The ground rules established last year remain in effect for this year's notable selections. As before, the list was compiled, refined, and ultimately decided by a number of people, all of whom are recognized for their perspicacity and knowledge of matters pertaining to the Sea Services. Because this list of books is, of course, subjective, and because there will undoubtedly be disagreement with the final list, these individuals will remain anonymous. Their contributions, however, are hereby recognized and most appreciated.
The list again includes only those books published in the previous calendar year and is restricted to a maximum of 20. The basic criterion for selection is that the book must contribute to the edification of naval professionals in some meaningful way. As before, reference books that appear on a regular basis (such as Jane's Fighting Ships, Combat Fleets of the World, and The Bluejacket's Manual) are not included. While there is no question that such books are notable, mentioning them year after year is redundant and unnecessary; those interested in this list are more than likely already aware of such important books and need not be reminded.
One other category of books that has been omitted in the interest of making room for the more unusual titles are those in the Naval Institute's Blue & Gold Professional Library. These books are certainly notable and invaluable to naval professionals, but they are in a special category of their own and it is hoped that they are known and appreciated by naval professionals without receiving special recognition here.
It will come as no surprise that being included on this list is considered a prestigious accolade, and coming up with a list of only 20 from the many fine books published in 2006 is difficult and subjective enough without trying to further rank them in some manner. For that reason the editors have decided to list the books in alphabetical order, by title, so as to avoid any perceptions of ranking or favoritism. The editors are prepared for (and in fact welcome) the inevitable criticism that will come from these choices—that is, after all, what an independent forum is about—but they see no reason to set themselves up for the additional criticism that would certainly arise from an added hierarchy within the list. Selecting the better and the best from this list will be left to the individual reader.
The Battle for Leyte, 1944: Allied and Japanese Plans, Preparations, and Execution by Milan Vego (Naval Institute Press)
Much has been written on this storied battle, but Vego treats this vast operation as an element of a larger campaign, making this book much more than a mere history. With 12 chapters, 18 appendices, and 16 maps, he provides a wealth of information useful to would-be and actual joint operations planners and executors. Not for the casual reader but essential to the serious student of warfare, it is an operational rather than a tactical study—covering both Japanese and American operations—that is full of analysis and the resulting lessons learned. By focusing on the details of a real-world operation, Vego covers virtually all of the elements of warfare, and the result is a must-read for those who would understand the complexities of warfare and the pragmatic side of both planning and execution.
(For a full review, see Naval History, October 2006)
The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose by General Tony Zinni and Tony Klotz. (Palgrave Macmillan)
A man who has seen war from the depths of a foxhole to the heights of command, General Zinni taps into his experience and offers sound advice for improving America's ability to function effectively in a hostile world. Although in the past Zinni has been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration's handling of the nation's defense, his approach in this book is less criticism than more practical advice on what can and should be done, covering both military and diplomatic means and adding relevant context to an ever-changing world. The result is a blueprint for dealing with the asymmetric nature of warfare, advocating a blend of force and diplomacy to maximize the effectiveness of each.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, September 2006)
Benedict Arnold's Navy: The Ragtag Fleet that Lost the Battle of Lake Champlain but Won the American Revolution by James Nelson. (International Marine/McGraw Hill)
Although the name Benedict Arnold has become synonymous with treason, he was in fact one of the ablest commanders in the American Revolution, and until he defected to the British, he was a great asset to the American cause. The subtitle of this book is not mere marketing hyperbole; a reasonable argument for the vital importance of the Battle of Lake Champlain can well be made. Though a tactical defeat, it was a strategic victory because it served as a delaying action and deterred the British from successfully cleaving the colonies at the Hudson River, ultimately setting the stage for the great American victory at Saratoga a year later. Nelson has captured the events and their significance in this well-written narrative that sheds light on a significant—but often overlooked—moment in our history
(For a full review, see Naval History, August 2006).
Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal by John B. Lundstrom. (Naval Institute Press)
In his inimitable fashion, John Lundstrom has once again made a major contribution to the history of the Navy in World War II. Admiral Fletcher was a surface ("black shoe") naval officer commanding aviation ("brown shoe") assets, and he has long been a figure of significant controversy—having been accused of failing to relieve Wake Island and of abandoning the Marines at Guadalcanal. Lundstrom takes on that tension with a fresh look at both the man and the events. Drawing on new primary source material, this book will edify and enlighten even the most learned of historians, providing fresh insight and much food for thought.
Blood Stripes: The Grunt's View of the War in Iraq by David J. Danelo (Stackpole)
In the tradition of Ernie Pyle, Dave Danelo reports on the war in Iraq through the eyes and deeds of Marine Corps corporals and sergeants—individuals for whom he has great respect. Their values, achievements, and impact are the focus of this book. Retired Colonel Keith Oliver captured the essence of this book when he described it as "Rudyard Kipling meets Rolling Stone." It is a view of the timeless warrior spirit that successfully embraces the unique context of the times. This account captures both the grit and greatness, as it embraces the reality of tactical war while transcending politics and grand strategy.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, July 2006)
Capturing Jonathan Pollard by Ronald J. Olive. (Naval Institute Press)
While much has been written about the spy Jonathan Pollard, Ron Olive's new book provides a new dimension. Images from the popular TV series aside, Olive is a real-life Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agent and this is the story of how he led the investigation that ultimately brought about Pollard's capture. Despite some attempts by others to portray Pollard as something else, Olive makes clear who this turncoat was and the ramifications of his actions to U.S. national security. Pollard's capture is the stuff thrillers are made of, rendered all the more exciting by the reality of the situation.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, December 2006)
Carrier Battles: Command Decision in Harm's Way by Douglas V. Smith. (Naval Institute Press)
An effective and exciting retelling of the five major carrier battles of World War II would be reason enough to read this book, but Professor Doug Smith of the Naval War College elevates this groundbreaking work into the must-read category with his thought-provoking evaluation of those engagements. This is a reassuring work in that Smith contends that an essential element in the formula for victory in the Pacific was not experience but education, a kind of vindication of the "leaders are made, not born" thesis. By this reasoning, we find value in things we can control and are thus encouraged to strive for improvements rather than surrender to fate when preparing for future operations. Smith's thesis is more than a justification for War College education, it is an antidote to such deadly poisons as risk-aversion and doctrinal addiction that so often stultify high command in times of supreme crisis.
Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier's Fight for America from Baghdad to Washington by Paul Rieckhoff (Caliber)
Candor and first-hand experience make this book a worthwhile read for those who will lead troops in Iraq or in similar situations in the future. Rieckhoff served in Iraq as an Army first lieutenant early in the war, during some of its most critical moments. His assessment of what he saw is less than inspirational but provides serious food for thought. He has a way with words that makes his imagery vivid and the impressions he leaves lasting ones. Reading this book will round out the perspective needed to better understand the war in Iraq.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, August 2006)
Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq by Michael R. Gordon and General Bernard E. Trainor. (Pantheon Books)
Without getting mired in arguments of whether or not we should have gone into Iraq, this impressive account details how we went into that war. Written by a journalist and a general, both highly respected in their fields, it is a straightforward narrative and assessment that is remarkable for its insight and objectivity. It answers questions such as how we erred so egregiously on the WMD issue, and why U.S. generals did not ask for more troops. While sobering and at times downright depressing, there is a certain comfort in having answers to these and other questions, particularly when provided by credentialed and respected authors.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, May 2006)
DEFCON 2: Standing on the Brink of Nuclear War During the Cuban Missile Crisis by Norman Polmar and John D. Gresham. (John Wiley)
In a chilling new look at the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, Polmar and Gresham focus on the military aspects of this frightening confrontation while placing them in the appropriate political context. With information not readily found in other books on the subject, this is a gripping story made more dramatic by its reality. It is a harrowing tale made palatable by the happy ending, but the authors insist that the result was more a function of luck than of great statesmanship or military strategy. Their account of a Soviet submarine captain nearly firing a nuclear weapon is alone worth the price of admission, but there is much more that earns this book its place in the growing library of a Cold War that very nearly went hot.
(For a full review, see Proceedings October 2006)
Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq by Thomas E. Ricks. (The Penguin Press)
While the title of this book leaves no doubt over its ultimate assessment of the Iraq War, this is no polemic that merely fleshes out preconceived beliefs. It is serious journalism of the kind that long ago earned Ricks—senior Pentagon correspondent for the Washington Post—a respect not automatically enjoyed by those in his profession. With his consistent objectivity at the forefront of his investigation, Ricks has produced a revealing look at how this nation went to war in Iraq. The result is bleak and troubling but better revealed than left to the possibility of repetition.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, September 2006)
From Mahan to Pearl Harbor: The Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States by Sadao Asada. (Naval Institute Press)
One of Japan's leading naval historians analyzes the influence of Alfred Thayer Mahan on the Japanese Navy. The idea that Japan took some of Mahan to heart is not a new one, but Asada explores the idea in depth to discover just how much influence this American historian/strategist actually had on Japanese naval thinking and planning. Drawing on previously unused documents, he concludes, among other things, that Mahan may well have indirectly contributed to the American victory in the Pacific war. Asada's research sheds much light on the strategic process, and his conclusions provide much food for thought for historians and strategists alike.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, January 2007)
John Paul Jones: America's First Sea Warrior by Joseph Callo. (Naval Institute Press)
Callo, a naval officer himself, advances Jones beyond a narrow naval context and establishes him firmly as a key player in the American Revolution while effectively linking this unique naval hero to our own time. Jones' dramatic military achievements are related in the full context of his times, rather than as stand-alone events. The question of what drove him to his achievements is addressed fully, with a view that is very different from those of his early hero-building biographers and that of today's deconstructionist writers. This penetrating new look also focuses on several interesting, lesser-known aspects of Jones' life, including his relationship with such civilian leaders as Benjamin Franklin and how Jones helped form our nation's concept of civilian control of the military. The result is a retelling of a stirring sea saga that is both edifying and entertaining while telling us much about our own times.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, April 2006)
Military Widow: A Survival Guide by Joanne M. Steen and M. Regina Asaro. (Naval Institute Press)
With all of the attention recently given to veterans' medical care, this related book is timely and long overdue. Written primarily for the military widow, this is also an essential resource for family and friends, and for the military personnel who support her. Blending together realistic profiles of military widows, knowledge of military loss and the complications it generates, guidance from leading grief experts, and lessons learned from military widows over the past 13 years, these highly credentialed authors speak to loss in each of the service branches, across the span of rank and rates. This first of its kind guide provides invaluable insight into military widowhood, and offers practical strategies for surviving this life-changing loss. It ought to be in every casualty-assistance-calls-officer's briefcase for delivery to the widows they have been sent to assist.
No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf by Bradley Peniston. (Naval Institute Press)
While escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers in the midst of the ongoing war between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran in the late 1980s, a U.S. Navy frigate struck a mine in the Persian Gulf and was nearly broken in two by the blast. Only astute seamanship, textbook damage control, innovative thinking, and perseverance on the part of the crew managed to save the ship. Peniston spent more than two years researching and interviewing survivors and has created a gripping account of the incident. Relevant to today's Middle East involvement, this is a story of international politics during an unusual time, an inspiring story of individual and group heroism, and a virtual manual of Navy damage control under arduous circumstances. Peniston's account elucidates an incident and a period (when U.S. Navy Sailors were engaged in combat operations in the Middle East more than a decade before the current war on terrorism) that has received little prior attention.
Power at Sea by Lisle A. Rose. (University of Missouri Press)
Contending that industrialism instigated much of the warfare during the 20th century, Rose posits that sea power played a leading role in those wars and in the making of the modern world. With in-depth coverage of the major battles, technological developments, significant figures, and strategic theories, this work is destined to be a classic. Three volumes cover The Age of Navalism (1890-1918), The Breaking Storm (1919-1945), and A Violent Peace (1946-2006). From the Anglo-German arms race that led to World War I to the rise of the United States as the preeminent world sea power, Rose makes clear not only the what and when but the how of this important story.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, January 2007)
Sea of Thunder: Four Commanders and the Last Great Naval Campaign 1941-1945 by Evan Thomas (Simon & Schuster)
Proving that great stories are always up for a fresh re-telling, Newsweek editor Evan Thomas brings to life one of the world's greatest sea battles, providing a readable account that is rich with analysis and unique in context. Focusing on four of the main characters—two Americans and two Japanese, each significant in his own right but for different reasons—Thomas explores this gargantuan battle through their perspectives. The pugnacious and sometimes reckless William Halsey and the awe-inspiring destroyer captain Ernest Evans are contrasted with the more cautious Takeo Kurita and his complex chief of staff, Matome Ugaki. The result is a thought-provoking study of the symbiosis of strategy and tactics, as well as the roles of personality, culture, and philosophy in a battle's outcome. This is a story of inspiring courage juxtaposed with egregious error, and Thomas has captured both in this impressive account.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, November 2006)
Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors by James D. Hornfischer. (Bantam Dell Books)
Just weeks after Pearl Harbor, the cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) was sunk by Japanese naval forces in the Dutch East Indies. Many of her surviving crew members came to envy their shipmates who went to the bottom with their ship because of the incredible hardships they suffered as prisoners of war. The author of the award-winning The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors now turns his talents to this powerful story, relying on extensive research and interviews with survivors. He recreates life in the prewar Asiatic Fleet before recounting the sinking in vivid detail and the POW ordeal in a manner that can only be described as painful. The result is another "you are there" tale that has earned Hornfischer a reputation as one of naval history's heavy hitters.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, March 2007)
Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy by Ian Toll (Norton and Company)
The story of the nascent U.S. Navy has rarely been told as well as in this new work. Capturing the swashbuckling aspects of the Quasi-war with France, the battles with the so-called Barbary Pirates, and the War of 1812 is impressive enough, but Ian Toll also covers the political battles of the time—many of which have a familiar ring as we hear them still debated today—in a way that makes them almost as exciting as the iron-men-and-wooden-ships combat. Both the sea battles and the political struggles laid the groundwork for a navy that would eventually rise to superpower status, and Toll tells it all in a compelling manner that one might be tempted to call "sea stories" if it did not undermine the seriousness of his research and of the topic.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, December 2006)
War Made New: Technology, Warfare, and the Course of History 1500 to Today by Max Boot. (Gotham Books)
Studying the last five centuries of warfare with emphasis on technology's role as well as those of doctrine, strategic thought, and tactics, Boot has created a classic in the history of warfare. Arranged into four main sections—The Gunpowder Revolution, The First Industrial Revolution, The Second Industrial Revolution, and the Information Revolution—each with a focus on three battles or campaigns from the era, this is history at its best, exploring not only the what but the why of significant events. Although it is well-researched and comprehensive, this is no academic snore but a vibrant narrative and a revealing analysis. Of particular interest are his assessments of what causes nations to rise and fall; the usual suspects are AWOL, and fresh thoughts have joined the ranks instead. Serious students of warfare will ignore this book at their peril.
(For a full review, see Proceedings, November 2006)
Notable Naval Books of 2006
By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, USN (Ret.)