Discover Legally Popular Titles Full Audiobooks in History, Military

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Title: My Tank is Fight!

Subtitle: Deranged Inventions of WWII

Author: Zack Parsons

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-12-07

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Dive under the Atlantic in the turreted U-Cruiser, or rule its surface from an aircraft carrier made out of ice. Shred bomber formations in a high-performance flying wing fighter and then rocket to your untimely end from the cockpit of your very own suicide missile. We've got a pair of German armored land vehicles for you that are so large they had to be powered by naval engines!

My Tank Is Fight! delivers the thrilling action of the Second World War - as it might have been - with a touch of humor and a lack of class.

Members Reviews:

A clever little book

Zack Parsons turns his passion for history and odd sense of humor into a really interesting book. Full of nearly insane proof of concept designs, this book is a peek into what fight have been.

Get rid of the fiction

What did you like best about My Tank is Fight!? What did you like least?

The specification and summary about the ideas behind each tank was fine but the fictional combat was a complete waste .

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was one chapter per subject so there was no ending.

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

No

Not at all funny

Would you try another book from Zack Parsons and/or Patrick Lawlor?

Absolutely not. Zacks efforts to make military history funny are cringe worthy. Really is too silly. Could not get past the first couple of stories

Has My Tank is Fight! turned you off from other books in this genre?

yes

How could the performance have been better?

should never have been published

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from My Tank is Fight!?

the whole book

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Title: At All Costs

Author: Sam Moses

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 56 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

In 1942, the small Mediterranean island of Malta was the most heavily bombed place on earth. Its submarine and air attacks on Axis supply convoys were all that kept Rommel from marching across North Africa to take the oil in Iran and Iraq for Hitler. But Malta was out of fuel, down to its final days. Operation Pedestal was Malta's last hope, a giant convoy with more that 50 warships escorting 13 freighters and one life-or-death tanker, the SS Ohio, carrying 103,000 barrels of oil from Texas. It was bombed, torpedoed, and abandoned.

Two American Merchant Mariners, Frederick Larsen and Francis Dales, whose own freighters had sunk in towering flames along with eight others, boarded the Ohio. They repaired the guns and fought the Axis dive-bombers for two days as the sinking tanker was towed by destroyers. Malta was saved, Rommel was turned back, and the Allies started to turn the tide of war.

At All Costs is a gripping story reported in grand historic fashion. It is a tale of unimaginable personal courage and indomitable determination.

Editorial Reviews:

Exploding torpedoes, diving German bombers, and ships' holds full of aviation fuel waiting to explode couldn't offer better suspense and action to lovers of thrillers. Informative flashbacks and detailed descriptions of characters will keep listeners glued to every word when the action wanes. Michael Prichard's ability with dry wit matches the author's style. You can sense his smile as he describes the fiery British General Montgomery. Prichard uses a repertoire of voices for the characters, adding a wonderful richness to the story he tells. Although his foreign accents sound a little corny, they add to the entertainment and help listeners keep track of which side of WWII the speaker belongs to. Anyone who thinks history is a dry subject hasn't heard this audiobook.

Critic Reviews:

"A historical footnote provides a riveting tale of true American grit during World War II." (Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

A spellbinding story

If you are a fan of WWII books this one provides insight into a liitle known but crucial part of the history of one of the key events that made D-Day possible. An inspring story of the relentless bravery of men at war.

Malta annd WWII

From the description I thought it was a story of two American heroes and it seemed to start out that way but it was actually a story of how important Malta was during WWII. I have read a lot of WWII history but for some reason I never noticed the importance of Malta. Now I notice many references to Malta as I read other histories. The book intermingled common seamen and large historical figures and events. It also impressed on how the people of Malta withstood more bombs than fell on London during the same period of time. This was really an eye opener for me and very enjoyable.

Thee guys went through hell!

Unbelievable story. This book really makes you appreciate what the Greatest Generation went through.

I never knew life was so difficult in the merchant marine.

OUTSTANDING WW2 BOOK

Incredible story! Great narration. Kept us on the edge of our seats even well knowing the outcome.

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Title: Patton

Author: Alan Axelrod

Narrator: Brian Emerson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-07-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 202 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Alan Axelrod delivers a fascinating account of Patton's fascinating life and legacy.

This book is one of a series on great generals.

Critic Reviews:

"Axelrod has captured Patton's checkered legacy in a balanced biography." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Odd Reading, Great Book

I've had this book for a long time but couldn't get the time to read to read it. I was pleased to find the audio version.

I really liked this book because it gives a lot of interesting detail but not too much. I read Truman and really don't like biographies that start out 4 generations before the main character is born. This book is very well balanced in detail and treatment of Patton.

The reader has a very odd, sometimes very annoying inflection. You have to really listen because sentences are oddly joined by the reader.

Highly recommend but I'll watch for this reader in the future.

History and a Hit Piece

At times the book seemed to serve the purpose to tell the story of Patton, and at others it seemed to have more of a purpose to undermine Patton and his character and find fault his tactics and approach to situations. I did enjoy the historical aspects, but it seemed as though the author was out to subtly discredit the man.

skims the surface

This is a good book if you're looking for a brief synopsis of Patton's life. I found the book a bit hollow and would have liked a more in-depth account of his life and military campaigns.

Not too detailed and not too superficial

I recnetly purchased a book on Patton. It was boring due to the author's desire to include every "new" detail ferreted out from correspondence, etc. This book provides a well paced narrative. I loved it. Ron

Great narration and story

The author does a wonderful job of telling the tale of Patton, which is read wonderfully by the narrator. An objective look at one of the US's most brilliant generals.

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Title: One Christmas in Washington

Subtitle: Roosevelt and Churchill Forge the Grand Alliance

Author: David J. Bercuson, Holger H. Herwig

Narrator: Lloyd James

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The authors take a penetrating look at the high-level meetings and the scenes behind the scenes: the social events and intrigues, Churchill's booming intrusion into the daily life of the White House, the strained relationship between Churchill and Eleanor Roosevelt, and the key role played by Roosevelt's close advisor, Harry Hopkins. As with any such gathering of world leaders, high politics and low gossip contributed to the momentous events of this time.

Critic Reviews:

"Grand strategy in a world war grounds their recounting, but its emphasis [is] on interpersonal relations, its fly-on-the-wall perspective. These historians successfully capture the atmosphere and substance of forging the alliance." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Churchill and FDR forge the "the grand alliance"

I enjoyed this book written by two Canadian historians. Much of the material of the book I was familiar with from the many books I have read about World War II. The book did provide a different perspective of the problems faced during Churchills trip to the United States immediately after Pearl Harbor. The US was completely unready for war-actually producing fewer planes than was Britain, with a small army, and a population that was, after Pearl Harbor, just awakening from years of isolationism. The meeting was difficult on many fronts. The service chiefs from both countries met but had misconceptions and prejudices about their opposite numbers. Both leaders recognized they needed each other; Churchill was for more knowledgeable about war than Roosevelt. Roosevelt was suave and charming but Churchill had to learn that when Roosevelt nodded and said yes he did not mean he agreed. It was this trip that Churchill made his famous speech to the Congress and to the Canadian parliament in Ottawa. The book provided lots of detail about the difficulties that individuals and services groups had coming to their decisions, which included appointing a single commander of the Allied Command, General George Marshall. Lord Beaverbrook (a Canadian business entrepreneur) who lived in Britain did wonders pushing the United States, Canada and Britain into greater and greater war material production, far beyond anyones expectations. I was disappointed that the two Canadian historian authors did not go into more detail about Canadian production of war materials. The book did continue some misinformation about Churchill but generally was correct and informative about Churchill, Roosevelt and George Marshall. Not only did Roosevelt and Churchill develop A grand alliance, they wrote the Charter of the United Nation at this meeting. If you are interesting in World War II history you will enjoy this book. Lloyd James did id a good job narrating the book.

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Title: The Bounty

Subtitle: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty

Author: Caroline Alexander

Narrator: Michael York

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-19-06

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 69 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

More than two centuries after Master's Mate Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against Lieutenant William Bligh on a small, armed transport vessel called Bounty, the true story of this enthralling adventure has become obscured by the legend. Combining vivid characterization and deft storytelling, Caroline Alexander shatters the centuries-old myths surrounding this story. She brilliantly shows how, in a desperate attempt to save one man from the gallows and another from ignominy, two powerful families came together and began to create the version of history we know today. The true story of the mutiny on the Bounty is an epic of duty and heroism, pride and power, and the assassination of a brave man's honor at the dawn of the Romantic age.

©2003 Caroline Alexander; (P)2003 Penguin Audiobooks. All rights reserved. Penguin Audiobooks is a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"Alexander's many fans will find the final, posthumous Sir John Fielding mystery a bittersweet experience. It marks a triumphant return to the series' strengths....enabling one of the worthier recent historical series to go out on a well-deserved high note." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

music

audiobooks and music are like raisins and cookies. fine alone, DONT MIX.

and the story is boring

A must for any Bounty buff

I enjoyed the scholarship of this book. Michael York has a wonderful voice. If you are interested in the historical drama of Bligh, Chrisitan and the mutineers this a must.

Skips the good stuff.

Was hoping for more information about Bligh et al's time in the launch, how they survive and navigated, etc. I found this book focused too much on the trials and what happened after, which I found difficult to keep straight with so many sailors mentioned.

All The Answers

What made the experience of listening to The Bounty the most enjoyable?

The details I wasn't aware of before and Michael York's narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Bounty?

The information on Christian at the end.

Have you listened to any of Michael Yorks other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't but Mr. York's ability to change into different characters brought a lot of character to the characters.

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

Paradise to Mutiny

Any additional comments?

This is an adventure story rich in characters and for some reason has always had a strong hold on my imagination. It seems with the other books I've read on the HMS Bounty, this "The Bounty" provides all the detail I was missing. It's one of the few books I will read/ listen to again, very enjoyable.

the bounty

5 stars. awesome. great narrator. get it.

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Title: The Korean War

Author: Max Hastings

Narrator: Frederick Davidson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-30-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 120 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Using personal accounts from interviews with more than 200 vets, including the Chinese, Hastings follows real officers and soldiers through the battles. He brilliantly captures the Cold War crisis at home, the strategies and politics of Truman, Acheson, Marshall, MacArthur, Ridgway, and Bradley, and shows what we should have learned in the war that was the prelude to Vietnam.

Critic Reviews:

"Must reading for any American who wants to understand one of the watershed events of the post-World War II period." (Richard M. Nixon) "Rings true and will surely stand the test of time....Max Hastings has no peer as a writer of battlefield history." (Stephen E. Ambrose)

Members Reviews:

Well worth it

I have read a great deal of military history over the years, but despite the fact that my father fought for a year in Korea, I knew little of the overall situation.

The author does a very nice job - well paced - of moving thru the three years of the war (aka conflict). Near the end there are good detailed parts dealing with prisoners for example.

A very effective summary of a miserable conflict from all parties perspectives.

British view of the war

I selected this book because I wanted to know more about the Korean War. I found the book to be well written and informative but I think the synopsis should warn us that this is, essentially, the British view of the war.

As an ex-pat Briton myself, I was looking forward to the story of the American involvement and was disappointed with how often British opinon and tales had been substituted instead.

--Morton

Inspiring and Hard Hitting

I begin listening to this book while on the plane from California to Seoul on my first trip to the Land of the Morning Calm. The book gave me such a detailed overview of the entire war that I was able to discuss the events with locals and feel like an informed person.

Without question, The Korean War defines South Korea to this day and Max Hastings work will give you a clear and objective picture from the view point of both America and China. (In the forward Hastings points out that while objective data and interviews with Americans and Chinese are possible, such an exercise with the North Koreas would be a waste of time.) The scenes he depicts are vivid and graphic without being sensational. The opening firefight between Task Force Smith and the North Korean regulars was particularly gut wrenching. There are some phrases he uses to describe later events that haunt me a bit, yet I believe Hastings did this for clarity. One of the darkest chapters the story of the POWs during the war - also contains some moments of extreme levity when Hastings describes the pranks GIs pulled on their captors. Some of them had me laughing out loud.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about South Korea, and a large, yet nearly forgotten war and the heroes who sacrificed their lives in a noble struggle.

Not Hasting's Best

I have been impressed with the detail yet readability of historian Sir Max Hasting's work. His writing of 20th Century military history has been superb. I am teaching a college course on the Korean War and have reread both Fehrenbach (This Kind of War) and Halberstam (The Coldest Winter) as well as Hastings (The Korean War).

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Title: WWII Airmen

Subtitle: Amazing Accounts of Airmen Recorded During the War

Author: Various Authors

Narrator: various

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-18-04

Publisher: Findaway World

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Airmen tell of their experiences interspersed with music and news. Includes Eagles Over Europe; the AAF Roosevelt eulogy; recordings during bomb runs; the story of the last dog fight over Germany; Silver Wings over the Pacific; interviews with the wives of B-29 pilots after a bomb run over Japan; and dropping the A-bomb.

Find out how thousands of new airplanes were delivered to military bases nationwide in the 1940s by listening to

(P)2003 Commuter's Library

Members Reviews:

Great look back at the WWII era

I really enjoyed this compilation of news clips from WWII. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in history.

Awful, just awful

What would have made WWII Airmen better?

A plot

Has WWII Airmen turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

Any additional comments?

I can't believe they charge money for this. Cheesy performance at best. WWII is over, there is no need to try and sell war bonds in 2012. This may sound like an odd review but that is all this recording was, a poorly made set of news real audio clips to sell war bonds. If Mystry Science Theator 3000 ever branches Into audio books to rip on, this would be a gem.I have been an audible customer for years, this is the only time I feel I was taken, yes, it really is that bad!

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Title: Afghanistan

Subtitle: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban

Author: Stephen Tanner

Narrator: Raymond Todd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-22-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 163 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Afghanistan's military history provides lessons for us today. The earliest written records inform us of fierce mountain tribes on the eastern edge of the cradle of civilization. Alexander the Great conquered Afghanistan on his way from Persia to India. Later, because of its strategic location (the Silk Road passed through its mountainous northern region) Afghanistan was invaded in succession by Arabs, Mongols, and Tartars. In the nineteenth century, Great Britain tried, and failed, to add Afghanistan to its Indian empire, while Russia tried to expand into the same embattled land. Afghanistan once again fought, and defeated, a secular government in the face of rising Islamic resistance.

America has faced a new enemy on this land, a land that for centuries has become a graveyard of empires past.

Critic Reviews:

"This is a noteworthy and valuable book: accessible, objective, informative, and informed." (Amazon.com)

Members Reviews:

Afghanistan: A Military History

I chose this book after listening to "The Kite Runners". While this audio book contained a great deal of information, and was generally well-written, I wished I had had access to a decent map of the region while listening. I also was annoyed by the narrator who mispronounced a number of words and foreign place names and has a tendency to use a fake foreign accent when quoting from some sources (e.g. Russian or British). Nonetheless, these are minor quibbles about the book itself, which focuses on the history of military invasions of Afghanistan and of the civil war during the last two decades of the 20th century. I can't help feeling that the lessons learned about fighting insurgents by the Soviet invaders from 1980 onward are today being re-learned by American soldiers in Iraq. Overall this was a decent book.

A Great Overview

I listened to this just before I deployed to Afghanistan and was amazed at just how much of what was in the book is still relevant today. A great piece to put the conflict and hopes of Afghanistan today into perspective of the regions long history.

Staggering... Brilliant... Dry...

A blow-by-blow accounting of the military history of Afghanistan, labeled 'The Graveyard of Empires' for a reason.

Tanner does more to illustrate the history of this region than any other work I've come upon. Cited references, thoroughly conducted research, and what appears to be years of difficult scavenging the world round for information. The information is presented clearly and without embellishment. Topping it all off, the author offers his personal suggestion of how the world should treat Afghanistan moving forward; note that this information finalizes circa 2002.

Overall, this is stellar, high-brow research with easily accessed information.

Stop reading past 1990, it becomes an editorial not a history.

Good history book that turns into a slanted editorial take on the modern history. Many of his conclusions have been proven wrong

Tough to Truly Follow Without Maps

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, but not in an audiobook.

Was Afghanistan worth the listening time?

Worth listening to, but I would get more out it in a paper book because without maps it is sometimes hard to follow.

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Title: War Stories

Subtitle: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Author: Oliver North

Narrator: Joel Leffert, Oliver North

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-11-04

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 65 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

As an embedded journalist in Iraq, North got a soldier's-eye view, often while under fire, of what the mainstream media failed to report. A decorated combat veteran, North watched Operation Iraqi Freedom with trained eyes unmatched by other journalists. What he witnessed compelled him to challenge post-war critics of the operation for their uninformed and deceptive views.

Gripping, insightful, and full of the gritty reality of war, this book is a powerful argument in favor of the campaign that liberated Iraq from the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Critic Reviews:

"[Oliver North] does excellent work....vividly and knowledgeably described." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Highly recommended

I was always looking for an excuses to listen to this book. It was excellent and I can't recommend it highly enough. You can almost feel the sand on your face during the storms.

A true Hero.

Ollie North is an American icon of what is right with us. His accounts from the battle field accurately describe what our sons and daughters are facing. Ollie gives our enemies no comfort.

Gritty detail on the Marine's advance in Iraq

Ollie North, a noted conservative polemic, provides here some excellent journalistic dispatches, full of detail and light on commentary. While he never attempts to hide his sentiments towards the Marines fighting and dying in Iraq, he shares their dangers and provides the perspective on the fighting that can only come from an experienced warrior. Well recommended regardless of where you stand politically.

Very informative

Very informative. This book is filled with more details that someone like myself is interested in than most history books. It puts the information in a way that is easily understood. Definately easy to recommend to any history lover.

Awesome

This is a great book for anyone interested in military history. Oliver North isn't the greatest writer in the world, but he did a excellent job capturing what it was like to be on the front lines of a modern battlefield. I think it would have been a better listen if he would have done the narration.

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Title: Hitler's Scientists

Subtitle: Science, War, and the Devil's Pact

Author: John Cornwell

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-19-03

Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 114 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

By the war's end, almost every aspect of Germany's scientific culture had been tainted by the exploitation of slave labor, human experimentation, and mass killings. Ultimately, it was Hitler's profound scientific ignorance that caused the Fatherland to lose the race for atomic weapons, which Hitler would surely have used. Cornwell argues that German scientists should be held accountable for the uses to which their knowledge was put, an issue with wide-ranging implications for the continuing unregulated pursuit of scientific progress.

Critic Reviews:

"Cornwell is a gifted writer with a fascinating story to tell, which he ably and engagingly accomplishes." (Publishers Weekly) "Cornwell's narrative aspires to a philosophical focus, emphasizing the tacit evil of complicity and the seductive lie of so-called pure research....A polemic but a timely one appropriate for audiences beyond war and science buffs." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Excellent due to great content and reader

Both the reader and the content of this audiobook are excellent. I know that I have made a wise purchase when I find myself listening to it over and over again. The details surrounding the development of the German atomic bomb are interesting, and the author examines the moral dilemma of both the German and American scientists in its development. The audiobook is by no means limited to the search for the atomic bomb, however. The development of radio, code-breaking, rocketry and many more are covered. This audiobook is entertaining from beginning to end, and contains many obscure details that will thrill a history or science enthusiast. The reader only adds to an already excellent audiobook.

Good

I enjoyed this book a great deal, but it left me wanting more. I suppose that this is a characteristic of a good book... but it left a lot of unanswered questions. It seemed to skim over a lot of important aspects of the war, such as the Nazi "war on cancer" and even their race to build an A-bomb. Still, I recommend this book if only for the final chapter about science and social responsibility.

A good combination

This was a very interesting and enjoyably read combination of science in Germany, Hitler's serious character flaws, and the largely unsuccessful military use of technology in two wars. The only dissapointment was the end of the book where the author delves into social science and morality. His sources and conclusions are so poorly chosen that it made me question the historical facts he presented earlier. Skip the gibberish of the last few chapters and enjoy the history.

Hitlers Scientists

Content was great and interesting for about the first half. After that it much of the "history" disappeared and it became more of a commentary on being a responsible scientist. A little too much preaching on this and a little too many "environmentalist" type opinions.

Interesting

I found this book to be a little more technical than I thought it would be but was hooked, nevertheless.

Fascinating.