Discover the New Releases Audiobooks in History, Military

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Title: Diplomacy at the Brink

Subtitle: Eisenhower, Churchill, and Eden in the Cold War

Author: David M. Watry

Narrator: Douglas McDonald

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-12-17

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

A groundbreaking new study of Anglo-American relations during the Cold War, Diplomacy at the Brink argues for a reevaluation of Dwight D. Eisenhower's foreign policy toward allies and enemies alike. Contrary to his reputation as a level-headed moderate, the Eisenhower who emerges is a conservative ideologue, a leader whose aggressively anti-Communist and anticolonialist foreign policies represented a major shift away from the containment policy of the Truman presidency. Watry contends that Eisenhower worked closely with John Foster Dulles to engage in aggressive brinksmanship that diametrically opposed Winston Churchill's diplomacy of "peaceful coexistence". At a time when British economic interests favored cooperation with China, Eisenhower planned nuclear war against it; when Anthony Eden considered Gamal Abdel Nasser a Soviet agent and invaded Egypt, Eisenhower supported Arab nationalism and used economic and political blackmail to force Britain to withdraw. Such stances fractured the "special relationship" between America and Great Britain and played a vital role in the dissolution of the British Empire.

Watry's thorough examination of the important clash of US-UK foreign policy demonstrates that America's new anti-colonial policies and the unilateral use of American power against perceived Communist threats put Eisenhower and Dulles on a collision course with Churchill and Eden that rocked the world.

The book is published by Louisiana State University Press.

Critic Reviews:

"Highly recommended."(

CHOICE)

"This is an important and outstanding contribution to the Eisenhower and Cold War historiographies." (

H-Net Reviews)

"Watry makes an important contribution to literature on the Cold War." (

International Social Science Review)

Members Reviews:

One can gain great insight into the interactions of these leaders and how ...

It is obvious that a lot of time, effort, and research went into the writing of this book. One can gain great insight into the interactions of these leaders and how that interaction shaped events and policies during the Cold War. I enjoyed the depth of thought about the impact of the interactions and how that would lay the groundwork and positioning for the future of policies during the Cold War by other leaders. If you want to understand foreign policy after World War II this is a must read. The intricacies of diplomacy are explored with a solid evaluation and explanation by the author.

A Must Read !!

What I found fascinating about Diplomacy at the Brink was how Churchill regularly ignored The Foreign Office on issues concerning Korea, Iran, Guatemala, the Soviet Union and the United States.

At the same time, Churchill strongly opposed American military intervention in Indochina and China, thus avoiding World War III.

Finally Watry's account of the Suez Crisis is the best ever written.

Diplomacy at the Brink

Very enlightening book. Surprised to learn how Eisenhower's diplomacy was so different generally perceived notions. Alarming to learn how close we really were to using nuclear attack weapons. Detailed accounts of the negotiations between America and England during those tense years - inciteful book.

Outstanding book on the early days of the Cold War!

Excellent book about the cold war and interactions between Eisenhower, Churchill and Eden.

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Title: History's Greatest Battles: Masterstrokes of War

Author: Nigel Cawthorne

Narrator: Steven Crossley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-08-17

Publisher: Arcturus Digital Limited

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Great battles mark history's turning points, occurring as they do where cultures and ideologies clash. While some battles have been won by the superior force, others have been won by a sheer dogged refusal to surrender in the face of overwhelming odds. All the great battles in this book are pivotal in history: if any one of them had gone the other way, the world would have been a very different place. And none of them - with the exception, perhaps, of Iwo Jima and Berlin - was a foregone conclusion. From the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, when the vastly outnumbered Athenian army turned back an invasion of the mighty Persian Empire, up to the Vietnamese defeat of the French army at the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the battles in this book demonstrate that God is not always on the side of the big battalions.

Members Reviews:

Nice book well done

Well written and informative

A rather light reading.

I'm disappointed because I wanted more analysis form the writer about both each battle and it's historical importance. The author claims that these battles all were of immense importance to history. That's true of course, but a better explanation other than a couple of sentences would have been interesting. As for the battles, the collection is not meant to be a complete history. But unfortunately, devoting only a hand full of pages per conflict means that we get the most skeletal account. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it.

A great collection of some of the greatest battles in history

A great collection of some of the greatest battles in history. This was a very informative book, well researched.

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Title: Decatur's Wake

Subtitle: The Fateful Rivalry Behind the Lightning Defeat of Barbary Terror

Author: Daniel Wattenberg

Narrator: Kevin T. Collins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-06-17

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

Since the founding of the United States, the Barbary pirates of North Africa threatened with impunity American lives, commerce, and honor on the high seas. But in 1815, Commodore Stephen Decatur led a charge to victory. The Second Barbary War, as it became known, helped define American foreign policy and consolidate its naval power.

In Decatur's Wake: The Fateful Rivalry Behind the Lightning Defeat of Barbary Terror, Daniel Wattenberg shows us how, while painting a portrait of the two senior officers turned mortal enemies who fought for a shot at personal redemption and a naval command of unprecedented scale and pivotal historical significance. Decatur's Wake is a rousing true narrative that crackles with the tension and torques with the surprise twists of a psychological thriller.

Daniel Wattenberg is the author of Decatur's Wake, a Kindle Single. He is a widely cited, award-winning cultural essayist, columnist, critic, investigative writer, and editor. His work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including the American Spectator, Atlantic.com, Civilization, the Daily Caller, Forbes FYI, George, National Review, Playboy, Reason, the Weekly Standard, the Arizona Republic, Baltimore Sun, New York Post and Washington Times. He served in the State Department in the bureaus of Inter-American Affairs and Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs and in the United States Information Agency at the US Mission to UNESCO and the US Embassy in Paris. He worked in the Merchant Marines in the engine room of a container ship. As the lead singer of punk-era New York bands, he appeared often at the historic CBGB and opened for the Ramones. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and daughter.

Critic Reviews:

"Brisk storytelling, evocative prose, and bravura action sequences." (Jay Winik, best-selling author of 1944 and April 1865)

Members Reviews:

This is excellent history as well as a great read

Mr. Wattenberg has written a riveting story about the Barbary pirates and the early US response to them. This is excellent history as well as a great read. This stuff is normally passed over in a paragraph in a high school text. But the Barbary pirates -- Muslim raiders -- were the reason Thomas Jefferson commissioned what became the US Navy. And taking them out -- making them leave American ships alone -- is a fine model for the kind of campaign needed to get today's Muslim terrorists to lay off. I hope Mr. Wattenberg chooses to elucidate other historic instances that didn't make it into the traditional American History narrative.

Well-writen, thoroughly researched

This was a great, quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed the story from start to finish. The vast majority of my history textbooks seemed to gloss over the Barbary Wars, so I was eager to learn more. Decatur's Wake did not disappoint. From the very beginning, it was obvious that the author spent a great deal of time researching this story. You'll be surprised by how much you'll learn in just 95 pages.

I am always fascinated to see how much information is out there (if you're willing to look for it). Official documents rarely tell the whole story.

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Title: U.S. Military Intervention in the Post-Cold War Era

Subtitle: How to Win America's Wars in the Twenty-first Century

Author: Glenn J. Antizzo

Narrator: Captain James H. Hammond, II

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-26-16

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

In this readily accessible study, political scientist Glenn J. Antizzo identifies 15 factors critical to the success of contemporary US military intervention and evaluates the likely efficacy of direct US military involvement today - when it will work, when it will not, and how to undertake such action in a manner that will bring rapid victory at an acceptable political cost. He lays out the preconditions that portend success, among them a clear and attainable goal; a mission that is neither for "peacekeeping" nor for "humanitarian aid within a war zone"; a strong probability the American public will support or at least be indifferent to the effort; a willingness to utilize ground forces if necessary; an operation limited in geographic scope; and a theater commander permitted discretion in the course of the operation.

Antizzo then tests his abstract criteria by using real-world case studies of the most recent fully completed US military interventions - in Panama in 1989, Iraq in 1991, Somalia in 1992-94, and Kosovo in 1999 - with Panama, Iraq, and Kosovo representing generally successful interventions and Somalia an unsuccessful one. Finally, he considers how the development of a "Somalia Syndrome" affected US foreign policy and how the politics and practice of military intervention have continued to evolve since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, giving specific attention to the current war in Afghanistan and the larger War on Terror.

Members Reviews:

What a marvel!

Dr. Antizzo has written a masterpiece on the numerous examples of U.S military intervention throughout the post-WWII era. It brilliantly explains and outlines the theories and ideologies behind U.S policy and involvement in 3rd world military conflict.

Antizzo's analysis is excellent.

Antizzo's analysis is excellent. However, normatively, I disagree with his advocacy of intervention. The definition of "winning" is elusive.

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Title: Stilwell the Patriot

Subtitle: Vinegar Joe, the Brits, and Chiang Kai-Shek

Author: David Rooney, John S. Major - foreword

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-22-16

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

This new and meticulously researched biography of the controversial American commander Joe Stilwell presents an admirably lucid account of his career and the complex story of the Burma campaign.

Stilwell spent most of World War II as Chiang Kai-Shek's chief of staff in China. He was often at odds with the British Generals Wavell, Slim, and Wingate, men with whom he was to co-operate in Burma. These arguments earned him the nickname of 'Vinegar' Joe. Stilwell and George Marshall had planned to have 90 Chinese divisions armed by the USA. Had they succeeded, in 1945 they would have been strong enough to defeat the Communists and would have changed the course of Chinese, if not world, history. Although Chiang had Stilwell dismissed, he recognized his contribution to the Burma Road campaign by renaming part of it the Stilwell Road.

This sympathetic but critical biography analyses the passions of an American patriot, infuriated by Chiang's dishonesty and chicanery, and looks at the possible outcome had Stilwell's views prevailed.

After World War II service in the Far East and Ghana, David Rooney read history at Oxford and subsequently took a research degree in Commonwealth History. His career in education included four years as Senior Lecturer at RMA Sandhurst. His writings include Burma Victory, considered by Brigadier Michael Calvert the best book yet on the Burma Campaign, Wingate and the Chindits, Mad Mike, and his recent highly acclaimed Guerrilla. Robert Lyman is the author of the best-selling Slim, Master of War.

Members Reviews:

Excellent addition to the WWII Literature on the China-Burma-India Theater and Command Relationships in Coalition Warfighting.

A newer biography of General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, the ill fated Commander in the China Burma India Theater of WWII. This complements the well known Barbara Tuchman's "Stilwell and the American Experience in China". What is surprising is that it was written by a British author who served in this theater in WWII. It chronicles Stilwell's early years in China learning the language and culture and his return as one of General Marshall's men from Ft. Banning. It shows the frayed edges of animosity by a frustrated Commander dealing with corruption in Chiang Kai Sheks China, and a Fighter who wanted to reopen the Burma Road. Well, done and a nice addition to the limited works on the CBI in WWII. I would recommend to military historians of the CBI in WWII.

Stilwell Through The Eyes of a Britisher

While the author (British) is complementary of Stilwell's performance in many instances, and does present a case for Stilwell being a patriot, the constant theme throughout is Stilwell's alleged distaste for "Limies." What is not brought out is that Stilwell simply had a distaste for anyone given to inaction or pomposity....and a number of British officers fit that mold. In truth Stilwell respected a number of British officers such as Slim and Festing who were highly competent and favored action against the Japanese.

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Title: Victor Boys

Subtitle: True Stories from Forty Memorable Years of the Last V Bomber

Author: Tony Blackman

Narrator: Roger Davis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-10-16

Publisher: Grub Street Publishing LTD

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The Handley Page Victor was the third of the three V Bombers and the longest lasting, serving in the RAF until 1993, and still doing invaluable service in the first Iraq war. Moreover, in 1982, it was the only Victor tanker fleet based on Ascension Island that made possible the Vulcan Black Buck bombing of Port Stanley airfield and the long-range reconnaissance of Argentina by Nimrods. Victor Boys tells the story of all the great things that were achieved, recounted firsthand by the operators themselves, aircrew, and ground crew.

Starting with accounts by test pilot Johnny Allam, who undertook the major development of the aircraft, through its work as a nuclear bomber during the Cold War, testing Blue Steel in Australia, to its superb work during the Falklands war and later as a first class air-to-air refueling tanker and vital support tool for fighters and other aircraft.

Published to coincide with the Victor's 60th anniversary, the stories are collated and set in context by Tony Blackman, ex-chief test pilot of Avros who helped develop the Vulcan and initiated the development of the Victor K2 tanker. For him, initially, the Victor seemed a competitor but he now readily admits what a wonderful aircraft the Victor became.

Members Reviews:

A V-good listen, first hand anecdotal accounts.

Would you consider the audio edition of Victor Boys to be better than the print version?

Not seen the print edition but at least there is emphasis in the audio narration which is probably accurate.

What did you like best about this story?

It brought the aircraft to life, I want to build a model of it now...

Which character as performed by Roger Davis was your favourite?

Roger Davis' narration is not in character as such, (daft question really), but his narration is an easy listen.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

You feel great empathy for the crews, especially the one's who didn't make it home.

Any additional comments?

It really made me appreciate the value of the tanker fleet and how valuable they were, especially in the Falklands and first Gulf War.

A book of pride to all involved with aircraft boys

I've now listened to 5 of the Boys books and can see how they were and are unsung hero's to get these iconic machines in the air and defend our rights

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Title: 44 Days

Subtitle: 75 Squadron and the Fight for Australia

Author: Michael Veitch

Narrator: Michael Veitch

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-02-16

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

The epic World War II story of Australia's 75 Squadron - and the 44 days when these brave and barely-trained pilots fought alone against the Japanese.

In March and April 1942, RAAF 75 Squadron bravely defended Port Moresby for 44 days when Australia truly stood alone against the Japanese. This group of raw young recruits scrambled ceaselessly in their Kittyhawk fighters to an extraordinary and heroic battle, the story of which has been left largely untold.

The recruits had almost nothing going for them against the Japanese war machine, except for one extraordinary leader named John Jackson, a balding, tubby Queenslander - at 35 possibly the oldest fighter pilot in the world - who said little, led from the front, and who had absolutely no sense of physical fear.

Time and time again this brave group were hurled into battle, against all odds and logic, and succeeded in mauling a far superior enemy - whilst also fighting against the air force hierarchy. After relentless attack, the squadron was almost wiped out by the time relief came, having succeeded in their mission - but also paying a terrible price.

Michael Veitch, actor, presenter and critically acclaimed author, brings to life the incredible exploits and tragic sacrifices of this courageous squadron of Australian heroes.

Members Reviews:

Very enjoyable. Conveys spirit of Australia's brave men.

Enjoyed the sound of the reader's voice. Although the subject is dry in a couple of spots, the interest picked up time and again. I wanted an appreciation of Aussie ways and spirit during the fight. Mission accomplished by 44 Days.

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Title: A Macat Analysis of Timothy Snyder's Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin

Author: Helen Roche

Narrator: Macat.com

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-28-16

Publisher: Macat International Limited.

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

US-born historian of Europe Timothy Snyder first published Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin in 2010. In it, he argues that previous accounts of World War II have kept Nazi and Soviet crimes unduly separate, with much more attention paid to Adolf Hitler's atrocities than Joseph Stalin's. Snyder's view is that a definitive history of the period must depict the suffering of all of the conflict's victims.

Snyder coins the term "bloodlands" to pinpoint Poland, the Baltic states, the Ukraine, and the eastern edge of Soviet Russia, while claiming it was the people in these territories who suffered the most during the conflict. Why? Because they endured three separate, brutal, and bloody invasions - first by the Soviets, then by the Nazis, and then again by the Soviets.

Using an impressively vast amount of archive documentation and secondary literature in 10 different languages, Snyder pieces together a wide-ranging story that demands we reframe the ways we think about World War II and the Holocaust.

Bloodlands has been translated into more than 30 languages and has won numerous prizes, including the Leipzig Prize for European Understanding.

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Title: A Macat Analysis of Odd Arne Westad's The Global Cold War

Author: Patrick Glen, Bryan R. Gibson

Narrator: Macat.com

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-27-16

Publisher: Macat International Limited.

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

A Macat analysis of Odd Arne Westad's The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our Times.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005

The title of Norwegian-born historian Odd Arne Westad's 2005 work - The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our Times - offers a window into his thesis. Between the end of World War II and the early 1990s, both the Soviet Union and the United States "intervened" (or "offered aid and support to") developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Westad's view, these interventions were more important than events in Europe, where most studies of the Cold War focus. They destabilized the Third World and laid the foundations for contemporary problems and conflicts in the Global South.

Using new archival sources that became available after the fall of communism, The Global Cold War is the first example of the "New" Cold War History school of thought, which links all the international arenas where the struggle took place. An important addition to studies of the Cold War and international history in the 20th century, The Global Cold War helps make sense of conflicts still raging today.

You can find out more about how Westad's ideas have been challenged and applied - and how his work has impacted on thinkers in other academic disciplines - by exploring further in the Macat Library.

Macat's analyses cover 14 different subjects in the humanities and social sciences. To browse our whole multimedia library and get a lot more, visit macat.com today.

Macat. Learn better. Think smarter. Aim higher.

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Title: Zeppelins over the Wire

Subtitle: A Compilation and Analysis of Rigid Airship News Reports Through WWI

Author: B.Z. Kelly

Narrator: B.Z. Kelly

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-27-16

Publisher: B.Z. Kelly

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

As powered flight was in its infancy, the transatlantic cable brought news reports "over the wire" from Europe to the United States in hours. These news reports shed light on the development of the large rigid airships and uncovered many amazing facts. Some of those facts include:

Most of the 23,800 words are articles, or portions of articles, as published before and during WWI. Some discussion is provided for context, flow, and to provide occasional contrast to the present day. Dollar figures reported are translated into present day values to provide perspective.

The collection of articles provides insight to the perception of airships from the early years of doubt, through the years when "aeromania" gripped the world, to fear of destruction, and finally confidence that Zeppelin attacks could be repelled with anti-aircraft guns and airplanes.

Members Reviews:

Not a story book

This book is definitely the kind of book you would read for a report for school

It goes over Dimensions and specifications of the zeppelin