Discover the New Releases Audiobooks in History, Military

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Title: Tip of the Spear

Subtitle: US Marine Light Armor in the Gulf War

Author: G. J. Michaels

Narrator: Tom Stechschulte

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-01-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Images of U.S. Marines assaulting Pacific beaches in World War II have stereotyped the service's roles and personnel for more than 50 years. This frank firsthand account of Marines sweeping over sands of a different sort in fast armored vehicles retires that popular legend and recasts the Corps as the modern, professional fighting force it was in Desert Storm. Battling a savage environment; an unknown enemy brandishing threats of nuclear, gas, and biological attacks; and a host of technological and tactical snafus, Alpha Company of the 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion pushed forward at the "tip of the spear" past burning oil fields, hundreds of Iraqi tanks and vehicles, and heartrending friendly casualties to help liberate Kuwait City and drive the Iraqis back to Baghdad. Here G. J. Michaels, a section leader and vehicle commander, provides a vivid, personal chronicle of events as they unfolded. Michaels further draws on his 13 years of LAV experience to examine lessons learned from the war as well as its controversies, including the confusion over use of the LAV as both recon scout and infantry support and the lack of effective identification/friend-or-foe systems.

Members Reviews:

Compelling tale of tactics and leadership

Any additional comments?

This is a great study of company- and platoon-level leadership in the USMC, but there is plenty of action (and a little humour). There are real lessons to be learned that can be applied in all walks of life, not just the military. Listening to it for the third time, and still learning something new. The narration could be a little more low-key for my liking, but given the subject matter (Marines at war) it is probably appropriate. Recommended for historians, wargamers and modellers.

Interesting but a bit bland at times.

An interesting point of view, the reader's voice was a bit bland which didn't help the bland story.

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Title: Strangling the Confederacy

Subtitle: Coastal Operations in the American Civil War

Author: Kevin Dougherty

Narrator: Danny Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-29-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

A selection of the Military Book Club

While the Civil War is mainly remembered for its epic battles between the Northern and Southern armies, the Union was simultaneously waging another campaign - dubbed "Anaconda" - that was gradually depriving the South of industry and commerce, thus rendering the exploits of its field armies moot. When an independent Dixie finally met the dustbin of history, it was the North's coastal campaign, as much as the achievements of its main forces, that was primarily responsible.

Strangling the Confederacy examines the various naval actions and land incursions the Union waged from Virginia down the Atlantic Coast and through the Gulf of Mexico to methodically close down every Confederate port that could bring in weapons or supplies. The Rebels responded with fast ships - blockade runners - that tried to evade the Yankee fleets, while at the same time constructing formidable fortifications that could protect the ports themselves. While Union troopships floated offshore, able to strike anywhere, mobile Confederate forces were kept at hand near crucial points, albeit in smaller numbers, to resist Federal irruptions into their homeland.

In the final analysis, the Union's Navy Board, a unique institution at the time, undertook the correct strategy. Its original decision to focus on 10 seaports that had rail or water connections with the Confederate interior - from Norfolk to Charleston to Mobile to New Orleans - shows that the Navy Board understood the concept of decisive points. In a number of battles the Federals were able to leverage their superior technology, including steam power and rifled artillery, in a way that made the Confederate coastal defenses highly vulnerable, if not obsolete. On the other hand, when the Federals encountered Confederate resistance at close quarters they often experienced difficulties, as in the failures at Fort Fisher, the debacle at Battery Wagner, the Battle of Olustee, and in other clashes.What makes this book particularly unique is its use of modern military doctrine to assess and analyze the campaigns. Kevin Dougherty, an accomplished historian and former career Army officer, concludes that, without knowing it, the Navy Board did an excellent job at following modern strategic doctrine. While the multitude of small battles that flared along the Rebel coast throughout the Civil War have heretofore not been as well known as the more titanic inland battles, in a cumulative sense, Anaconda - the most prolonged of the Union campaigns - spelled doom for the Confederacy.

Members Reviews:

A decent overview of Coastal Operations but..???

This book by author Kevin Dougherty works as a broad overview of coastal operations conducted by the Union Navy/Army during the American Civil War. I myself am not that familiar with these operations and came away with a good understanding of the decision making and planning by both governments (most of the time not so good by the Confederacy), the leadership by the commanders of both sides (again, a lot of times not that great for the South), the forces involved (unfortunately the book has no detailed Orders of Battle), and the sequence of events.

The book is divided into seven parts:

1. Short bios on Union and Confederate participants in the coastal operations, and the formation, membership and planning of the Union Navy Board in 1861.

2.

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Title: Hearts and Mines

Subtitle: With the Marines in al Anbar - A Story of Psychological Warfare in Iraq

Author: Russell Snyder

Narrator: John Allen Nelson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-29-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

This is a true story of war, the story of one man's transformation as he retraces the mine-strewn roads of a land itself transformed by mankind's most shockingly inhuman practice. It is the firsthand account of a member of one of the United States Army's three-man Tactical Psychological Operations Teams, groups of men tasked with winning the hearts and minds of Iraq's civilian population through leaflets, loudspeakers, conversation, and bribery. Transcribed from and inspired by the author's personal wartime journal, it is a story of introspection. It relates how the feelings of eagerness and uncertainty in a young man unfamiliar with war were replaced with the dread knowledge that, buried within his soul, beneath a facade of goodwill and morality, lurked the capacity to kill his fellow men.

There are scenes of battle retold in Hearts and Mines. There are descriptions of the feelings of seeing once-familiar human bodies destroyed beyond recognition. Some days are described as being full of hope and appreciation for the beauty of the world, others with despair for the omnipresent cruelty and destruction which has a habit of consuming men when they feel unaccountable for their actions. It captures the sensory experience of living in a singular environment full of strange plants and animals, friends true and false, and determined enemies, encapsulating the existential fear of mortar and rocket attacks, and the ever-present threat of IEDs, as well as the ridiculousness of military bureaucracy, such as was demonstrated by a sergeant major's decision to punish graffiti artists by removing the doors of all the camp's toilets.

In late 2001 Russell Snyder joined the United States Army as a psychological operations specialist. As a member of the 9th PSYOP Battalion, the army's only active-duty, tactical psychological operations unit he deployed to Iraq, the experience that inspired him to write Hearts and Mines. Subsequently he was deployed twice more to Iraq. He is a recipient of various military awards including the Bronze Star medal. Now a civilian, he lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Members Reviews:

Excellent

Russell Snyder's new book is called "Hearts and Mines: With the Marines in Al-Anbar: A Story of Psychological Warfare in Iraq." It's a beautiful book and one that may move you to outraged action, but not in the way you might expect.

I got the book from its author at a Veterans For Peace convention. I assumed it was an anti-war book. I was startled first by the literary skill of the author, who paints a powerful picture of his time in Iraq. I was startled second, slowly, gradually, as I waited for the author to turn against the war. I've read many other accounts by soldiers who came to regret their actions. They suffer from the actions they have taken. They deeply regret having killed innocent people. They find it almost too much to bear. They lay down their guns. They resist. They go AWOL. They file for conscientious objector status. Or they receive their discharge and then denounce the institution of war, committing never to be a part of it again.

That never quite happens with Snyder.

Here's an intelligent, sensitive young man capable of describing a wide array of conflicting emotions that soldiers experience in wartime. He enjoys the camaraderie of the military.

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Title: Terrible Victory

Subtitle: First Canadian Army and the Scheldt Estuary Campaign, September 13November 6, 1944

Author: Mark Zuehlke

Narrator: James Conlan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

On September 4, 1944, Antwerp, Europes largest port, fell to the Second British Army and it seemed the war would soon be won. But Antwerp was of little value unless the West Scheldt Estuary linking it to the North Sea was also in Allied hands. In his greatest blunder of the war, Field Marshal Montgomery turned his back on the port, leaving the First Canadian Army to fight its way up the long coastal flank. By the time the Canadians and others serving with them reached the area, it had been transformed into a fortress manned by troops ordered to fight to the death. Crushing the Nazi defenders required all of the Canadians courage, endurance and skill. The battle that raged until November was Canadas bloodiest of World War II, costing more than 6,000 casualties.

Editorial Reviews:

Between September and November 1944, Canadian troops fought for control of the Scheldt Estuary, which would give Allied troops throughout Europe access to much-needed supplies. Military historian Mark Zuehlkes Terrible Victory pays tribute to these soldiers who fought this bloody campaign that proved crucial to the allied campaign.

Mixing first-person accounts with military records, Zuehlke offers a detailed account that not only sheds light onto the strategic importance of this lengthy battle but the extraordinary physical demands placed on Canadian soldiers.

James Conlan brings a crisp intensity to the books battle sequences and pronounces the many German and French words with pleasing fluency.

Members Reviews:

narrator needs work

the narrator was good but very annoying to hear him pronounce Regina wrong, and on every occasion. It's not pronounced

"Re-jean-na" . It's "Reg-eye-na". not complicated. and a little disheartening to when telling stories about the brave men who died in the Regina Rifles.

however the book was good as are all of the the writers other books

Detailed and entertaining...

Would you consider the audio edition of Terrible Victory to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

The personal narratives enliven an, at times, dreary recounting of a fascinating and under-reported campaign.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator is NOT familiar with military terms ("coy" is company, for example) and basic mispronunciations of other words grated.

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

Up Scheldt Creek without a paddle!

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Title: Operation Husky

Subtitle: The Canadian Invasion of Sicily, July 10August 7, 1943

Author: Mark Zuehlke

Narrator: Paul Christy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

On July 10, 1943, two great Allied armadas of over 2,000 ships readied to invade Sicily. This was Operation Husky, the first step toward winning a toehold in fascist-occupied Europe. Among the invaders were 20,000 Canadian troops serving in the First Canadian Infantry Division and First Canadian Tank Brigade - in their first combat experience. Over the next 28 days, the Allied troops carved a path through the rugged land, despite fierce German opposition. Drawing on firsthand accounts of veterans and official military records, Operation Husky offers a gripping, meticulous account of this seminal operation and the young men who fought, died, and survived it.

Editorial Reviews:

In Operation Husky: The Canadian Invasion of Sicily, July 10-August 7, 1943 noted voice actor Paul Christy gives somber voice to prolific historical writer Mark Zuehlke's account of the Canadian Infantry's seminal battle of World War II. Through 16 hours of Christy's riveting narration, Zuehlke's detailed research reveals the heroic contributions of the 20,000 valiant Canadian troops who fought throughout the 28 days of this important campaign. Paving the way for the Allied invasion of Italy and the toppling of fascism in Southern Europe, this account of Operation Husky is an important listen for any history buff.

Members Reviews:

Exciting and emotional read

Just finished 'Operation Husky' by Mark Zuehlke. Another great book in his Canadian battlefield series! I absolutely love these book as it give me such a personal sense of these important historical battles as experienced by those who where there. Most importantly his books makes me feel connected to the men who fought there and Mark's powerful story telling has drawn tears several times as I get pulled deep into the experience I am fortunate enough only to imagine. The books are gift of remembrance to these men. The epilogue in this book I found especially touching. Thanks for the great book Mark and I'm looking forward to the next!!!

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Title: The Gallant Cause

Subtitle: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War, 1936 - 1939

Author: Mark Zuehlke

Narrator: Brian Holsopple

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War on July 17, 1936, 42 thousand Internationals, comprised of Canadians, Americans, and Spaniards, fought together on the side of the Republicans who were trying to throw back fascist dictator General Francos troops, which included countless German and Italian soldiers. By October 29, 1938 though, only two thousand Internationals were able to gather for a speech requesting them to withdraw. Despite all their efforts, Spain wanted to continue on its own, hoping the war would become a Spanish affair once again.

Drawing on diaries and newly documented sources, Zuehlke offers a compelling account of the Canadian experience in Spain. It was not a popular war for Canada, with even the prime minister praising Hitler for his social and economic advances. Most world powers were aligning themselves with Italy and Germany, who supported Francos movement.

Along with allied troops, some 1,500 Canadians joined together in a valiant but doomed cause. This is the story of these brave Canadians, who like all veterans of war, deserve to have their story told and their experiences related, so that they will not be forgotten.

Editorial Reviews:

Actor Brian Holsopples deep, rich voice is perfectly paired with this important story about the bravery of 1,500 Canadian soldiers during the Spanish Civil War. In The Gallant Cause, author and military historian Mark Zuehlke spotlights the men who volunteered to fight alongside the Republicans; Zuehlke uses diaries and documented sources to weave an unforgettable narrative. The soldiers attempts to halt the spread of totalitarianism were not popular during the 1930s; many nations were siding with the fascist regimes in Germany and Italy, who supported the Spanish dictator Franco. This is a celebration of the Canadian veterans of war who joined the cause in hopes of defeating Francos troops.

Members Reviews:

Good read

A very interesting story of the war in Spain. I liked the way it included the versions of so many different people. The reader could not pronounce Norman Bethune's name.

I liked the book.

a good story if you like Communists

the communists are the good guys? if you buy that premise, you will like this book. it is very informative

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Title: Beyond the Blue Horizon

Subtitle: How the Earliest Mariners Unlocked the Secrets of the Oceans

Author: Brian Fagan

Narrator: George K. Wilson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-13

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

In Beyond the Blue Horizon, best-selling science historian Brian Fagan tackles his richest topic yet: the enduring mystery of the oceans, the planets most forbidding terrain. This is not a tale of Columbus or Hudson, but of much earlier mariners. From the moment when ancient Polynesians first dared to sail beyond the horizon, Fagan vividly explains how our mastery of the oceans has changed history, even before history was written.

Beyond the Blue Horizon delves into the very beginnings of humanitys long and intimate relationship with the sea. It willl enthrall listeners who enjoyed Longitude, Simon Winchesters Atlantic, or in its scope and its insightful linking of technology and culture, Guns, Germs, and Steel. What drove humans to risk their lives on open water? How did early sailors unlock the secrets of winds, tides, and the stars they steered by? What were the earliest ocean crossings like?

With compelling detail, Brian Fagan reveals how seafaring evolved so that the vast realms of the sea gods were transformed from barriers into highways that hummed with commerce. Indeed, for most of human history, oceans have been the most vital connectors of far-flung societies. From bamboo rafts in the Java Sea to the caravels of the Age of Discovery, from Easter Island to Crete, Brian Fagan crafts a captivating narrative of humanitys urge to seek out distant shores, of the daring men and women who did so, and of the mark they have left on civilization.

Members Reviews:

Expand your mind and your knowledge!

I love reading about things I don't know presented in an interesting fashion. The book is a good overview of the evolution of sea trading. It starts out very early in civilization and presents logical evidence of how humankind expanded to new and different locations and eventually conquered the seas globally. The author says you can read this book in any order and while that may interest some people I found that some information is repeated in nearly every chapter. Other than that, I found the references to other information in the book, the addition of the author's real sailing experiences in some of these waters and the way the book is organized geographically. The tables and pictures really add to the story being told. I enjoyed learning a bit about sailing, refreshing my geography of the different areas covered and an end to end look at the evolution of how we went from rafts to canoes to open ocean canoes and the different sails and how early navigators we able to sail compared to modern sailing craft today. The facts and figures are easily understood the material presented in an engaging fashion. Good non-fiction that I've been waiting to read for awhile and enjoyed.

Explains how Critical Seafaring was to the Spread of Early Humans

Many Academics want to discount how important boats were were to the peopling of the world. Archaeologists can not find evidence of the boats that took us to Australia and the Americas, so they tend to ignore the fact that it happened. The Dr. Fagan has made a excellent argument that this in fact happened and provides a fascinating explanation of ancient seafaring that is in the historical record. He shows how and why these prehistoric trips could have been done with interesting insight from his own experience as a sailor.

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Title: The Gothic Line

Subtitle: Canada's Month of Hell in World War II Italy

Author: Mark Zuehlke

Narrator: Mark Ashby

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Stretching like an armor-toothed belt across Italy's upper thigh, the Gothic Line was the most fortified position the German army had yet thrown into the Allied forces' path. On August 25, 1944, it fell to Canadian troops to spearhead a major offensive: to rip through that fiercely defended line. This gripping chronicle tells, through the eyes of the soldiers who fought there, of the 28-day clash that ultimately ended in glory for the Canadians.

Editorial Reviews:

The participation of Canadian military forces in World War II is often overlooked in most popular records, which makes The Gothic Line an undeniably enticing and revealing historic account for anyone desiring to gain a greater understanding of the Italian front and the Canadian soldiers who punched a hole through the famed Gothic Line, thus unhinging one of the greatest Axis defenses.

Clarity and historic resonance abound as Mark Ashby recounts battles of astounding odds, strategic movements across enemy terrain, and the great significance to the Allies that this month-long battle through northern Italy had in the European theater.

Members Reviews:

Another great book in a series.

This is another outstanding read about Canadian efforts during the Italy campaign. All the books in this series explain the plan and the effects in a way that makes you extremly proud of the efforts of our young men, and the wonder of how anyone survied not only the defence by the German soldiers, but the plans of the officers calling the shots. What is really wonderful is, that as you are reading along all of a sudden you are reading about someone you know from your community or that you have heard about, like Sgt. Fred Cederberg.

Gothic Line

Another great history completed by Mark Zuehlke. As always, very readable and understandable. It flows well and the chapters are short so U can read it fast. I have enjoyed reading all of his work and will continue to do so.

Good book, some annoying errors.

I enjoyed all three books (Ortona, Liri Valley being the others) in the series, however there are some sloppy errors such as refering to the Carleton and York Regiment as "English-speaking Nova Scotians" (pg. 232) when the regiment was from New Brunswick (In Ortona, pg. 363, Zuehlke even states that the regiment "hailed from New Brunswick"). Another occurs on pg.182 where talking about Cape Breton Highlanders Private Alphonse Hickey "of Whitney Pier, New Brunswick". Whitney Pier is a neighbourhood in Sydney, Nova Scotia. In Liri Valley there are numeous references to ".75 millimetre" and ".88 millimetre" guns. Overall, I enjoyed the books and would recommend them, as I think they give a fairly comprehensive look at the major Canadian operations in Italy, which is what I wanted when I bought them.

Good, but...

Another good, solid book by Mark Zuehlke. Like the two other books in this series, it consists in a mix between anecdotes and factual research, which makes for a pleasing read. However, "Ortona" was slightly better than this one. By the last 100 pages,it gets tiresome to read endless combat reports at platoon or company level - no matter how well written they are. Still, I higly recommend the book and salute Mr. Zuehlke for his overall GREAT work.

Canadians in WW2

I have not yet read this book.

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Title: Adak

Subtitle: The Rescue of Alfa Foxtrot 586

Author: Andrew C. A. Jampoler

Narrator: David Rapkin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 03-21-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

In the tradition of great tales of men against the sea, this story offers a compelling look at courage and commitment in the face of certain tragedy. It is a powerful blend of human drama and real-life naval operations, but unlike most books in the genre, its heroes are airmen not seamen, and most survived their ordeal. Published on the twentieth-fifth anniversary of Alfa Foxtrot 586's fatal mission as a tribute to those lost, the account was written by a naval aviator who has flown the same aircraft on the same mission from the same air base.

The aircraft is a P-3 Orion on station during a sensitive mission off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the north Pacific. The time is mid-day on 26 October 1978. Andy Jampoler takes listeners into the cockpit of the turboprop as a propeller malfunction turns into an engine fire, eventually forcing Jerry Grigsby to ditch his patrol plane into the empty, mountainous seas west of the Aleutian Islands. His fourteen crewmembers, strapped in their seats, expect the worst - and get it. The aircraft goes down in just ninety seconds, taking one of the three rafts with it. A second raft, terribly overcrowded, soon begins to leak.The flight crew's desperate battle to survive is told with the authority, drama, and sensitivity that only someone with the author's background could provide. He draws on interviews with survivors, searchers, and even the master of the Soviet fishing trawler that saved the living and recovered the bodies of the dead. He also draws on recordings of radio communications, messages in the files of the state and defense departments, and the patrol squadron's own investigation of the ditching. Everyone who likes survival epics and enjoys reading sea and air adventures will be entertained by this engrossing true story.

Members Reviews:

flight crew

excellent book, former P3 flight Engineer for 13 years lots hours in the aircraft chasing subs and parpro flights out of Adak.

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Title: War Against the Taliban

Subtitle: Why it all Went Wrong in Afghanistan

Author: Sandy Gall

Narrator: Robin Sachs

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-05-13

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Afghanistan's strategically significant lands have long been fought over by foreign invaders. Today, as yet another generation risks life and limb in this inhospitable territory, an ever-rising death toll puts back under the spotlight the way the modern war in Afghanistan is being run, and demands answers. Drawing on interviews with Afghan politicians, businessmen and ordinary people, British, American and European diplomats and soldiers, Sandy Gall addresses the challenges - political, religious, and military - that face those now fighting on the most dangerous frontier in the world.

Members Reviews:

In depth authority

Measured and reasonable with a forensic understanding of the Afghan theatre. Anyone one wishing to understand how we've gotten to that state we're in needs to read this book