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Title: The First Heroes

Subtitle: The Extraordinary Story of the Doolittle Raid

Author: Craig Nelson

Narrator: Raymond Todd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-06-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 147 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The First Heroes is the story of this extraordinary mission, a moment in history that is surprisingly unfamiliar today. To give these heroes their due, Craig Nelson interviewed 20 of the surviving participants and researched more than 40,000 pages of archival documents.

Here is a true account of great personal courage and a powerful reminder that ordinary people, when faced with extraordinary circumstances, can rise to the challenge of history.

Members Reviews:

Heroic Attempt

This was an heroic attempt by the author to present a detailed recounting of what at the time was an heroic effort by the fledgling AAF to retaliate for Pearl Harbor and give the United States a psychological lift at the beginning of World War II after the U.S. had suffered defeat after defeat. It is long, it is detailed, it is tedious, yet most of it is good listening, but you have to want to hear it.

But, where do they get readers who pronounce "ensign" as "en sign" rather than "N-sn", or "cpl", the abbreviation for corporal as "c.p.l."? Would you believe "boatswain"?

I can't recommend this book to anyone unless they have an abiding interest in hearing the details of this mission, and what happened to each of the eighty crewmen who took part in the raid.

Sloppy naval research

I really, really wanted to like this book. I'd just finished Hornfischer's outstanding "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" and wanted some more inspirational reading. Unfortunately, the author has no - and I repeat no - required knowledge of the US Navy. There are many, many small, factual errors that are really annoying - referring to the HMS Repulse as a "cruiser", describing the Japanese torpedoes as "two feet long", etc, etc. Anyone with even a basic knowledge of the US Navy in WW2 should have been given an opportunity to preview this book before publication. Additionally, his overuse of military jargon - bombs referred to as "cabbages", torpedoes as "eels" by such a rank amateur was just too much.

The narrator has no idea regarding correct pronunciation of naval terms - (en-sine, indeed.)

I find that when there are so many factual errors in an area that I'm familiar with, I have a tough time accepting the new - often interesting on its face - data that an author brings up. It's too bad that such a terrific topic couldn't have been treated more professionally. I read "Thirty Seconds over Tokyo" as a kid and really was looking for some new information. I blame the editors completely for this second rate attempt.

Good book, questionable narrator

This book satisfied my desire to know more about the Doolittle raid, and it was interesting to learn so much more about the aftermath than you normally encounter in books dealing with military actions. However, I gave the book only three stars because it is, indeed, distracting to hear "ensign" mispronounced literally dozens of times. Other mispronunciations reveal that the narrator has no familiarity with the subject matter, or military knowledge in general.

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Title: A History of Britain

Subtitle: The Fate of Empire 1776-2000, Volume 3

Author: Simon Schama

Narrator: Timothy West

Format: Abridged

Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-13-03

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The Fate of Empire is a compelling epic made more so by lively storytelling and bold character. But alongside flamboyant heroes, Schama recalls unsung heroines, like the Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole, and virtually unknown enemies like Indian Islamic Jihadi warrior Ahmadullah. And with the grand ideas, Schama also exposes the grand illusions that cost untold lives, as when India's viceroys let millions of starving Indians die.

As he brings the narrative up to the present, Schama takes a hard look at ambitious post-World War II liberal dreams and analyzes what happened to them. His conclusions emerge in The Fate of Empire and reveal the living ideals of Britain's long history, "a history that tied together social justice with bloody-minded liberty."

Critic Reviews:

"Schama has written a delightfully readable book that should be mandatory for anyone interested in British history." (Publishers Weekly)

"Schama's narrative is magnificent." (New York Times Book Review)

"My literary discovery of the year...British history made so playful and seen through the eyes of today." (Los Angeles Times)

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Title: No End Save Victory Vol. 1

Subtitle: Perspectives on World War II

Author: Stephen E. Ambrose, Caleb Carr, William Manchester, more

Narrator: Leo Burmester

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-11-02

Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 104 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Includes:

Critic Reviews:

"A suite of surprises awaits even the most knowledgeable reader of the war's history." (Booklist)

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: The Influence of Seapower Upon History

Author: Alfred T. Mahan

Narrator: Jonathan Reese

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 63 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

In 1886, the U.S. had no navy to speak of. But it did have Alfred T. Mahan, a captain of the U.S. Navy who had spent much of his career observing the exemplary fleets of the British Empire. At age 46, Mahan was just 10 years short of retirement age when the newly formed Naval and War College at Newport, Rhode Island, asked him to lecture on naval history and tactics. Out of these lectures grew a book that would change the world. It's no exaggeration that The Influence of Seapower Upon History affected the outcome of both great world wars. When it was first published in 1890, prime ministers, kings, admirals, and chancellors eagerly studied its strategies, which England first employed to rule the seas. Likewise, all the major powers have used it to shape imperial policies.

(P) Books on Tape, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Great book, poor quality recording

I needed an audio copy of this book so I could read it for class during a long drive. I was psyched to find it on Audible unabridged. Unfortunately, the recording sounded like it was a hissing copy of an old cassette tape. And the reader was slow and had no dynamism in his voice. A must read for history majors, but a better copy should be found.

Great book spoiled by reader

For nearly a century this book has been a "must read" for anyone interested in naval history. Unfortunately the narrator's technique of ending almost every sentence on a rising note, as if a question was being asked made listening impossible. It broke my heart but I had to put the tape away after an hour of teeth-gritting struggle.

good book, terrible narrator

While a great book, I could not stand the narrator. His sing-songy approach to the reading was very very distracting, so regrettably, I had to stop listening. Hope I?ll find the same title sans this narrator!

Great book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Influence of Seapower Upon History to be better than the print version?

The audio edition is easier to start with. The original book is good if you like to study the details on seabattles in the 1700's.

Any additional comments?

This book covers most of the reasons why the worldmap looks like it does today. This book is essential reading for presidents and prime ministers.

Turgid prose

And editorial cloaked as history and written in a painful manner. Only covers history until the end of the American Revolution

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Title: Blind Man's Bluff

Subtitle: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage

Author: Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew

Narrator: Tony Roberts

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 378 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

No espionage missions have been kept more secret than those involving American submarines. Now Blind Man's Bluff shows for the first time how the Navy sent subs wired with self-destruct charges into the heart of Soviet seas to tap crucial underwater telephone cables. It unveils how the Navy's own negligence might have been responsible for the loss of the USS Scorpion, a submarine that disappeared, with all hands lost, 30 years ago. It tells the complete story of the audacious attempt to steal a Soviet submarine with the help of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, and how it was doomed from the start. And it reveals how the Navy used the comforting notion of deep-sea rescue vehicles to hide operations that were more James Bond than Jacques Cousteau.

©1998 Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew; (P)1998 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews:

"Enthralling." (Kirkus Reviews)

"This is the kind of non-fiction that drives people like me crazy. Why? Because it's almost impossible to make up stuff this good." (John Weisman, author of the Rogue Warrior series)

Members Reviews:

Wow This is an amazing listen

This book amazed me and gave me insight on how much we really did to win the cold war....we were by far more involved that I ever imagined...

Straight up, it's exciting, heartbreaking, and amazing!

You MUST listen to this book!

Hero's ALL

I was a CT "spook" during the 60's while some of these missions were going on. I can believe everything in the stories. It's all true.

VERY interesting information

What made the experience of listening to Blind Man's Bluff the most enjoyable?

It presented facts from different sources that brought the story of the Glomar Explorer and K129 into very sharp focus.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There are really no identifiable characters in that this is a true story of SPY vs SPY in the major leagues.

Did Tony Roberts do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Story was well read but would benefit from sme perceptive editing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

My schedule did not allow this but I would certainly have done so if I could.

Any additional comments?

Should be read with Scorpion Down to see the entire picture of the the intelligence capabilities and use of subs.

Breath'n my air

Great book, well read. As a member of the silent service, I listened to those before us and enjoyed the history.

Good info, interesting stories, but ...

... it is more like a set of story pieces from the 60 year history of the use of subs in military intelligence gathering.... and less like a truly connected tale (or even history). The book basically lacks an arc. Also, the audiobook is abridged, and I think the connectivity across the years may get further disjointed as a result. Lastly, at almost every step it seemd as if both the author(s) and the narrator tried too hard to interject slightly heightened (yet transparent) drama whenever possible.

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Title: Black Hawk Down

Author: Mark Bowden

Narrator: Joe Morton

Format: Abridged

Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 304 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Ninety-nine elite American soldiers are trapped in the middle of a hostile city. As night falls, they are surrounded by thousands of enemy gunmen. Black Hawk Down drops you into a crowded marketplace in the heart of Mogadishu, Somalia with the U.S. Special Forces - and puts you in the middle of the most intense firefight American soldiers have fought since the Vietnam War. Award-winning literary journalist Mark Bowden's dramatic narrative captures this harrowing ordeal through the eyes of the young men who fought that day. He draws on his extensive interviews of participants from both sides - as well as classified combat video and radio transcripts - to bring their stories to life.

©1999 Mark Bowden, All Rights Reserved; (P)1999 Simon & Schuster, Inc., All Rights Reserved, AUDIOWORKS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Members Reviews:

Incomparable - The Best Modern War Story Available

Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down is the best story of modern war, as the subtitle calls it, I have ever read. I read the book, watched the movie and have listened to the audible audio several times. The depth and multitude of personal accounts of the battle that day in October 1994 is unbelievable. Bowden was patient and throrough in his research for this book and interviewed dozens of combatants and witnesses from both sides of the fight. His research coalesced into this masterpiece of military history that, in my opinion, should be required reading in highschools throughout the country, especially as we face the very real prospect of war on the ground in a clan dominated country once again with Iraq.

The character development in this book is fleeting but ample enough to get to know many of the Rangers and Delta Force operators that fought, bled and too often died in this battle. The story of the most selfless and heroic Sergeant First Class Randy Shugart and Master Sergeant Gary Gordon coming to the aid of downed pilot Mike Durant is reason enough to listen to this book. This book allows us to honor all of the men who fought in this battle, for their courage and humanity.

I highly recommend this book and suggest that you use the following web resource to supplement your listening: Black Hawk Down: An American War Story-The Original Newspaper Series Online. Mark Bowden is a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where this story first appeared as a serial piece in the newspaper. This website includes maps, videos and the full text of the serialized version of the story.

Listen to this book and understand fully what we may be committing our soldiers to with a new war in the streets of Baghdad on the horizon. Will the citizens of Baghdad embrace our mission to bring freedom to their streets or will they react more like the people of Mogadishu?

I wish this book were available unabridged

With a great book such as this one, I am always left wondering what has been omitted. Please give us the choice to hear the whole thing!!

God bless all who serve!

This was a very personal story as I was a friend of one of the soldiers killed. I always wondered what had really gone on and happened to cause his young life to expire. Very well written and kept me engaged to the very bitter end.

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Title: The Conquest of Constantinople

Author: Geoffroy de Villehardouin

Narrator: John Franklyn-Robbins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

This first-hand account of the noble, barbaric Fourth Crusade was written by Geoffroy de Villehardouin, a French nobleman who played a leading role in the war. The First, Second, and Third Crusades were an effort by Christians to free the Holy Land from the Turks, but the Fourth Crusade degenerated into a war of conquest amongst fellow Christians. Villehardouin's account provides important insights into the motivations of the crusaders in this most famous of campaigns, launched at the dawn of the 13th century.

Editorial Reviews:

On April 13, 1204, western Christians successfully toppled Constantinople, the capital city of the Byzantine Empire and arguably the most important port town of its day. The great library was destroyed, art works were stolen and defaced, and blood ran in the streets. The war was the Fourth - and final - Crusade, one of the most decisive and world-changing battles in history. While it is tempting to think of the Crusades as simply the stuff of history, one living, breathing man was there taking notes. He was Geoffrey de Villehardouin, Marshal of Champagne and Romania, and his eyewitness account of the conquest of Constantinople remains the earliest surviving historical prose narrative in French. John Franklyn-Robbins performs the text in a mature and spritely British tone.

Members Reviews:

A too often forgotten time in History

Too often we think the Crusades were battles between Christians and Moslems over the so called "Holy Land". That was only a part of it. It was motivated by religious, political and economic factors and enhanced with a promise of an eternity in paradise. While the book presents the European warriors as saviors, the similarities to Al Quida are there. This book concentrates not on the battles over Jerusalem but rather on the conquest of Christian Constantinople by the European Christians. It sanitizes the events and presents Europe as the hero, to which I disagree, but it is still an important book to read, as too few understand the Crusades, and an understanding of the Crusades is an integral part of today's conflict in the Middle East.

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Title: Stalin

Author: Edvard Radzinsky

Narrator: David McCallum

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-08-99

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 154 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Radzinsky uncovers the startling truth about this most enigmatic of historical figures. Only now, in the post-Soviet era, can what was suppressed be told: Stalin's long-denied involvement with terrorism as a young revolutionary; the real story of how he mangled his left arm; the crucial importance of his role during the October Revolution; his often hostile relationship with Lenin; the details of his organization of terror, culminating in the infamous show trials of the 1930s; his secret dealings with Hitler, and how they backfired; and the horrifying plans he had to send the Soviet Union's Jews to concentration camps, tantamount to a potential second Holocaust. Radzinsky also takes an intimate look at Stalin's private life, and his turbulent relationship with his wife Nadezhda, recreating the circumstances that led to her suicide. Finally, Radzinsky discovers one of Stalin's elite bodyguards, who breaks 40 years of silence to give the strongest evidence yet of the conspiracy behind Stalin's death.

The Kremlin intrigues, the private worlds of the Soviet Empire's ruling class, Radzinsky thrillingly brings them to life. And the riddle of that most cold-blooded of leaders, a man for whom nothing was sacred in his pursuit of absolute might, and perhaps the greatest mass murderer in Western history, is solved.

Members Reviews:

A Great Book About a Great Tyrant

I have been a periodic reader of Soviet history for the past three decades. With the opening of the various secret Soviet archives to certain researchers came the possiblity of better understanding of that which had only been speculated in the past, the "back-story" history of the revolution and the coming to power of Lenin and the Bolsheviks, and the succession of Koba Stalin. Prior to Radzinsky's book, I had read Dmitri Volkogonov's definitive history - STALIN: TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY. Radzinsky's book brings, I believe, a more coherant and understandble story of Stalin's rise. Which author, Volkogonov or Radzinsky, is more correct in their presentation of Stalin? I cannot say. For the most part, their stories are complementary. I found Radzinsky to be more readable, more organized. This is an excellent book which I recommend highly to those interested in Soviet history.

Now, about David McCallum's narration of this book: Brilliant. I have neaver heard a more perfect match of a book with a narrator. The pace, the phrasing, the nuance, the innuendo built into the reading was excellent. I was so impressed by McCallum's reading that I had hoped to find other historical volumes narrated by him. I'm sorry to say that I found only novels.

Great Narration

The narrator is tremendous. As another reviewer mentioned, his voice is perfect this book. He really captures the evil, deception, and debauchery of the times. He is slightly British sounding.

This is overall a good, interesting, and revealing book about Stalin. However, the reader/listener should be aware that at times Radzinsky takes a position that is not widespread. A few example are: Stalin was preparing to start for World War 3, his breakdown during WWII was just an act to test the loyalty of his cohorts, Stalin was not surprised by the German attack in 1941, and Stalin was planning to attack Germany before they attacked him. Radzinsky builds his case for his interpretations often times on circumstantial evidence or something someone told him.

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Title: War Dogs

Subtitle: Tales of Canine Heroism, History, and Love

Author: Rebecca Frankel

Narrator: Tanya Eby

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-31-14

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

In War Dogs, Rebecca Frankel offers a riveting mix of on-the-ground reporting, her own hands-on experiences in the military working dog world, and a look at the science of dogs' special abilities - from their amazing noses and powerful jaws to their enormous sensitivity to the emotions of their human companions. The history of dogs in the U.S. military is long and rich, from the spirit-lifting mascots of the Civil War to the dogs who lead patrols hunting for IEDs today. Frankel interviewed not only handlers who deployed with dogs in wars from Vietnam to Iraq but also top military commanders, K-9 program managers, combat-trained therapists who brought dogs into war zones as part of a preemptive measure to stave off PTSD, and veterinary technicians stationed in Bagram. She makes a passionate case for maintaining a robust war-dog force. In a post-9/11 world rife with terrorist threats, nothing is more effective than a bomb-sniffing dog and his handler. With a compelling cast of humans and animals, this moving audiobook is a must-listen for all dog lovers-military and otherwise.

Critic Reviews:

"Military aficionados as well as dog lovers will learn from and enjoy from this study of canine commandos and the service people who count on them." (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Dogs good; story not so much

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Part of the time. Story began repeating on itself, so it got kind of boring after about Chapter 4.

Would you recommend War Dogs to your friends? Why or why not?

It might be a good read for someone who has not read a lot about dogs.

What aspect of Tanya Ebys performance would you have changed?

She didn't do a very good job with male voices, particularly in battle scenes where things got intense.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No; I don't think it has the makings for a movie.

Any additional comments?

The story was a bit disjointed throughout. Jumping back and forth between the Gulf war, Vietnam, and WW I and II.

Good read & very enjoyable

I got this book out of curiosity and found it both interesting and moving at times. Good narration and engaging story.

Good book

Good story but dry narrarator

Great story about our military and the special forces they use

Good stories but I wanted more

So, after reading the reviews I thought this would be a good book to listen to on a long trip. While I thought the stories were interesting, I found it to be more of a history lesson than anything else. There were times that I almost dozed and I was driving!

The stories about handler and dog were interesting and poignant and sad but nary a tear was shed. And I cry when my dogs are constipated. I was hoping it would grip me the way Love From Bagdad did. Three stars.

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Title: Hell on Ice

Subtitle: The Saga of the Jeannette

Author: Edward Ellsberg

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-13-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The thrilling adventure of one crew's harrowing journey back from the Earth's most foreboding frozen hell

In the 1870s, newspaperman James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald drummed up excitement and publicity for his paper through highly publicized missions of exploration. In 1879, Bennett's idea for a voyage was his most audacious to date: the North Pole. To do this, he hired a team of naval veterans in addition to a smattering of civilians with specialized knowledge in meteorology, whaling, and naturalism. The men on board the Jeannette set off in September of 1879. This would be the last time anyone saw them for two years.

The product of devoted research into personal histories, memoirs, and classified congressional investigation records, Hell on Ice is a remarkable document: a novelization of history, turning the horrible ordeal of the brave men of the Jeannette into a riveting narrative. Written with a weathered seaman's familiarity, the story brilliantly captures a most perilous voyage from the perspective of the ship's chief engineer. The men of the Jeannette endure months trapped in an Arctic ice pack, and then begin a desperate trek for home.

Members Reviews:

Great Historical Novel of Actual Trek into Unknown

Fascinating tale of exploration team searching for a passage to the North Pole from the West. I enjoyed the descriptions of the machinery on the ship. You can tell this was written by an engineer. He captures well the interactions between officers and crew and their diverse personalities. Their impossible journey could have been a noir setting, but Admiral Ellsberg shows the faith, heroism and dignity in the struggle for survival.

If you read it in the winter, be sure to dress warmly. A blanket would help.

Great story, and great way to approach the telling

I had already purchased "In the Kingdom of Ice" and thought I would be comparing these. But the truth is, this has been a magnificent counterpart. This focuses on the dialogue between the characters in the same way that many of the Shackleton books do, where as "In the Kingdom of Ice" focused more on facts, geographic locations, etc.

For example, "In the Kingdom of Ice" speaks of the bad puns of the crew member Collins, but this book explains some of the puns in detail. They were horrible.

A brutal tale of survival and struggle

I enjoyed the authors book, On the bottom, so I tried his other books. I enjoy his writing, it is captivating and interesting. I listen to audiobooks on my daily commute, so a good book can make the ride better or worse. Ellsbergs books have me slowing down before I get home so I can hear just a little more before I am home. The narrarator whom I have associated with 2 of his books, Stephen Hoye, is good to listen to and brings the stories to life. it's harder listening to the other books available on Audible by Ellsberg because you want to hear it as Stephen Hoye. But still, the stories are very good in the end.. you will enjoy them.