Customer Reviews

Military History's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Improbable Victories, Unlikely Heroes, and Other Martial Oddities (Brassey's Most Wanted Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Normally I find top ten military lists like those on MILHST-L fun to read, but not very informative. This book is superb because it combines insightful commentary and fun lists.

What Brooks has done is assemble 70+ top ten lists, but each entry has one or more paragraphs of explanation. And it is clear that he has thought very carefully and researched his choices on his lists.

More specifically, why is this such a good book?

First, the author is well-read and informed. You may not agree with his opinions, I know I have more than a few disagreements, but they are based on a solid understanding of military history and the literature. (BTW, the author is a decorated veteran of the Gulf War, so he has first-hand knowledge of war.)

Second, he has created great categories, not just the obvious ones, like the Great Captains of History, Overrated Commanders, Underrated Commanders, and Decisive Battles. Here are some of the 70+ ones that I found quite facinating: Military Myths, Chaplains, Murder (and Death) Most Foul, Retrograde Operations, Mutinies, Entertainers, Cavalry Charges, POW Camps, Courts-Martial, Military Web Sites, Lopsided Victories (more than 30,000 casualties), Lopsided Victories (less than 30,000 casualties), and Last Stands. I love his four War Movie categories: Operational, Nonoperational, Testosterone, and Estrogen. Also, his suggestions on the ten books with which to begin building a military library are quite sound, especially when combined with his four other military book categories. Finally, Brooks has a great category that will challenge the serious historian -- he canvasses several thousand years of history to create the greatest Command Staff in History.

Third, Brooks has a good sense of wit. The book is fun to read! Again, the seriousness of the book is not compromised by his witty and at times, sarcastic, comments, rather it is enhanced. This book does challenge the serious historian to think about his own opinions.

Fourth, the book is a useful reference. He has some top ten lists that are straight reference, e.g., air aces, sub aces, Marshal-Generals of France. And for each person in the book, he has their dates of birth and death (when known). There is a twelve-page bibliography and an index.

Informative and fun, and a great way to get a conversation amongst historians going -- what more can you ask for in a book?

This book easily earns five stars, because it's accurate, well-written, and witty. Don't let the format fool you. The author is well-read and has done an impressive amount of research, so much so that I believe high school and undergraduate students in history or military science could use it as a reference. It's a fun read.

Never thought reading about the military could be fun - or funny - until I read this little gem. The chapters are short, concise and interesting. You can skip chapters or read it straight through. Believe me, you'll never loose a history question in Trivial Pursuit again once you've finished with this book! Learn, laugh and educate yourself about the military with this great little book!

Lt.Col.Brooks shot himself in the foot on his overated commanders chapter. As most modern war college and west point grads, the new mind set is that the Virginia son's General Lee and Jackson were fair generals at best. For a brief year in France in 1944-1945 the U.S. Army with their allied forces fought offensive battles that involved an a well trained and talented enemy. General Lee led his army for four grueling years against a difficult opponent, The U.S. army and Stonewall Jacksons valley campaign was one of Gen. Edwin Rommel (another fair commander) watch words. As with most U.S. miltary minds General Giap( another fair commander) did not defeat the Japanese, French or American forces in Southeast Asia. But the book is a great read, with details on strange and odd folks on the stage of World History and I will keep this book in my library.

There are lots of lists so each item is quite short. Not enough detail to really get into. Think of as bathroom reading.

I'm not sure if it's a simple lack of objectivity or the author's desire to appeal (predominantly) to American readers that inspired him to include several undeserving (of top 10 standing) officers in the earlier categories. Dupuy and Dupuy would have a few words to say about many of the selections.

The second half of the book is mainly uninteresting, non-relevant trivia. The book would have benefited from longer, more in-depth entries in the interesting earlier sections and simply cut the pulp of the second half out completely.