forgotten to mention at time,

Pale Horse 3: A Tale of Cold War gone Hot by Russel L Greer fiction.

Spetznaz team infiltrates USA via sub with suitcase Nuke only one B52 from base gets airborne and let’s just say the pilot doesn’t get along well with the crew....

[R650R]

Currently a 1/4 of way into ....

Under the Red Sea Sun by Edward Ellsberg non-fiction

Just like his submarine salvage book I mentioned recently this is an excellent read too all about trying to clear the Fascist Italians sabotaged harbour of destruction in port Massawa in Eritrea so the allies can have a naval port as Rommels tanks stomp across Africa.
It’s quite staggering the number of flat out lazy, useless, wimpy, drunks, incompetent staff that had to be dealt with in wartime. The trip across the Atlantic Ocean in they metchant vessel SS Pigs Knuckle really sets the tone for rest of book.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have LEVIATHAN FALLS by James SA Corey. Very good and satisfying conclusion to a nine book epic. The Expanse is currently showing on Amazon Prime. It is the best science fictionTV show currently screening. Do yourself a favour.

I finished Andy Weir's PROJECT HAIL MARY this morning. He wrote THE MARTIAN which I liked a lot and they made a decent movie out of it too. PHM is a sort of logical next step for that and a very enjoyable romp through exobiology and orbital mechanics and scientific problem solving. His characters arent that compelling but the plots are sufficiently well constructed and engrossing you can overlook it.

I have a bunch of work related reading to catch up on. willl start next week.

[Berries]

Not in to wizards and shit so not seen or read LOTR or any of the Harry Potter stuff. Did buy a 'crime thriller' type book the other week which turned out to be by JK Rowling under a pseudonym. Liked it, have nearly finished the second of the Strike series.

I possibly posted about Mick Herron earlier in this thread. If you have read all of his work then Robert Galbraith and the Strike series will certainly fill in the gaps until the next Jackson Lamb novel.

[pritch]

Not in to wizards and shit so not seen or read LOTR or any of the Harry Potter stuff. Did buy a 'crime thriller' type book the other week which turned out to be by JK Rowling under a pseudonym. Liked it, have nearly finished the second of the Strike series.


Yeah, I read the first few. They've been on TV too.

Rowlings first adult fiction was mercilessly panned by critics. We aren't the only ones who operate a tall poppy syndrome. To avoid a repeat she used a pseudonym for her next effort. One of the partners at the law firm she used let the cat out of the bag. She may have a different law firm now.

[R650R]

Excellent thorough account of the true story of the only open ocean ditching of commercial airliner

https://www.amazon.com/35-Miles-Shore-Ditching-Rescue/dp/0977897109

Covers the setup of the airline and a few shady things in setting route and approval. Very thorough coverage of pilot history and individual passenger accounts, rescuers and actions.
Quite interesting accounts of true behaviours of human behaviour in real disaster.
Also includes follow up investigations.
One big takeaway I’m definitely reading the instructions on lifejacket next time I fly....

10/10 read cover to cover in several days.

[James Deuce]

Yeah I’ve watched most of his stuff. Did love that he threw political correctness out the door with the Hultgreen tragedy, he didn’t mince any words on women flying jets in there.

Nothing to do with women flying jets. EVERYTHING to do with throwing unprepared pilots into aircraft they weren't suited to or trained well enough to fly. His objection is to a system that valued equality for women and public perception above the lives of service pilots. His YouTube channel is fantastic. He's not the misogynistic dickhead you imagine him to be.

[TheDemonLord]

His objection is to a system that valued equality for women and public perception above the lives of service pilots.

Also known as Political Correctness.

Either you have a Merit based, standards assessed criteria - whereby if someone passes the requirements, they get the job.

Or you have Diversity quotas and you eventually have to fudge things to make the stats look better, resulting in under qualified people being pushed into areas they aren't ready for.

[James Deuce]

Also known as Political Correctness.

Either you have a Merit based, standards assessed criteria - whereby if someone passes the requirements, they get the job.

Or you have Diversity quotas and you eventually have to fudge things to make the stats look better, resulting in under qualified people being pushed into areas they aren't ready for.

And dying unnecessarily. Carrier-based aviation has always needed a particular mindset towards procedural flying and the ability to rapidly switch procedures in response to rapidly developing scenarios. He goes into what caused this accident on his YouTube channel and makes it painfully clear that she was already in big trouble well before she realised she was. That was down to not knowing how to combine stick and rudder stuff with well-understood and documented responses to the situation she was in.

[R650R]

https://www.amazon.com/When-Penguins-Flew-Water-Burned-ebook/dp/B0044R98VC

Another B-52 book, this time a memoir of a navigators service with couple interesting tidbits about gulf war ops. Overall a disappointment after the previous books read above covering both true and fictional stories.
While it’s well written there’s not a lot of interesting substance to it.... 2/10

[R650R]

MidWatch by Edward Ellsberg

10/10 action packed naval/legal thriller

Almost two books in one, first half covering navy traditions of time (1906) and the events leading to boiler explosion, second half the court martial.
Just when you think you’ve sussed how the court will pan out it takes some epic twists right up to last pages.
Although fiction the level of detail and Ellsbergs navy working life tells you there has to be some real life elements to this story that perhaps couldn’t be told outside of a novel.

“One young man forced into an impossible situation: obey his commander and potentially cause a disaster, or disobey and ruin his career permanently.

With a new wife and baby on the way, Victor Cushing joins the crew aboard the U.S.S. Manhattan for a highly risky endeavour, eager to prove himself and determined to secure his family's future.

Vic's duty was to keep watch in the fire-rooms for the final hours of a speed test, starting at midnight. Reaching the required knots with their ageing boilers would be an immense task.

When the water levels start to drop, alarm bells start to ring.

The fallout of Vic's decision leads to the courts where he is pitted against his captain, both with everything to lose. In this tense action novel, which leads brilliantly into a nail-biting legal thriller, we witness one man's struggle for innocence against powers far greater than his own.”

[F5 Dave]

I'm a Stranger here myself. An oldie by Bill Bryson, but still funny. His observations moving back to 'merca after 20 yrs in UK.

[HenryDorsetCase]

OK, here's a thing:

I have some books I won't read again and they are free to a good home. I will even mail them to you at my cost if you arent local to Christchurch.

The titles are:

"Right to the Edge" by Charley Boorman. Sydney to Tokyo by bike mainly. Interesting read and less "made for TV" melodrama than on the telly.


"These are the Days that Must Happen to You" by Dan Walsh. Columns and features from a contributor to BIKE magazine. Very entertaining in a gonzo way. Plus he goes some interesting places - Africa and so forth.

"The Original Wild Ones - Tales of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club" - the template for all motorcycle "clubs" formed in 1946. I picked this up in idle curiosity and enjoyed reading it way more than I thought I would.

One book per customer please and first in first served - DM me.

[F5 Dave]

I'll take them all and make it up in kind. Or one at a time.

[R650R]

Im sure most Kiwi blokes had an interest at some level in the A4 Skyhawk at some stage in their life. This book is an outstanding read in terms of its real world account of what it was like along with toll of being at war. Absolute 10/10 you won’t be disappointed. Quite a long book taken awhile to fully read.

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Men-Flying-Remembrance-4/dp/B098GV14MT

"None of us will survive".

The arithmetic was inescapable. The squadron started with twelve A-4E Skyhawks and twenty-two pilots. After seven days, it had eight aircraft and nineteen pilots. He had over one hundred days to go. He would never see home again.

Dead Men Flying is an honest, unflinching account of how Mike, the college kid, became a warrior called “Mule.” It tells of his struggles to become a Naval Aviator. He masters the skills necessary to launch and land a jet fighter bomber on an aircraft carrier. He experiences the transforming state of being when his aircraft merges with his body and becomes an extension of his will; a place where time slows to a crawl; sensory awareness extends to the horizon; and thoughts flash faster than the flick of an eyelid. Within the squadron he develops the bonds of brotherhood that are forged when the pilots must trust each other with their lives. Flying mission after mission into the heart of the North Vietnamese defenses, he pays the cost when death shatters those bonds.

The descriptions of combat are immediate and immersive. They envelop the reader in the perishable art of aerial warfare, a ballet performed out of sight and mind of all but the few who were there. The descriptions are enhanced with more than seventy photographs, many taken during combat.

Dead Men Flying is the story of men tested to the breaking point and beyond by unrelenting threat and losses. It tells how they stood together with unflinching resilience, courage, devotion, and sacrifice.

The author flew 212 combat missions with the Ghost Riders of Attack Squadron 164 over two cruises between June, 1967 and February, 1969.

[Grumph]

The Garth Hogan story. By Tim Hanna.

Mr Hanna is getting better at telling it. This one is very readable, even if you're not a drag racing fan. It certainly explains a lot about Pioneer Equipment - with whom I'm sure a lot of you have dealt. There's a lot of overlap in here - cars, planes, even Ken Mac and the Doc get mentioned.
Mine came from Paper Plus, if they've got it, others will too.
Highly recommended.

[pritch]

"These are the Days that Must Happen to You" by Dan Walsh. Columns and features from a contributor to BIKE magazine. Very entertaining in a gonzo way. Plus he goes some interesting places - Africa and so forth.


Highly recommended. I read some at the time in BIKE, read them and the others in the E version of the book.

Just lately I've been thinking similar thoughts re books. Not quite as generous as you, I'd like the courier cost covered, although that might be complicated. I bought the biggest bookshelf in the shop but it's sagging under the weight. Might make a list of what has to go. We'll see.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Highly recommended. I read some at the time in BIKE, read them and the others in the E version of the book.

Just lately I've been thinking similar thoughts re books. Not quite as generous as you, I'd like the courier cost covered, although that might be complicated. I bought the biggest bookshelf in the shop but it's sagging under the weight. Might make a list of what has to go. We'll see.

Don't tell anyone but I STOLE THE COURIER BAGS FROM WORK!!!

I am currently re-reading Paolo Bacigalupi's "The Windup Girl" which won the Hugo and Nebula in 2009. Really enjoying it. Next up a re-read of John Scalzi's "Old Man's War". (its science fiction).

[HenryDorsetCase]

Also, who's got a Kindle? Are they good? e-books are cheaper and more immediate than waiting for stuff from Book Depository

[F5 Dave]

Indeed it was generous. When I get my act together I'll try list some more of my books to try swap back to HDC having rejected my first volley.

Which was Twisting throttle USA and Auss if anyone is keen.
I have NZ but it is a different kind of book that can be come back to as it is ride based and, well not nearly as funny.

[Berries]

Also, who's got a Kindle? Are they good?
I just can't do it. Was lent one to try but I just prefer the feel of a book, the turning of the pages, the ability to easily flick back pages to re-read something. Some prolific readers I know swear by the latest versions but not for me. I prefer bookmarks to batteries.

Also good to know how much more of the book is left. Would be horrendous to swipe for the next page and find that is the last one. With a proper book you can prepare for that cigar moment.

[george formby]

With a proper book you can prepare for that cigar moment.

You reading Bill Clinton's biography?

[TheDemonLord]

I just can't do it. Was lent one to try but I just prefer the feel of a book, the turning of the pages, the ability to easily flick back pages to re-read something. Some prolific readers I know swear by the latest versions but not for me. I prefer bookmarks to batteries.

Also good to know how much more of the book is left. Would be horrendous to swipe for the next page and find that is the last one. With a proper book you can prepare for that cigar moment.

For me, it's the joy of 'New Book Smell', the feel of turning a page for the first time.

[Berries]

You reading Bill Clinton's biography?
Nah, I read books on the shitter.

[R650R]

Also, who's got a Kindle? Are they good? e-books are cheaper and more immediate than waiting for stuff from Book Depository

I was very resistant to kindle and the start of the iPhone era but ended up with both as necessary tools. The kindle mostly because I wanted to self publish and understand how it presents in that format and the marketing etc.

Kindles technology really is like reading from paper as far as your eyes are concerned, you need an ambient light source or bedside lamp etc. You books synce flakes flybys across the free app so you can read across phone iPad or pc as well.

Can’t speak about newer ones but I love mine. Generally e book version is half price or better than real book so your end up with some pleasant gambles turning good on books you might not have other wise read.

I do love real books still but get a kindle you won’t be disappointed.

[pete376403]

you need an ambient light source or bedside lamp etc. .

?? What model do you have? My Kindle paperwhite is internally lit, I can read in bed without the bedside light disturbing the wife.

[R650R]

?? What model do you have? My Kindle paperwhite is internally lit, I can read in bed without the bedside light disturbing the wife.

Over ten years old.... so can’t remember specs.

[Reckless]

Mine is a few years old too - Great for reading :headbang:

I remember they where selling two models when I bought mine "one with" and "one without" backlight.
I got the backlight one so I could read in the spa and in bed.

Also a Member of a internet site called Bookbub got about 50 FREE unread books stacked up from their free offers.

Need more time LOL

[R650R]

House to House by medal of honour recipient staff sgt Bellavia.

https://www.amazon.com/House-Epic-Memoir-War/dp/1416596607

An excellent account of the brutal fight for Fallujah. It’s easy to think the yanks had an easy time blowing away insurgents with firepower and technology. But this book reminds us well of the brutality of urban warfare.
This book reads well and nothing is spared in account of utter brutality and horror these guys went through, don’t want to plot spoil so just read it to end you won’t be disappointed.

10/10

[pete376403]

House to House by medal of honour recipient staff sgt Bellavia.

https://www.amazon.com/House-Epic-Memoir-War/dp/1416596607

An excellent account of the brutal fight for Fallujah. It’s easy to think the yanks had an easy time blowing away insurgents with firepower and technology. But this book reminds us well of the brutality of urban warfare.
This book reads well and nothing is spared in account of utter brutality and horror these guys went through, don’t want to plot spoil so just read it to end you won’t be disappointed.

10/10
Half way through it. It's a hell of a story (of hell)

[Reckless]

On a Lighter note

I got Brian Johnsons book "The Lives of Brian"
for Xmas a damn good read about himself and AC/DC
Might even read it twice :)

[george formby]

On a Lighter note

I got Brian Johnsons book "The Lives of Brian"
for Xmas a damn good read about himself and AC/DC
Might even read it twice :)

You, Sir, are a genius. Been pondering what to get me Dad for his birthday. This is perfick.:headbang:

[Reckless]

You, Sir, are a genius. Been pondering what to get me Dad for his birthday. This is perfick.:headbang:

Glad to help
Its like your sitting there with him and a beer and he's just telling you stories about his road through life, I had so many laughs on the way through - bloody well written :yes:

[george formby]

Glad to help
Its like your sitting there with him and a beer and he's just telling you stories about his road through life, I had so many laughs on the way through - bloody well written :yes:

Ordered and done. No doubt i will get a synopsis in a few weeks. Cheers.

Many, many years ago me Dad took us to see The Troggs at a local leisure centre. I'm sitting thinking that the bloke in the cap sat next to Dad looked familiar. When he got up to go for a pee I recognised his voice and the penny dropped, it was indeed Brian Johnson. After telling dad he spent the rest of the concert looking like he was being electrocuted. He even shared his midget gems with him.

I can't remember what year this was but suspect it was not long after Back in Black was released.

[F5 Dave]

I really enjoyed his TV interviews with various legends.

Just put my order in (hinted to the wiff). Cheers.

[pritch]

A couple of recent reads. One of the podcasts I listen to consists of interviews with former military people. Two of the recent interviewees had come to notice because of recently published books.

Terror To Triumph by Chris Whittmore

Initially a US Marine scout sniper serving in Iraq and later in Afghanistan a helicopter crewman. Whittmore recounts his experiences.

His book introduced me to the concept of moral trauma. This is where a person feels guilt at a tragic event even though they are not the guilty party. A journalist asked him what his most troubling experience was. When he had finished his explanation the journalist was in tears.

He has difficulty adapting to leaving the military and is affected by previously undiscovered injury and its effects.

He recovered and has since earned a Masters in Forensic Psychology, but he really could have used an editor. Spelling mistakes are not infrequent and there are a couple of places that induce a strong sense of deja vu because a paragraph is repeated.

His story is interesting though and the book is worth a read.



Chinook Crew Chick by Liz McConaghy

At once a lighter read but also at the end rather darker as it involves a suicide attempt.

An Irish girl, Liz was captivated by an ad for RAF crew chiefs. She applied for the job basically straight from school. Interestingly the ‘Basic Recruits Course’ participants are all sergeants. Some, like her, have no military experience and are taught basic drill after hours by course members who do have the experience. To the surprise of herself, and some others, she passed the course and at the ripe old age of 19 was living in the sergeants mess.

There is a lot of humour in the book and Ms McConaghy had a busy time of it during her seventeen years. Two tours of Iraq, her first as the youngest RAF aircrew member to serve in Iraq. Ten tours of Afghanistan and a couple of stretches in the Falklands.

Her observation of the changes over her tours in Afghanistan is interesting. At first it was all business with very few spare bodies. Everybody had a job. By the time of her final tour there were many rules and regulations and there were underemployed senior officers seemingly there simply to qualify them for the relevant medal ribbon.

On her final tour after flying part of the day including evacuating wounded, the crew needed an intelligence update. She went to obtain the updated info. Standing waiting, dirty, sweaty, in blood stained kit, she was approached by a senior officer who advised her that her hair should not be touching her collar and should be in a bun. I’m unacquainted with the complexities of wearing of a bun under a flying helmet but her reaction was anger and the realisation that it was time to go.

Too many hours bumping around in a chinook while wearing a helmet resulted in her neck giving out and her being unable to fly. She was offered a desk job but didn’t want that and took a medical discharge. The adjustment to civilian life, the breakup of her marriage, and extended COVID lock downs culminated in a suicide attempt.

She now works for a charity that trains wounded war veterans to attain their private pilots licence.

[pete376403]

On her final tour after flying part of the day including evacuating wounded, the crew needed an intelligence update. She went to obtain the updated info. Standing waiting, dirty, sweaty, in blood stained kit, she was approached by a senior officer who advised her that her hair should not be touching her collar and should be in a bun. I’m unacquainted with the complexities of wearing of a bun under a flying helmet but her reaction was anger and the realisation that it was time to go..

Similar occurrence in "House to House" by medal of honour recipient staff sgt Bellavia. After a hellish week or so attacking and being attacked by insurgents in Fallujah, with many casualties, hand to hand combat and worse, surviving on next to nothing rations and filthy water, they get told to clean up by REMFs so a visiting general can come and meet with them. Not long after that Bellavia quit the army as well

[pritch]

Similar occurrence in "House to House" by medal of honour recipient staff sgt Bellavia. After a hellish week or so attacking and being attacked by insurgents in Fallujah, with many casualties, hand to hand combat and worse, surviving on next to nothing rations and filthy water, they get told to clean up by REMFs so a visiting general can come and meet with them. Not long after that Bellavia quit the army as well

No combat ready unit ever passed inspection.
No inspection ready unit ever passed combat.

Or so the saying goes...

[F5 Dave]

On a Lighter note

I got Brian Johnsons book "The Lives of Brian"
for Xmas a damn good read about himself and AC/DC
Might even read it twice :)



Just realised it was you that also put me onto the Crafer interview podcast and this book. A virtual Internet beer for you good sir.:drinknsin

My wife to my complete surprise (but not really given the hint) supplied my with this as a gift yesterday. I'm only in a few chapters to his first gig as a teenager, but it is a jolly rollicking read so far.

Makes you appreciate how fucked the UK was after the war and said by comparison to Europe it was like they had lost rather than 'won'.

On reflection the US did them no favour thereafter. Then again, the relationship was somewhat toxic from inception from the UKs actions.

[R650R]

“Warriors Rage - The Great Tank Battle of 73 Easting” by Col Douglas MacGregor

https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Rage-Great-Battle-Easting/dp/1591145333

This chap has been providing some interesting commentary on the Ukraine/Russia situation... anyhow rewind to 1991 Gulf War one and he was in Command of Abrams tank squadron. Some great insight into how the higher command stuffed up letting lot of republican guard escspe accidentally/on purpose????

Very good read

[R650R]

Those of you who watch Ward Carroll’s naval aviation based YouTube will prob have seen Mike interviewed about is path from pilot to carrier command to admiral.

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-How-Lead-Win-Leadership/dp/B0BRYWHZPY/

This book is a heavy read with lots of waffle packing it full but interspersed are some very interesting stories/experiences and leadership lessons

[R650R]

Red Star Rogue 10/10 read cover to cover in several days

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001NIT7KC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

In March 1968 a Russian Nuke armed sub K129 sunk less than 400 miles from Pearl Harbour.
The authors premise is that rogue KGB agents sought to launch a nuke attack on Hawaii and blame it on China and get USA to take out China who were threatening Russia.
The world was saved from WW3 by a good captain he reckons who gave the KGB false codes triggering a failsafe that detonated warhead inside launcher.
The author provides great researched detail on protocols, political happenings and subsequent events that make his scenario sound highly plausible.
USA went on to spend half a billion dollars (serious money in 60Â’s) to secretly salvage the sub.
On a side note the actions taken by CIA and military that were later exposed along with Russian actions illustrates well how small rogue elements within a govt can get things done that anti conspiracy people say are not possible.
Will take too long to properly explain here how it all knits together but highly recommended reading. Also provides a great insight into the Soviet mentality.

[R650R]

Scapegoat by Emilio Corsetti

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01H46H7QC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Another true story airline disaster this time the pilot saves the plane... just. Those of you a bit older than me prob would have seen it in news for considerable time as legal battles ensued, TWA flight 841.
Book goes into great detail so it’s a long read over a few weeks as a narrow minded investigation alleges flight crew did a cowboy procedure to save time but lost control. Along the way the cockpit voice recorder is partially deleted and just like any scary event witness statements conflict.
The pilot Hoot Gibson was an amazing guy packing a lot of interesting stuff into his life


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNd9SjIsxEw&pp=ygUHVHdhIDg0MQ%3D%3D

[Black Knight]

Scattershot-Bernie Taupins autobiography-what a life-a really good read.

[Black Knight]

My mistake,its his memoir.

[pritch]

It seems that Marjorie Taylor Green and Kyle Rittenhouse claim to have written books. MTG and Acquitted respectively. Why they have "written" books is a mystery as I think most people who would be interested in their stories are not big on reading.

I checked Amazon to read the reviews of MTG as there was a potential for amusement, it seems more time is needed. That might have been a mistake though because now Amazon recommends I might be interested in books by Tucker Carlson, Alex jones, Jeanine Pirro, kari Lake and Kash Patel among others. Thanks but no thanks.

[R650R]

The Volunteer - A former IRA man’s true story.

https://www.amazon.com/Volunteer-Former-Mans-True-Story-ebook/dp/B00B0OP1A4?ref_=ast_author_mpb

10/10 Compelling well written story of how idealism turned a 15y/o towards terrorism. Some interesting turns and twists along the way involving internal ira politics and his own internal moral and religious struggles.
An eventual 14 year prison lag gives him time to come to terms with his killings and carnage and seek some kind of redemption.
A good insight to how despite that we want to treat crims like trash there has to be some kind of support inside prison to incorporate people back into society instead of creating future reoffenders.

[HenryDorsetCase]

my only new years resolution this year is: read more, less screen time.

I have started the year with this:

"Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead" by Jim Mattis and Bing West.

So Mattis is the real deal. USMC and rose to become a four star General. You heard his name because he was at the pointy end of US policy in the Middle East for thirty plus years - including the War on Terror and Iraq/Kuwait/Afghanistan. Absolutely fascinating for students of military history. He also served as Drumpf's Secretary of Defence for two years. He is quite guarded about that (though you will recall he was one of the signatories of the open letter to Drumpf from the then surviving ex SecDefs saying "Dont be a fuckwit, dumbarse". Anyway, recommended. Not gung ho - I dont care for gung ho. The man is a thinker and a philosopher. He also has a book list recommendation in his book - i.e. these are books people should read. My next book is the first one on his list: Marcus Aurelius "Meditations" - yes THAT Marcus Aurelius.

Also fun fact: He was never, ever called "Mad Dog" Mattis by anyone until Drumpf or one of his lackeys started it. I will let you look up how and why he got the callsign "CHAOS".

[HenryDorsetCase]

It seems that Marjorie Taylor Green and Kyle Rittenhouse claim to have written books. MTG and Acquitted respectively. Why they have "written" books is a mystery as I think most people who would be interested in their stories are not big on reading.

I checked Amazon to read the reviews of MTG as there was a potential for amusement, it seems more time is needed. That might have been a mistake though because now Amazon recommends I might be interested in books by Tucker Carlson, Alex jones, Jeanine Pirro, kari Lake and Kash Patel among others. Thanks but no thanks.

Yep - I've been watching/listening to interviews with ex SAS, Navy SEALS, Delta, fighter pilots etc etc and there is kind of a type: calm, matter of fact, get shit done. I am not like that. But now Youchoob thinks I want to watch crap like Joe Rogan and all sorts of right wing MAGA shit. Nooooope.

[R650R]

For those interested in investing you will have heard of Alex Karp and his company Palantir which is rapidly becoming hugely successful.

https://www.amazon.com/Technological-Republic-Power-Belief-Future/dp/0593798694

But his book is a great disappointment 4/10. There’s not much to be learnt that you won’t already know from his many interviews online.Tambles on repeating many of same ideas over and over with a million examples from history.
Quite the peculiar chap, rapidly become insanely wealthy, left leaning donated money to Kamala and Democrats but strongly believes in a society based on meritocracy rather than equality and that violence should not be shyed away from in terms of America being dominant world nation.
Will be interesting to see if he ever gets into politics. Recently sold over a billion dollars of shares in his own company.

[R650R]

Punks Force by Ward Carroll

6/10

Latest in his series based around main character of an F14 Pilot. First couple books were good but this one has been rushed out to capitalise on timely current events and it kinda shows.
The plot centres around the Navy being forced in to an exercise to prove a carrier is safe from hypersonic missile attack. However foreign actors have hacked and infiltrated the military and supplier networks to try and sink carrier for real during test.
Last half of book ok but some of the timelines just don’t gel with your brain when you understand how fast a hypersonic is coming in at on a short range attack.

[R650R]

https://www.amazon.com.au/Far-Shore-Edward-Ellsberg-ebook/

The Far Shore by Edward Ellsberg

We’ve all heard and seen much about D day invasion of Normandy but few prob understand how much any possible chances of success rested on the Mulberry artificial landing pontoons/platforms to get tanks ashore.

Detailed factual account of all the heavy engineering problems of the whole project from start to keeping them secret then implementing the final project. It’s amazing things went as well as they did in the end.

All this guys books are full of magnificent factual knowledge around problem solving and sadly I think this is last of his books I could find. 10/10 recommended reading although it’s a bit slower going than the other books.

[R650R]

Most here will agree that various world actors are risking nuclear war via one provocation or another.

Annie Jacobson has managed to collate some very accurate information from interviewing a very wide range of extremely credible experts in relevant fields.

https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-War-Scenario-Annie-Jacobsen-ebook/dp/B0CBGWMFSN?ref_=ast_author_mpb

The book documents in detail our last 75 mins before the world ends with a brief section at end of what exists after (plot spoiler it’s not us humans).
It starts with a single rogue nation launching a surprise attack with just one ICBM which triggers all the subsequent cascading responses.One of the more disturbing points is once a launch and trajectory/targetvus confirmed the USA president has a mere six minutes to chose which option to take in response. Well worth a read 10/10.
Also for those who have a strong interest in American politics it details the succession list of who has the power if President dead etc to about ten different people in govt office.