What are you reading?

[Sandy_Beret]

I also very recently read SAS Operation Storm about the battle between a
handful (i.e. 9) of 22nd Rgt. SAS (with assistance from local villagers)
and several hundred communist-backed insurgents in Oman.

A good read. I was reminded of it a little by McDeth's reference to The Sun or
Daily Mail in that it is not specifically "history" in the academic sense
but makes a rip snorter of a good read about a little-known battle
in the Middle-East whch may have had far-reaching consequences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mirbat

One of the authors (Roger Cole) who was at the battle is still campaigning
for posthumous VCs to be awarded to two men who died there.
One of them Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba operated a 25-pounder gun
for an hour single handedly while under heavy and sustained fire
before being mortally wounded. Also Tommy Tobin... running 700 yards
while under fire from several hundred (!) enemy... to get to the gun pit...

More details in the book...

edit p.s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALrJY2lm6J0

[mo0nbuggy1]

Also a good doco on youtube about it.

[McDethWivFries]

Originally Posted by Sandy_Beret

I also very recently read SAS Operation Storm about the battle between a
handful (i.e. 9) of 22nd Rgt. SAS (with assistance from local villagers)
and several hundred communist-backed insurgents in Oman.

theres a decent section in Ghost Force covering this battle, and the overall Oman campaign.

Well worth a read that book

Note - tidbit from the book, Princess Diana's signature hair do was the cause of a "Royal familiarisation" exercise where they get members of the royal family and put them in the SAS kill house for a tour and when they are in one of the rooms a team bursts in and takes out all the targets (live fire btw). In the exercise she was in, a flash bang went of singing her hair.

[Sandy_Beret]

Originally Posted by McDethWivFries

Princess Diana's signature hair do was the cause of a "Royal familiarisation" exercise where they get members of the royal family and put them in the SAS kill house for a tour and when they are in one of the rooms a team bursts in and takes out all the targets (live fire btw). In the exercise she was in, a flash bang went of singing her hair.

I bet she left a little puddle on the floor.

[obese_oner]

I am currently reading, War, by Sebastian Junger. I'm only two chapters in and already loving it, should be a good one!

Book description:
In his breakout bestseller, The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger created "a wild ride that brilliantly captures the awesome power of the raging sea and the often futile attempts of humans to withstand it" (Los Angeles Times Book Review). Now, Junger turns his brilliant and empathetic eye to the reality of combat--the fear, the honor, and the trust among men in an extreme situation whose survival depends on their absolute commitment to one another. His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a daily basis.

[Aus*Lorrie]

I just finished 'Matterhorn' by Carl Marlantez. It had been on the best sellers list for awhile so I was sceptical as to whether it would be any good

I understand that its a work of fiction, however drawn from the authors experience.

I rate this book very highly (one of the best war novels i've read). Recommended.

[Xavo]

Originally Posted by obese_oner

I am currently reading, War, by Sebastian Junger. I'm only two chapters in and already loving it, should be a good one!

Yeah very good read that one. My uncle gave it to me a couple of years back and I enjoyed it.

I assume you've seen 'Restrepo' the documentary/film? If not, the movie is not just based on the book - the footage was shot by Tim Hetherington and Junger at the outpost. I think Junger was writing the book or getting notes for it or something whilst Hetherington was filming.

(Hetherington was killed last year in Libya btw).
Actually, he was killed 1 year to the day - RIP Tim Hetherington.

[obese_oner]

Originally Posted by Xavo|xXx

Yeah very good read that one. My uncle gave it to me a couple of years back and I enjoyed it.

I assume you've seen 'Restrepo' the documentary/film? If not, the movie is not just based on the book - the footage was shot by Tim Hetherington and Junger at the outpost. I think Junger was writing the book or getting notes for it or something whilst Hetherington was filming.

(Hetherington was killed last year in Libya btw).
Actually, he was killed 1 year to the day - RIP Tim Hetherington.

Yea i have seen Restrepo, that was really good. Thats interesting to know...
yea RIP

[Saltbush]

"The Big Issue" magazine.

[Pudgeinabowl]

After looking at my recent completed reading pile... The Sun herald.

Goddam that is sad.

[taters]

Originally Posted by Sandy_Beret

One of the authors (Roger Cole) who was at the battle is still campaigning
for posthumous VCs to be awarded to two men who died there.
One of them Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba operated a 25-pounder gun
for an hour single handedly while under heavy and sustained fire
before being mortally wounded. Also Tommy Tobin... running 700 yards
while under fire from several hundred (!) enemy... to get to the gun pit...

More details in the book...

and here...

Also recommend reading this,
Very good read, builds your sense of awareness of what we do every moment of our lives, helps develop breathing, I have found it very useful in my life so far, changed how I breathe, if you can get your hands on it, do so, very worthwhile.

[SamEEE]

Finished Sixguns by Elmer Keith

Really enjoyed it - a really classic reference book. Now to get my mitts on a copy of his Autobiography "Hell, I was there"

[Xavo]

Originally Posted by taters

Very good read, builds your sense of awareness of what we do every moment of our lives, helps develop breathing, I have found it very useful in my life so far, changed how I breathe, if you can get your hands on it, do so, very worthwhile.

What do you mean by this Taters?

[ToonS]

Currently reading The Wheel of Time series.

Up to book 7, only 7 more to go.

So far I've read all of them on my phone, surprisingly easy to read like that, especially on the train.

[Saltbush]

Might look out for that Breath book Taters!

Right now, time for some Roddy Doyle...

[Ford_Jam]

I just finished reading the four Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books by Douglas Adams.
Today I bought and started reading this

[taters]

Pretty much, makes you more aware of how you breathe and situations in the world when you "stop" breathing. This book is part of the Russian martial art "Systema" or "The System"

Systema's starts with breathing correctly, keeping body relaxed and eliminating tension. Also teaches recovery techniques known as burst breathing, to deal with pain (e.g when hit) or in other situations. An example can be when I went skiing for the first time, my first decent was 900m, very steep, I started panicking a bit, started burst breathin (breathing in through the nose out through the mouth very rapidly, allowing a greater flow of oxygen into the brain), helped me focus and got through the "emotional fear".

This is something that might also gain your interest, a little background...
http://www.montrealsystema. com/uploads/Russian_Systema_JAMA _Article.pdf

[sabre19]

Just finished reading Sniper One

Sniper One: The Blistering...
Good read about the Iraq War down South in 2004, during the seige of CIMIC house.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIMIC-House

Brit's always write good books, and this one was no different in my opinion.

[Sandy_Beret]

Currently reading (in the spaces between work, family, commitments, exercise, misc BS and sheer exhaustion):

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Warfare.../dp/1118185374

&

http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Ultimate-G.../dp/1849087636

Both very good.

[Fondue]

"Haig's Command" by Denis Winter. The incompetence and stubbornness of Haig and his ilk made the western front into the bloodbath that it was. Very well researched and based mostly off Australian and Canadian sources (most of the British sources were sabotaged to make Haig look better.)

Also from a non military perspective, I'm reading "The New Phrenology - The Limits of Localizing Cognitive Processes in the Brain" by William Uttal. If you're interested in psychology then it's worthwhile. Dunno if Xaboo is still hanging around here but he'd probably be interested.