"5 Vintage Military Books You Should Read" Topic

The Military Officers' Association of America has just recommended five vintage military books active and retired officers should read.

link

I imagine most of us have read (and probably even own) at least one of these five. I've read #1 and #4 and own a copy of #4. Looks like I'll have to find the other three so I can read them as well.

Jim

Thank you for sharing. Some of these are going on my kindle this weekend!

I have read part of the Naval one but couldn't read the rest of it, it showed too many flaws in both his naval knowledge and his interpretation.

I really don't have that much interest in the other periods or subjects.

Can't think why they would choose the last 4 at all. The first is an obvious one for the period.

Great list, I'll have to pick some of these up. Thanks for posting!

Loom of History was already well behind the curve of archeological knowledge at the time it was published and is totally out of date sixty years later.

Regan's books in general are models of 20-20 hindsight, so I can't imagine that the naval one is any better than the others.

Don't own and haven't read. I'll have to come back to that list later and visit Amazon to read some reviews.

Salutations, gentlefolk !

IMAO Elting's _Swords around a Throne_ is the best book around on how an army in the pre-mechanical age _lived_ – what it was like to move and supply a military force when everything and everyone traveled by foot, horse, or sailboat. Methinks that if you are interested in the era from Assyria to Bull Run, you'll find it interesting.

Muller may be dated, but _he can tell a story_. If you're interested in the classical era or the Crusades or the end of Byzantium, take a look.

_Dictionary of Battles_ – if you want a reference work like that, that's a good one. On the other two, have not read recently enough to opine.

I've got #1 & #3 in my library. Interested to know why #3 is rated the must read book in his "Blunder" series?

I have the first one and read it and have never read or owned the rest. They were all a surprise to me. I would have picked others entirely. Regarding naval warfare, I do not have enough knowledge to judge.

I've heard of 1 and 2.

Chandler's Campaigns of Napoleon not there???

I read Swords Around a Throne in high school and is one of my all favorite military history books… depressing to think that is considered vintage!

Muller may be dated, but _he can tell a story_.

As could Harold Lamb – but there's more to history than telling a good story.