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Title: Spare Not the Brave

Subtitle: The Special Activities Group in Korea

Author: Richard L. Kiper

Narrator: Capt. Kevin F. Spalding USNR-Ret

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-07-17

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The Special Activities Group (SAG) and its subordinate companies have received little attention from historians, despite being an elite combat unit and participating in highly classified and dangerous missions in Korea. Rarely receiving more attention than a footnote, their story usually begins and ends on the night of September 12, 1950, with an amphibious raid near Kunsan. Until their inactivation on March 31, 1951, SAG simply disappears from most Korean War histories. Spare Not the Brave corrects this omission.

Spare Not the Brave tells the story of the extraordinary missions carried out by this group of extraordinary soldiers. Recruited primarily from the Far East Command headquarters, these men received six weeks of training and then were thrust into combat in Korea. Boarding rubber boats in the Yellow Sea and paddling to shore far behind enemy lines, they conducted a diversionary landing near Kunsan, then landed at Inchon, and sailed to the Wonsan area of North Korea. There, SAG was augmented with a battalion of South Korean soldiers. Together they conducted counter-guerrilla operations until overwhelming Chinese intervention forced all Allied units to withdraw from the North.

Drawing on his 26 years of infantry and special forces experience, Kiper brings critical analysis and insight to this previously untold story. Spare Not the Brave fills a gap in the historiography of the Korean War and adds a valuable chapter to the history of US Army special operations.

The book is published by The Kent State University Press.

Critic Reviews:

"Spare Not the Brave should be required reading for Special Forces and War College students, and recommended reading for all soldiers. In fact, anyone with an interest in military history, the US Army, and Special Operations forces will find this book a rewarding read." (On Point: The Journal of Army History)

Members Reviews:

Excellent History Lesson!

I was provided this free review copy audiobook by the author or narrator." This review is for the audio copy of Spare Not the Brave: The Special Activities Group in Korea by Richard L. Kiper and narrated by Capt. Kevin F. Spalding USNR-Ret. This was a very comprehensive history of a particular army unit as described in the title. As such, be prepared for a listen that would fit right into a college level lecture/class study on this subject. The author does an excellent job providing copious amounts of background information regarding Korea, and events leading up to and through the police action. Do NOT get this book if you are expecting an action adventure story based on history. This is a verbal history course with information that I had not known or understood prior to listening to this book. It takes an effort to get through it because of the format and the high level specific information. It is not for the faint of heart in regards to slogging through this information. What made it palatable for me were the efforts of the narrator. His tone, cadence and inflection enabled me to listen to the book in its entirety. I believe that if I tried to read this material I would have stopped about 1/3 of the way through. But, being able to listen to it helped me get through what could be viewed as a tedium amount of superfluous information.

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Title: At the Edge of the World

Subtitle: The Heroic Century of the French Foreign Legion

Author: Jean-Vincent Blanchard

Narrator: Julian Elfer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-14-17

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

An aura of mystery, romance, and danger surrounds the French Foreign Legion, the all-volunteer corps of the French Army, founded in 1831. Famous for its physically grueling training in harsh climates, the legion fought in French wars from Mexico to Madagascar, Southeast Asia to North Africa. In At the Edge of the World, historian Jean-Vincent Blanchard follows the legion's rise to fame during the 19th century - focusing on its campaigns in Indochina and especially in Africa - when the corps played a central role in expanding and protecting the French Empire. As France struggled to be a power capable of rivaling the British, the figure of the legionnaire came to represent the might and morale that would secure a greater, stronger nation. Drawing from rare archival memoirs and testimonies of legionnaires from the period, and tracing the fascinating career of Hubert Lyautey, France's first resident-general in Morocco and a hero to many a legionnaire, At the Edge of the World chronicles the Foreign Legion at the height of its renown, when the corps and its archetypically handsome, moody, and marginalized recruits became both the symbols of a triumphant colonialism and the stuff of legend.

Critic Reviews:

"A detailed and fascinating book of French history." (Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

Received item quickly and in good order. Very happy!!

Received item quickly and in good order. Very happy!!

Reality of the French Foregin Legion

Good read, and historically accurate. Worth a look!

"You men are soldiers in order to die, and I am going to send you where you can die"....

First of all, what a wonderful title. "At The Edge Of The World". It sums up completely the lives of the men of La Legion Etrangere.

While there are many books over the years telling the story of the Legion, (with many of the more recent ones, especially the memoirs, of much less interest and value) I think this one adds a little to the mystique of this famous band of men, having a feel of the more traditional memoir or history about it, and is told in simple language almost urging the reader to read on....

I should point out that looming throughout this book like a giant spiritual shadow is the presence of Marechal Lyautey. So it should be, he being one of the giants of the colonial years, and closely connected to French Foreign Legion activities during this era.

So this book sits comfortably alongside Martyn, Mannington, Le Poer, Aage, Rosen, Pechkoff, Cooper, Wren, Price, Donovan, Lohndorff, Doty, Kanitz, Bocca, Mc Leave, etc. and of course those giants of recent years Porch and Windrow.....

A Moi La Legion....

Good Introduction to the Reality of the Legion

Everyone knows about the French Foreign Legion. Mostly, though, our knowledge ranges from impressionistic to false, derived largely from movies and with an overlay of the kneejerk odium that attends colonialism.

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Title: War and the Art of Governance

Subtitle: Consolidating Combat Success into Political Victory

Author: Nadia Schadlow

Narrator: Robin Rowan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-16-17

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Success in war ultimately depends on the consolidation of political order. Nadia Schadlow argues that the steps needed to consolidate a new political order are not separate from war. They are instead an essential component of war and victory. The challenge of governance operations did not start with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US Army's involvement in the political and economic reconstruction of states has been central to all its armed conflicts from large-scale conventional wars to so-called irregular or counterinsurgency wars. Yet, US policymakers and military leaders have failed to institutionalize lessons on how to consolidate combat gains into desired political outcomes. War and the Art of Governance examines 15 historical cases of US Army military interventions, from the Mexican War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Improving future outcomes will require US policymakers and military leaders to accept that plans, timelines, and resources must be shaped to reflect this reality before they intervene in a conflict, not after things go wrong.

The book is published by Georgetown University Press.

Critic Reviews:

"In this critically crafted must-read before we enter another war, Dr. Schadlow lays out the post-combat challenges...persuasively charting what history tells us is required for our military victories to achieve a better peace." (James Mattis, US Secretary of Defense)

"Quite simply, this is a timely and brilliant book." (David Johnson, Modern War Institute at West Point adjunct professor, Georgetown University)

"A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the underlying failures of the last 15 years and wants those searing experiences to better position US strategy in the future." (Frank Hoffmann, author of

Decisive Force: The American Way of War)

Members Reviews:

âIt is an opprobrious waste of lives if nothing better results."

Yogi Berra once pointed out, "In theory, theory should work in practice. In practice, it doesn't!" Nowhere does this truism apply more than in the mistaken theory espoused by both military and civilian leaders that the job of the military ends when the shooting stops. In "War and the Art of Governance", Nadia Schadlow does a masterful job of detailing the long history of American failures and successes in consolidating âcombat gains into desired political outcomes.â With each of the 15 examples Dr. Schadlow cites, beginning with the Mexican-American War, through to Iraq and Afghanistan, she addresses how the ever-present debate and angst over the role of the military versus the role of civilian authority in establishing post-conflict order typically cause (i) a failure to adequately plan for the âday after,â (ii) a lack of adequate resources to conduct such activities, (iii) a lack of unity of command, (iv) the lack of a cadre of people trained to execute such objectives and (v) a lack of retention of lessons learned and general expertise. The author acknowledges the theoretical concerns on both sides of the military/civilian authority debate, but points out, in case after case, that no other organization but the Army has the capacity, structure and understanding of the domain to map an organizationally seamless transition to a post-conflict stabilization.

With respect to the current wars in which the U.S.

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Title: Compassionate Soldier

Subtitle: Remarkable True Stories of Mercy, Heroism, and Honor from the Battlefield

Author: Jerry Borrowman

Narrator: Traber Burns

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-02-17

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Compassionate Soldier illuminates some of the most fascinating and yet largely unknown stories of men and women whose humanity led them to perform courageous acts of mercy and compassion amid the chaos and carnage of war. Arranged by war from the American Revolution to the Iraq War and global in perspective, it features extraordinary stories of grace under fire from valiant soldiers and noncombatants who rose above the inhumanity of lethal conflict and chose compassion, even knowing their actions could put their lives and liberty at risk.

Included in this collection are the stories of Richard Kirkland, a Confederate soldier during the Civil War who disobeyed orders and brought blankets and water to the wounded from both North and South during the Battle of Fredericksburg; Patrick Ferguson, a British soldier during the American Revolution who had the chance to kill George Washington, but refused to shoot a man in the back; and Oswald Böelcke, a German World War I flying ace who was one of the most influential tacticians of early air combat but was known for making sure the airmen he shot down made it to the ground alive.

These inspirational stories illustrate that even in the midst of unspeakable horrors of war, acts of kindness, mercy, compassion, and humanity can prevail and, in doing so, expand our conventional thinking of honor and battlefield glory.

Members Reviews:

Well written and inspiring

This book was an excellent mix of compassionate war stories from a number of epochs. The background material that led in to and supported the stories brought greater meaning and helps the read better understand the impact of the actions taken. I found the stories well written and inspiring.

Humanity will always turn the hearts!

Every short story in this novel is a story of it's own. It reminded me of Paul Harvey's " the rest of the story". I teared up a lot at each new revelation I learned. Don't miss this one!

Hope for Humanity

I have long been a fan of Borrowman's writings and this is no exception. As a student of military history, this was a great book highlighting the good that can surface during some of the worst conflicts. It is a quick read, loaded with information and stories that you will want to share to attest to others that there are always outstanding individuals who provide hope for humanity. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Heroes!!!

A great book to remind you that there is good in the world! Thanks to all who serve others and their country.

Inspiring!

Great book. Very inspiring! Makes one want to serve fellow men.

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Title: Civil Wars

Subtitle: A History in Ideas

Author: David Armitage

Narrator: Derek Perkins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-17

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

A highly original history, tracing the least understood and most intractable form of organized human aggression from ancient Rome to the present day.

We think we know civil war when we see it. Yet ideas of what it is and what it isn't have a long and contested history, from its fraught origins in republican Rome to debates in early modern Europe to our present day. Defining the term is acutely political, for ideas about what makes a war "civil" often depend on whether one is a ruler or a rebel, victor or vanquished, sufferer or outsider. Calling a conflict a civil war can shape its outcome by determining whether outside powers choose to get involved or stand aside: From the American Revolution to the war in Iraq, pivotal decisions have depended on such shifts of perspective.

The age of civil war in the West may be over, but elsewhere in the last two decades it has exploded - from the Balkans to Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, and Sri Lanka, and most recently Syria. And the language of civil war has burgeoned as democratic politics has become more violently fought. This book's unique perspective on the roots and dynamics of civil war, and on its shaping force in our conflict-ridden world, will be essential to the ongoing effort to grapple with this seemingly interminable problem.

Members Reviews:

bellum civile

This is an engaging and enlightening book. Dr. Armitage draws upon an impressively vast range of research and history to deliver a masterful (and empowering) analysis of civil war. I would describe the author's writing style as cogent, scholarly, well-organized, often amusing, and above all, animated with a deep knowledge and understanding of Western culture and history.

The writing is rich with literary and historical allusions, brimming with relevant quotations from the greatest minds, and bristling with the author's own energetic and compelling interpretations and study.

I want to include the following quotes for anyone interested in what the author is setting out to do with this book.

What he is not setting out to do and what he can do:

"It is not my aim to provide an overarching theory of civil war. Nor can I supply the missing treatise. What I can do as a historian is to uncover the origins of our present discontents, to explain why we remain so confused about civil war and why we refuse to look it in the face." (p.7)

More on what he sets out to do:

"Over the course of this book, I show that civil war is neither eternal nor inexplicable. I argue that the phenomenon is coterminous with its historical conception, from its fraught origins in republican Rome to its contested present and its likely no less confusing or controversial future. It has a history with an identifiable beginning, if not a discernible end. A historical treatment reveals the contingency of the phenomenon, contradicting those who claim its permanence and durability. It is my aim to show that what humans have invented, they may yet dismantle; that what intellectual will has enshrined, and equal effort of imaginative determination can dethrone." (p.

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Title: A Great Place to Have a War

Subtitle: America in Laos and the Birth of a Military CIA

Author: Joshua Kurlantzick

Narrator: Tim Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-24-17

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 67 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

In 1960 President Eisenhower was focused on Laos, a tiny Southeast Asian nation few Americans had ever heard of. Washington feared the country would fall to Communism, triggering a domino effect in the rest of Southeast Asia. So in January 1961, Eisenhower approved the CIA's Operation Momentum, a plan to create a proxy army of ethnic Hmong to fight Communist forces in Laos. While remaining largely hidden from the American public and most of Congress, Momentum became the largest CIA paramilitary operation in the history of the United States. The brutal war, which continued under Presidents Kennedy and Nixon, lasted nearly two decades, killed one-tenth of Laos' total population, left thousands of unexploded bombs in the ground, and changed the nature of the CIA forever.

Joshua Kurlantzick gives us the definitive account of the Laos war and its central characters, including the four key people who led the operation - the CIA operative who came up with the idea, the Hmong general who led the proxy army in the field, the paramilitary specialist who trained the Hmong, and the State Department careerist who took control over the war as it grew.

Critic Reviews:

"Superb!...

A Great Place to Have a War is rich and jarring in its historical insight, fast in its pacing, and gripping in its read. You won't want to put it down." (Douglas Waller, author of

Disciples: The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan)

Members Reviews:

great history with a great narrative

This is a great CIA history of a little known war. The narrator does a good job.

Very interesting read

Definitely a worth-while read if you're into SE Asia or the evolution of the CIA. There's no one thing about this book that stands out but it's a good source of information to fold in with other works.

well-written but some reviews on Amazon dispute it

well-written but some reviews on Amazon dispute its version...other accounts should be on audible.com too

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Title: 1962: The War That Wasn't

Subtitle: The Definitive Account of the Clash Between India and China

Author: Shiv Kunal Verma

Narrator: Manish Dongardive

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-01-17

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

On 20 October 1962, high in the Himalayas, on the banks of the fast-flowing Nam Ka Chu, over 400 Indian soldiers were massacred, and the valley was overrun by soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army. Over the course of the next month, nearly 4,000 soldiers were killed on both sides, and the Indian army experienced its worst defeat ever. The conflict (war was never formally declared) ended because China announced a unilateral ceasefire on 21 November and halted its hitherto unhindered advance across NEFA and Ladakh. To add to India's lasting shame, neither Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru nor the Indian army was even aware that the 'war' had ended until they heard the announcement on the radio - despite the Indian embassy having been given the information two days earlier.

This conflict continues to be one of our least understood episodes. Many books have been written on the events of the time, usually by those who were involved in some way, anxious to provide justification for their actions. These accounts have succeeded only in muddying the picture further. What is clear is that 1962 was an unmitigated disaster. The terrain on which most of the battles were fought (or not fought) was remote and inaccessible; the troops were sorely underequipped, lacking even warm clothing; and the men and officers who tried to make a stand were repeatedly let down by their political and military superiors. Time and again, in Nam Ka Chu, Bum-la, Tawang, Se-la, Thembang, Bomdila - all in the Kameng Frontier Division of NEFA in the Eastern Sector - and in Ladakh and Chusul in the Western Sector, our forces were mismanaged, misdirected or left to fend for themselves. If the Chinese army hadn't decided to stop its victorious campaign, the damage would have been far worse.

In this definitive account of the conflict, based on dozens of interviews with soldiers and numerous others who had a firsthand view of what actually happened in 1962, Shiv Kunal Verma takes us on an uncomfortable journey through one of the most disastrous episodes of independent India's history.

Members Reviews:

Excellent to read, but difficult to listen

Excellent narration, excellent book but it is difficult to listen as the book has a lot of specific details related to armed forces and as well as locations of the war. Difficult to keep track, without a map.

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Title: The French and Indian War and the Conquest of New France

Author: William R. Nester

Narrator: Philip Benoit

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-08-16

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The French and Indian War was the world's first truly global conflict. When the French lost to the British in 1763, they lost their North American empire along with most of their colonies in the Caribbean, India, and West Africa. In The French and Indian War and the Conquest of New France, the only comprehensive account from the French perspective, William R. Nester explains how and why the French were defeated. He explores the fascinating personalities and epic events that shaped French diplomacy, strategy, and tactics and determined North America's destiny.

What began in 1754 with a French victory - the defeat at Fort Necessity of young Lieutenant Colonel George Washington - quickly became a disaster for France. The cost in soldiers, ships, munitions, provisions, and treasure was staggering. France was deeply in debt when the war began, and that debt grew with each year. Nester describes missed diplomatic and military opportunities as well as military defeats late in the conflict.

Nester masterfully weaves his narrative of this complicated war with thorough accounts of the military, economic, technological, social, and cultural forces that affected its outcome. Listeners learn not only how and why the French lost, but how the problems leading up to that loss in 1763 foreshadowed the French Revolution almost 25 years later.

One of the problems at Versailles was the king's mistress, the powerful Madame de Pompadour, who encouraged Louis XV to become his own prime minister. The bewildering labyrinth of French bureaucracy combined with court intrigue and financial challenges only made it even more difficult for the French to succeed. Ultimately, France lost the war because Versailles failed to provide enough troops and supplies to fend off the English enemy.

Members Reviews:

A great narrative of the Real First World War

What made the experience of listening to The French and Indian War and the Conquest of New France the most enjoyable?

This book is the first I've read that explained how France lost it's hold in the new world.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The French and Indian War and the Conquest of New France?

It brought to light and life the struggle for power in the 18th century western nations, and showed how the inattentive, capricious leadership of the French royals cost them everything by setting the stage for the revolution.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Philip Benoit?

Anyone who actually speaks French. He murdered the pronunciation of the names and titles to the point of distraction. For me, this was the major flaw in an otherwise well written, thoroughly documented book. Simon Vance would have done much better.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How France lost the new world.

Interesting topic, terrible narration

The narrators inability to pronounce any French names correctly distracts from the content. I would have given it a higher rating if the narration was better.

Title is misleading

This has almost nothing to do with French and Indian war in America- probably about 1 hr. Takes 5 hrs to get 1750 in France. Most of the story is about Frances war in Europe with about 1/3 of time in Canada. If youre interested in Frances ineptitude this is for you.

Execrable narration

I wanted to like this audio book.

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Title: World War I Dogfights

Subtitle: The History and Legacy of Aerial Combat During the Great War

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Ken Teutsch

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-03-16

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The first aircraft to appear in the skies over the battlefields of World War I showed few signs of the dominant future of airplanes in warfare. Small, fragile, and slow, they provided no hint of the sleek jet fighters that would one day slash across the skies of Earth faster than sound to unleash the lethal blast and fire of sophisticated missiles, or the bombers able to level an entire city with one nuclear bomb. That said, they did not represent a complete novelty in warfare either, at least not during the early months of World War I.

Members Reviews:

All that you needed to know about World War I airplanes and pilots

the e-book World War I Dogfights: The History and Legacy of Aerial Combat during the Great War described in detail the development of World War I airplanes from the flimsy toys to airplanes that were more than capable of fighting each other and attacking things on the ground. It further described the tactics that the various countries used in the deployment of their aircraft. There is also pretty good descriptions of the larger-than-life pilots that flew for each side. The e-book is relatively short but concise. This is a worthwhile collectors item for anyone interested in World War I airplanes and how they were used.

It's definitely a good book to read to understand airplane use not just ...

This title has some descriptions of dogfights, but I'd also say it's more about how the use of airplanes evolved during the war from mostly reconnaissance to full fledged fighters and bombers. It's definitely a good book to read to understand airplane use not just in WWI but WWII and forward.

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Title: A History of War in 100 Battles

Author: Richard Overy

Narrator: Steven Crossley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-16

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 35 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The object of this audiobook is to introduce listeners to a whole range of military history which has all the drama, dangers, horrors and excitement that we associate with Stalingrad or the Somme.

Battles are acute moments of history whenever and wherever they have been fought. Through them we can understand how warfare and world history have evolved. Choosing just 100 battles from recorded human history is a challenge, not just because it is necessary to cover almost 6,000 years of history but because men have fought each other almost continuously for millennia.

Anyone who knows anything about the history of war may be disappointed by what has had to be left out. However, each of the 100 memorable battles described shows both how the nature of armed combat has changed over human history and how, despite changes in technology, organisation or ideas, many things have remained the same.

It is an old adage that you can win a battle but lose a war. The battles featured here almost always resulted in victory for one side or another, but the victor did not necessarily win the war. Some battles are decisive in that broader historical sense; others are not. The further back in time, the more likely it is that an enemy could be finished off in one blow.

The wars of the modern age, between major states, have involved repeated battles until one side was battered into submission. Some of the great generals of the recent past - Napoleon, Robert E Lee, Erich von Manstein - have been on the losing side but are remembered nonetheless for their generalship. Some on the winning side have all but disappeared from the history books or from public memory. Equally, in many battles the issue is not victory or defeat but what the battle can tell us about the history of warfare itself. New weapons, new tactics and new ways of organising armed forces can have a sudden impact on the outcome of a battle. But so, too, can leadership or the effects of a clever deception or raw courage. That is why the audiobook has been divided up into clear themes which apply equally to the battles of the ancient world as they do to the battles of today.

As Professor Richard Overy laments, 'Battle is not a game to plug in to a computer but a piece of living history, messy, bloody and real. That, at least, has not changed in 6,000 years.'

Critic Reviews:

Praise for The Times Complete History of the World:

"One of the great works of historical reference in the English language. If you were allowed only one history book in the whole of your life, The Times Complete History of the World would be hard to beat because it conveys a sense not only of time, but also of place." (Niall Ferguson, Professor of History, Harvard University)

"Wonderfully told history...comprehensive and utterly accessible." (Jon Snow)

Members Reviews:

Fascinating perspective o war

A fascinating study of 100 key battles in military history. Many well known and many obscure, the author gives a concise account of each one and its significance it he development of warfare.

Excellent narration. A must for any armchair military buff.

Good overview, a look at history thru battles

Gives a great overview of the history of civilization by looking at battles. An interesting window to view history through. I consider myself a history buff but learned a lot from this.

One complaint... The reading is slow with some long pauses.