We, at the P4B, have been going through the books that have meaning for us. They spoke to our pursuits, our wider world, or in some cases, were just high caliber entertainment.
As promised, I have relegated the book list to it’s own location.
This list will continue to grow. And you can add to it. Every reader has that book!!! It’s the book that spoke to you at just the right time. Or the author that sucked you into a completely different reality or mind-set, if only for a bit. You love talking about it, but you’re not sure who wants to hear it. Well, we do.
If you have book to share, or even a good film recommendation, feel free to subscribe and join us in Substack chat. It’s free. And not only can the P4B users see your recommendations, so can anyone you befriend on chat. That could be thousands of Substack users.
I believe that the pursuit of better content for all of us, and quality engagement with each other over same, will be a net plus for all our users. Engaging a writer in a project from beginning to end is a far more beneficial process than the disjointed scroll and poke most of us endure on social media.
Join us.
The P4B Book List
Below, you’ll find not only the book list, you’ll find reviews or links to reviews of the works listed. You will also find links the when some of the authors appeared on the P4B.
Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History by Robin Bartlett
Vietnam, like very war, was a unique experience. It has it’s own light, it’s own ethos, it’s own…smells. Among the first people I would meet, as a young sailor, were the survivors of that experience. On a slow afternoon on a signal bridge, or at the 19th hole in Little Creek after a beach op, it would be these guys telling their war stories to the untested.
Robin Bartlett, one of the first guests on the P4B, recaptured that same feeling one had back in the 70s and 80s, listening to the first-hand accounts. What is a common theme with most writers out of Vietnam was the simple humility of their tale. It breaks the listener of the John Wayne stereotype of war fighting.
While bravado and sweeping, meaningful action CAN mean something in mass conflict (Band of Brothers captures the link between a soldier to his comrades, and victory on a wider scale), the average Vietnam grunt had no such delusions. He discovered quite quickly that he was not there to spearhead a wide front and march into Hanoi. He was there to fight and die, or just go home - often alone. End of story.
Robin captures all of that in a series of events related simply and honestly. The P4B gives Vietnam Combat Four Stars ****. He is informative, honest, touching, entertaining and blunt, all at the same time. A valuable addition to your library.
A strong P4B recommendation: The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius Power and Deception on the Eve of WWI by Douglas Brunt A real-life murder mystery.
An easy, fun read with lots of follow-ons: After Dunkirk by Lee Jackson. Part 1 of a WWII historical fiction series.
A studious and interesting biography. Excellent reading. Jefferson's Godfather, the Man Behind the Man: George Wythe, Mentor to the Founding Fathers by Suzanne Munson. See Suzanne’s appearance on the P4B here.
The Winds of War by Herman Wouk This the first in a two part epic. Like After Dunkirk, it is a WWII historical fiction. But it is a much deeper dive. Very well written. You will get lost in it. I will do a complete review here later. But I’ll cut to the chase…*****The P4B Book List
A strong P4B recommendation: The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius Power and Deception on the Eve of WWI by Douglas Brunt A real-life murder mystery.
An easy, fun read with lots of follow-ons: After Dunkirk by Lee Jackson. Part 1 of a WWII historical fiction series.
The Winds of War by Herman Wouk This the first in a two part epic. Like After Dunkirk, it is a WWII historical fiction. But it is a much deeper dive. Very well written. You will get lost in it. I will do a complete review here later. But I’ll cut to the chase…*****
I had to do a lot of research to make sure I was directing you to a good copy of the book. Some people sell one or the other volume, not knowing what they have. If you find both volumes in good condition for under $100, buy them. But at this link (unpaid), you won’t spend much at all. Just hit the button.
The Rising Sun. By John Toland - Just as interesting a read, from a slightly different perspective. Every bit as detailed.
My review of Imperial Japanese Conspiracy and a bit about Toland’s The Rising Sun.
The Things Our Fathers Saw by Matthew A Rozell. This is an extensive series of books chronicling WWII in both theaters and on the home front. Not yet reviewed. Subscribe to leave a review in chat.
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