Author Topic: Canadian Army Reading List- 11+ Years Of Suggestions and Ideas (Read 91275 times)

Michael O'Leary · « **on:** July 24, 2002, 11:39:00 »

I have added an on-line copy of the Canadian Army Reading List to my website: The Regimental Rogue .

Mike O'Leary

(Edited 14 Jan 06 to update links.)

edited to update title

WB · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2003, 20:57:00 »

Can anyone suggest some good books about the army? I‘m looking for something about the infantry, hopefully something Canadian.

There isnt much at the local bookstore, mostly run if the mill "Inside the Delta Force" and "Black Hawk Down" type books. I need something with a bit more substance. I really liked Starship Troopers - Heinlein is one smart guy (I did a report on him for OAC English) and I‘m almost done a book called Parachute Infantry (by David Webster) about the 101st in WW2. It‘s also pretty good. The next on my list is The Sharp End: A Soldier‘s Story. This one was referred to me by a few different people and it‘s also on the Infantry School reading list.

This said, can anyone suggest similar books? Please, no Tom Clancy and no Mark Bowden. That stuff‘s like porno for military buffs - all the detail and no plot.

Michael O'Leary · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2003, 22:05:00 »

That‘s a tough order, any particular wars or campaigns for which you‘re looking for recommendations?

To start with you may want to consider the Canadian Military heritage suggestions on the Canadian Army Reading List. My website has a page on that section of the reading list (as well as others) at this location:
http://regimentalrogue.com/library/CARL3_military_heritage.htm

Mike

(Edited 14 Jan 06 to update link.)

Michael O'Leary · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2003, 22:09:00 »

Other suggestions, for the Second World War, include the works of Farley Mowat (The Regiment and And No Birds Sang) and Strome Galloway (Some Died at ortona, etc). For the First War try Will R Bird‘s Ghosts Have Warm Hands.

Mike

Michael Dorosh · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2003, 00:35:00 »

I would recommend

SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT by David Bercuson - it is about Somalia, but more importantly is a social history of the Canadian Army tracing its roots back throughout the last couple of centuries.

THE GENERALS by Jack Granatstein looks at Canadian commanders in WW II and the dichotomy between regular force and reserves (sound familiar?) in WW II.

For useless uniform trivia, I‘ve published a couple of noteworthy titles....

Guzman · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2003, 10:33:00 »

maybe try out "canadas secret commandos".not very long but intresting.this is pretty much all there is to read about the JTF2,from the formation all the way to afghanistan,decent read.

if u like airborne as much as i do get "band of brothers"...or just watch the movies

for canadian content,try "in search of pegasus" (i think thats the title)

ive also been looking for more canadian books.specialy "the sharp end" there are no copys in toronto!!!
also,ive heard of a book about the canadian para-troopers that were in bastonge.i forget the name.

BestOfTheBest · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2003, 10:41:00 »

I live in Ottawa and i wanted to buy the book The Sharp End and they had none her in Ottawa so i was forced to but it online which wasn‘t that bad

just go to amazon.ca and type the title of the book

WB · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2003, 12:34:00 »

Quote

maybe try out "canadas secret commandos".not very long but intresting.this is pretty much all there is to read about the JTF2,from the formation all the way to afghanistan,decent read.

hehe... I have that one, but it was bashed pretty hard in another thread so I was a little hesitant to admit it!!! But you know what? For a civillian, there isn‘t much else published with info about the JTF-2. I also have ******* Sons, by Lieutenant-Colonel Bernd Horn. It‘s all about Airborne history, but its soooooooo boring!!! It‘s like reading a textbook!!! I flipped through In Search Of Pegasus at the bookstore, but it looked to me like a Coffee Table book. Lots of pictures, but the size of the damn thing makes it pretty impractical as a book I‘d read sitting in the car or waiting for the bus.

As for the Sharp End, it seems to be pretty hard to get a hold of. There were none at any of the bookstores in my area (Brampton, Ont.). I had to go to Indigo Books and have it ordered for me, so I should have it in 3-4 weeks.

Significant Incident looks alright. Thanks for the suggestion Michael Dorosh!! I might also be Interested in the Farley Mowat ones. I‘ve read a couple of his books a LONG time ago. Thanks Michael OLeary!!

Quote

That‘s a tough order, any particular wars or campaigns for which you‘re looking for recommendations?

When it comes to Canadian literature, I‘m interested in Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan - fairly recent stuff. Books about Paratroopers from other countries are also cool. I wouldnt mind reading about the FFL, UK Paras and RMs, US Rangers, or the Aussie Commandos (can‘t remember the regt. name).

Guzman · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2003, 20:30:00 »

for a good but short read on somalia,check out http://www.commando.org/ follow the somalia link for a diary by a former member of CAR.very intresting.theres also a "books" link listing a few books that might intrest you.

Michael O'Leary · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2003, 23:00:00 »

Here‘s a site with numerous resource links for Canadian military books:

CanadaAndWar.com : A Books List

Mike

brackett · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2003, 14:16:00 »

Try getting some copies of the Legion magazine at the library

RMC_Cadet · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2003, 14:57:00 »

Also if you‘re intrested in Armoured Regiments there are 2 very good books id recomend. They are The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps: An Illustrated History and The Governor General‘s Horse Guards: Second to None both by John Marteinson

Marti · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2003, 16:09:00 »

what about ‘Eat Your Weakest Man‘? i‘ve heard about it, but never got around to reading it, is it any good?

aa · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2003, 16:25:00 »

I know, I know.....I‘ve already said this in other posts, but I just can‘t help myself!

Canada‘s Secret Commandos- fiction. Not even good fiction. The few actual facts in it are so out of context that they don‘t even make sense. Read it if you like, but it‘s much like trying to keep up on world events by reading the National Enquirer....

The Sharp End- Those of us who have served with Jim Davis, and were there for his various "exploits" get a good laugh out of that book. Highly embellished to say the least. I‘ve no big problem with that, he‘s out to sell books just like any author. Just read it with a good dose of skepticism....

If you want a good book on Somalia read "Eat your weakest man" by Rui Amarol he‘s was a 2 Cdo WO there (and an excellent soldier and leader). It‘s written more for those soldiers who were there, and would certainly be difficult to for someone unfamilliar with military slang and the military culture to understand...and Rui won‘t be winning any pullitzers, but that‘s not what he wanted to do. He just wanted to give his side of the Somalia story and he succeeded.

SNoseworthy · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2003, 19:48:00 »

Here‘s a tip from me for buying Canadian Military History books online. If you go to Amazon.ca, you‘ll see a fine selection of books to choose from. Some of the older books, which tend to be the best ones to buy, aren‘t even available. I‘ve tried three times to get some of the older books (from the late 1990s, one was even from 2000), and Amazon couldn‘t get them for me. That place in my experience is a waste of time to try to buy books from. Best for you to check a place like E-Bay

Michael O'Leary · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2003, 21:55:00 »

I‘ve had success tracking down ‘older‘ volumes through the on-line second hand book systems such as abebooks and alibris. You can find links to them from my website‘s links page at http://regimentalrogue.tripod.com/roguelinks.htm

Mike

ObedientiaZelum · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2003, 22:19:00 »

Speaking of Canadian authors didn‘t scott taylor have something like 4 years experience in the military (give or take) and he‘s often quoted as an expert on the canadian military or something?

Michael Dorosh · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2003, 01:25:00 »

Ghost, has it occurred to you that the world‘s leading military historians have never served a day in their life, or if they did, in a very limited capacity?

David Bercuson, Stephen Ambrose, Daniel Dancocks, Michael Howard, et al - representing the most prolific and the most highly respected military historians - weren‘t actually soldiers.

Who‘da thunk it, eh buddy?

ObedientiaZelum · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2003, 20:48:00 »

No michael it has not. In order to know anything about the military you just HAVE to spend time in the army. Not even the navy or airforce. Just army. Just infantry too. only infantry. And then only if your a private or corporal.

All sarcasim aside, buddy, if you reread my post you will infact take notice, with my prompting, that no where do i mention historians or their involvement in the military. I know your some kind of history buff and i really respect that, i loved history in highschool and i really enjoy reading it now but please don‘t put words in my mouth its rude and i would say quite unbecomming of an educated person.

I guess someone can be a great historian from sitting down and reading books be they military or not but in my humble opinion to be an ‘expert‘ on the current military someone should spend more then 4 years (or whatever it was) in the military (And also by all accounts not be a bag of hammers)

I

Jungle · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2003, 21:29:00 »

There is a difference between the study of historical facts and the knowledge of the current situation of Army personnel. Historians are just that, and their knowledge comes from the study of official history and interviews with some who were there. And then some of us don‘t know as much about the past, but know what it is to stare down a barrel, to go to ground because you really have to... some of us know the world has changed, and so did our missions. I think this is what Ghost was trying to get to. Taylor is a journalist, just like any other journalist except he is Infantry QL-3 qual‘d.

Michael Dorosh · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2003, 00:04:00 »

Jungle and Ghost - you make a fine distinction between historians and journalists, and I agree. I also agree that military experience is a "nice-to-have" when regarding those who discuss the military. This group includes not just historians, not just journalists, but extends to a wide range of consultants, politicians (ugh), lobbyists, etc., all of whom have a vested interest.

recceguy · « **Reply #21 on:** February 04, 2003, 05:00:00 »

Don‘t exactly agree 100%, but found this little quote yesterday. Might fit here.

Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy
can only take your life. It is far
better that you fear the media,
for they will steal your HONOR.

2Lt_Martin · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2003, 06:22:00 »

I am reading Fortunes Warriors by James Davis right now it‘s about his career in CP(Close Protection) corporate security world after leaving the Forces. I am not very far into it yet but so far a very good read.

I am looking for a copy of The Sharp End by the same author noted above, as it has been recommended to me several times. Same problem though can‘t find it in stores will have to order online.

muskrat89 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2003, 10:28:00 »

I liked Ortona. Also all of Blackburn‘s (I think) books. Guns of Normandy, Guns of Victory(?), Where the **** are the Guns?. Sorry for the hesitation, but they are not all in front of me. Packed away in the garage actually, for the time being. Those books are great, even for non-Gunners, though there are some big words in them...

Michael O'Leary · « **Reply #24 on:** February 04, 2003, 10:49:00 »

The Sharp End

$16.96 Cdn from Amazon

or

$6.99 US from bookcloseouts.com
(though with exchange and shipping, there may not be a great saving).

Mike

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Author Topic: Canadian Army Reading List- 11+ Years Of Suggestions and Ideas (Read 91275 times)

Guzman

BestOfTheBest

Guzman

brackett

aa

SNoseworthy

2Lt_Martin