My library just grew again 2015...

[Mossie]

World War One: A Layman's Guide by Scott Addington

I'm not big on history so thought I'd get this one downloaded to my Kindle, it's an overview in about 200 pages.  I find I know a lot of random stuff on World War One and history in general but not the specifics and if I attempt to read a 'definitive' volume I tend to get lost in the detail.  So, baby steps first, then I might pick up something a bit more hefty.

[NARSES2]

There's hefty and hefty when it comes to WWI Simon....ask me how I know ? Hew Strachan's multi volume The First World War is my favourite. If you just want to dip then the Osprey Campaign series is a useful primer on a specific battle/campaign.

It's sometimes the side shows that are more interesting than the main theatres of War. Recently read some good stuff on the South Pacific in 1914.

If you are at Huddersfield then we'll have a chat.

[Rheged]

There's hefty and hefty when it comes to WWI Simon....ask me how I know ? Hew Strachan's multi volume The First World War is my favourite. If you just want to dip then the Osprey Campaign series is a useful primer on a specific battle/campaign.

It's sometimes the side shows that are more interesting than the main theatres of War. Recently read some good stuff on the South Pacific in 1914.

I agree that Strachan is very reliable indeed . It's not, however, something to pick up as light reading.

  I also concur with your comments on "sideshows".....East Africa, Salonika, Palestine etc in World War One  and then all of those other non-European events since....... USSR and China on the Amur River, the so called Football War in central America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War  and many others.

[Librarian]

Mentioned an amazing print recently; this new book describes all:

http://adammakos.com/devotion-book.html

Nick Trudgian's produced another masterpiece, reminds me a lot of his much earlier "Scramble For The Marianas".

[Mossie]

There's hefty and hefty when it comes to WWI Simon....ask me how I know ? Hew Strachan's multi volume The First World War is my favourite. If you just want to dip then the Osprey Campaign series is a useful primer on a specific battle/campaign.

It's sometimes the side shows that are more interesting than the main theatres of War. Recently read some good stuff on the South Pacific in 1914.

I agree that Strachan is very reliable indeed . It's not, however, something to pick up as light reading.

  I also concur with your comments on "sideshows".....East Africa, Salonika, Palestine etc in World War One  and then all of those other non-European events since....... USSR and China on the Amur River, the so called Football War in central America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War  and many others.

Thanks guys, that's helpful.

Chris, I'll tap you up at Huddersfield.

[jcf]

Land Speed Record, Cyril Posthumus, Osprey 1971

The Old Steam Navy:
Vol.1 Frigates, Sloops, and Gunboats, 1815-1885
Vol.2 The Ironclads, 1842-1885, Donald L. Canney, Naval Institute Press 1990

Wonderful well illustrated books in both cases. 

The Canney books are the reference on the subject of USN steam before the era of the "New Navy"
which was built from 1883 on.

[jcf]

In reference to WWI, a book I like is from the political and economic side, rather than a catalog of battles, is Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy, David Stevenson, 2004.

[NARSES2]

In reference to WWI, a book I like is from the political and economic side, rather than a catalog of battles, is Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy, David Stevenson, 2004.

Very much so. My latest WWI acquisition is Ring of Steel - Germany and Austria Hungary at War 1914 -1918

[KiwiZac]

A contractor at work gave me a box with what looks like a complete set of Nevil Shute, possibly all first editions. I'll see you all in a month or two.

[PR19_Kit]

A contractor at work gave me a box with what looks like a complete set of Nevil Shute, possibly all first editions. I'll see you all in a month or two.

Fabulous! If they really are Firsts they could be worth a bit.

[KiwiZac]

I'll take a look after work. Two weeks ago she also gave me a hardback of Slide Rule, so that's next to read after On The Beach.

[The Wooksta!]

Picked up on saturday:

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde - been wanting this for a while, having seen the Blake's 7 version "Rescue"

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Want to try some Salman Rushdie at some point, if only to annoy some beardy tossers in Tehran.  And definitely more George Orwell and Christopher Hitchens.

[Thorvic]

Oh US Secret Projects WW2 arrived at the weekend as I had it on pre-order and thus didn't pic it up at SMW. I think I prefer its format to the Japanese Volume's which remind me more of a coffee table book promoting the artwork rather than the aircraft, so glad the focus is back on to the aircraft.

[zenrat]

...Catch 22 by Joseph Heller..

Possibly the book I have read the most times*.  I went through a stage where I thought it had something to say relevant to everything that was going on in my life.  If you've not read it before then I hope you enjoy it.

*that and Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers.

[Mossie]

...Catch 22 by Joseph Heller..

Possibly the book I have read the most times*.  I went through a stage where I thought it had something to say relevant to everything that was going on in my life.  If you've not read it before then I hope you enjoy it.

I agree, despite being set in WWII it's very applicable to modern life.

I think it'll appeal to your sense of irony, Lee.