The History Book Club discussion

We are going to offer some discussion selections dedicated to various military operations/wars/conflicts.

For example, we are planning to offer an American Civil War offering with a selection polled from our membership. We will handle these selections similar to the way we handle the Presidential Series offerings.

The first thing that I would like to do is to ask folks for suggestions as to which
military conflicts we should focus on first.

For example, you could say that you would like to focus on World War I first, or World War II, the Philippine War, the Korean War, or something like the Iran/Iraq war. You may be interested in learning more about the Sino-Japanese conflicts, the Boer War, Napoleonic Wars, the Chinese Opium Wars. Or ancient history like the Trojan War or the The Peloponnesian War.

Any conflict is game and what I would like to do is to take all of the conflicts or wars that you are interested in reading and discussing and vote on this first set.

Once we get 20 suggestions we will vote on that first twenty and put them in some order. We will then put together some books which deal with the highest vote getter and select a group read on that conflict.

Also, if there are some threads that should be added to our Military Threads by all means at the same time please make a suggestion.

I will put the first one down:

American Civil War

Hmm, how about a quick war Texas Revolution? or the Franco-Prussian War?

No really, I would like to nominate French and Indian War errr I mean Seven Years War.

Gabriel, thank you. All of the group's offerings are voted for by group members. Here I want to get nominations of specific conflicts which we will poll; we will then poll and vote for a selection to read and discuss together about each conflict.

So thank you for the first nomination coming from our group members. You were the first brave member to step forward. And I do not care if the nominated conflict or war was short or long (smile).

You knew I would suggest this one: The Crimean War.

Thank you Jill.

A good choice Jill - your favourite subject maybe? :)

AR.......you know it is!!!!!......I just can't help myself. :0)

A group reading on the Paraguayan war, also known as War of the Triple Alliance, would be interesting.
1. because it is not a well known conflict
2. because it is a strange war which destroyed the future of a county (up to 90% of the male population may have been killed, though this figure is without support)

OK thanks Singleton, I appreciate your add.

So now our list looks like this: (in no order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)

Sixteen more suggestions of the kind of military read you would like to go.

Keep the suggestions coming.

The Boer War is an interesting topic that we might want to add to the list.

Thank you Jill.

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War

Keep the suggestions coming and then we will vote in which order we will cover them with a book discussion.

One of the shortest wars but historic: The Six Day War (also known as the Yom Kippur War) between Israel and Egypt. I don't know how much has been written about it.

Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection (1898-1902)

Great idea - I'd like to nominate two simply as I have read nothing on either and my knowledge is sketchy at best but I recognise both had far reaching consequences:

The War of 1812 and Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War
6. The Six Day War (the Yom Kippur War)
7. Spanish American War
8. Philippine Insurrection (1898 - 1902)
9. The War of 1812
10. Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 05

Keep the suggestions coming and then we will vote in which order we will cover them with a book discussion.

And thank you Geevee and Bryan for your recent recommendations.

Korean War (the forgotten war) may be another one.....some good books on that subject

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War
6. The Six Day War (the Yom Kippur War)
7. Spanish American War
8. Philippine Insurrection (1898 - 1902)
9. The War of 1812
10. Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 05
11. Korean War

Thanks Jill as long as I hope that the book selected is not -

by David Halberstam

I read that book and was so disappointed; it was not a history of the Korean War; but a history of MacArthur and it focused on him. That is why the book title is "The Coldest Winter" because it focuses on the disastrous defeat of the UN troops during the winter of 1950 as the result of MacArthur's decisions (according to the author). I was disappointed with the scope. But there are a lot of good books out there and if the group votes for that choice; I will dig out my copy and slog through (smile).

WWII no doubt has endless battles and topics to explore. I'm not a huge war buff, or WWII for that matter, but I would be interested in a discussion that picks some aspect other than battle strategy. The role of women in WWII comes to mind specifically, such as ~

Marthe Cohn
Elizabeth M. Norman
Nicola Tyrer
Ian W. Shaw
Marianne Verges
Kathleen Broome Williams

Some good books there Alisa, nice selection on a subject not often discussed.

World War I is also very interesting. From the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of violence, to the degree to which the conflict marks a turning point in Western civilization, trench warfare, the role of women, the literature and art that came out of the war, I think there is massive potential for some good healthy debate/discussion.

A couple suggestions:

The Origins of the First World War by William MulliganThe Origins of the First World WarbyWilliam Mulligan

Female Intelligence: Women and Espionage in the First World WarbyTammy M. Proctor

(hmm...my links don't look right, but they work - my first try at adding them, I'll get the hang of it!)

Debby wrote: "(hmm...my links don't look right, but they work - my first try at adding them, I'll get the hang of it!)"

Hello Debby, you are right, portions of your citations are correct like the author's link; but the citations should look like this:

by William Mulligan (no author's photo available)

See above - always the book cover if available, always the author's photo if available and about 50% of the time it is not, then always the author's link which is the author's name in linkable text. Here is the link to the thread called the Mechanics of the Board:

http://www.africa-eu.com/topic/show/2...

You will get the hang of this in no time and for your first attempt - it shows that you are making progress.

For the second book:

by Tammy M. Proctor (no author's photo available)

The above did not have an author's photo either so this is how that book citation should look. Hope this helps.

Regarding World War I, there are numerous subject subtopics which would be great. Just as an FYI if you are interested in this topic; we did do a spotlighted discussion on the following book: The First World War by John Keegan - if you are interested in that subject matter. These threads are now housed in the World War I folder.

by John Keegan

For the citation above, you can see that for this book citation, we were able to add all three parts.

Thank you for your adds and for your suggestions.

All best,

Bentley

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War
6. The Six Day War (the Yom Kippur War)
7. Spanish American War
8. Philippine Insurrection (1898 - 1902)
9. The War of 1812
10. Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 05
11. Korean War
12. Role of Women in World War II
13. World War I

Keep the suggestions coming and then we will vote in which order we will cover them with a book discussion.

And thank you to Alisa and Debby for their suggestions.

Ok, another suggestion: The Anglo-Dutch wars.

Good subject Singleton!

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Good subject Singleton!"

The more as I know almost nothing about it and it is part of my own country's history so I should be a little ashamed.

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War
6. The Six Day War (the Yom Kippur War)
7. Spanish American War
8. Philippine Insurrection (1898 - 1902)
9. The War of 1812
10. Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 05
11. Korean War
12. Role of Women in World War II
13. World War I
14. The Anglo-Dutch Wars

Keep the suggestions coming and then we will vote in which order we will cover them with a book discussion.

And thank you Singleton for your suggestion.

Some other thoughts:

Vietnam
American Revolution
U.S.-Mexican War
Napoleonic Wars

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War
6. The Six Day War (the Yom Kippur War)
7. Spanish American War
8. Philippine Insurrection (1898 - 1902)
9. The War of 1812
10. Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 05
11. Korean War
12. Role of Women in World War II
13. World War I
14. The Anglo-Dutch Wars
15. Vietnam
16. American Revolution
17. US and Mexican War
18. Napoleonic Wars

Keep the suggestions coming and then we will vote in which order we will cover them with a book discussion.

And thank you Bryan for your suggestions as always.

Oh, do you think there are military histories on the Russian Civil War?? This would be interesting.

Gee I am not sure. Maybe in Russian. Let me know if you see any in English that are any good; and I will then add it.

Bryan wrote: "Oh, do you think there are military histories on the Russian Civil War?? This would be interesting."

I'll have a look for some books on the Russian Civil War, that would be very interesting! I work in a library, the most perfect job ever.

If the voting decides it of course I am rather hoping this exercise will make me move off my normal topics (WWI and WWII).

So I suggest two more that I have always meant to but never got around to reading about:

The Hundred Years War 1337-1453
Cuban War of Independence 1895-98

Debby wrote: "Bryan wrote: "Oh, do you think there are military histories on the Russian Civil War?? This would be interesting."

I'll have a look for some books on the Russian Civil War, that would be very int..."

Thanks Debby and I concur - what a perfect job (smile)

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War
6. The Six Day War (the Yom Kippur War)
7. Spanish American War
8. Philippine Insurrection (1898 - 1902)
9. The War of 1812
10. Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 05
11. Korean War
12. Role of Women in World War II
13. World War I
14. The Anglo-Dutch Wars
15. Vietnam
16. American Revolution
17. US and Mexican War
18. Napoleonic Wars
19. The Hundred Years War 1337 - 1453
20. Cuban War of Independence 1895 - 98

Keep the suggestions coming and then we will vote in which order we will cover them with a book discussion.

And thank you Debby for taking a peek for us and also to Geevee for his additional suggestions.

Nice list. Let the voting begin! ;)

a few more unmentioned of interest..
Darfur War
Mexican Drug War (would this count?)
Wars of Alexander the Great
Hannibal
Peloponnesian War
Boxer Rebellion
American Indian Wars

Bryan wrote: "Oh, do you think there are military histories on the Russian Civil War?? This would be interesting."

If you decide to read about the Russin Civil War then I can recommend this book as a decent title to consider:

by W. Bruce Lincoln

Singleton wrote: "Nice list. Let the voting begin! ;)"

Yes Singleton, good list (smile)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Bryan wrote: "Oh, do you think there are military histories on the Russian Civil War?? This would be interesting."

If you decide to read about the Russin Civil War then I can recommend this boo..."

Thank you Aussie Rick - at least we have one.

Our list now looks like: (in no special order)

1. American Civil War
2. French and Indian War (Seven Year War)
3. The Crimean War
4. The Paraguayan War (War of the Triple Alliance)
5. The Boer War
6. The Six Day War (the Yom Kippur War)
7. Spanish American War
8. Philippine Insurrection (1898 - 1902)
9. The War of 1812
10. Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 05
11. Korean War
12. Role of Women in World War II
13. World War I
14. The Anglo-Dutch Wars
15. Vietnam
16. American Revolution
17. US and Mexican War
18. Napoleonic Wars
19. The Hundred Years War 1337 - 1453
20. Cuban War of Independence 1895 - 98
21. Darfur War
22. Russian Civil War
23. Peloponnesian War
24. American Indian War
25. Boxer Rebellion
26. Wars of Alexander the Great
27. Hannibal and the Punic Wars
28. Mexican Drug Wars

Keep the suggestions coming and then we will vote again with another batch of 20. Thanks

And thank you Tom, Aussie Rick and Singleton for your comments and suggestions.

The above ends the first batch. You can still add your nominations and suggestions for another round of voting in the future.

Thank you for those who have participated. Look for the poll and please vote.

Poll One Open:

Here is the link:

http://www.africa-eu.com/poll/show/58...

You can still add your nominations and suggestions for another round of voting in the future.

The Spanish Civil War or the 1st and 2nd Sino-Japanese Wars =)

Thank you for your add.

My nomination: WWII, the Eastern Front. My pet research project, of course.

Although it was the front that decided the outcome of WWII in Europe, it is often sidelined in the American media compared to the Western Front or the Pacific.

Great nomination which will be in the next selection round which may be for awhile until we get some further recommendations.

We have now voted on all of the nominations from post 1 through 45. We have not included yet posts 46 through 48. That will be in the next round of voting.