Book Reviews — www.ddmcd.com

Dennis D. McDonald (ddmcd@ddmcd.com) consults from Alexandria Virginia. His services include writing & research, proposal development, and project management.

All in History

Felipe Fernández-Armesto’s “OUR AMERICA: A HISPANIC HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES”

Mar 14

Mar 14 Felipe Fernández-Armesto’s “OUR AMERICA: A HISPANIC HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES”

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, War, Exploration, Adventure, Exceptional

I have to believe that the resulting “blended” view of where we came from will be a natural outgrowth of the increasing diversity of U.S. society. For some that will only happen when the current generation of white traditionalists dies off and is replaced. I hope we don’t have to wait that long. Books like this certainly help!

Hugh Harkins’ USAF JET POWERED FIGHTERS XP 59 – XF 85

Mar 8

Mar 8 Hugh Harkins’ USAF JET POWERED FIGHTERS XP 59 – XF 85

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, Cold War, Engineering, History, Non Fiction

Perhaps the best that we can say is that there was a lot of experimentation but the means of organizing and controlling technology did not advance as rapidly as the technologies themselves.

David McCullough’s THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS

Dec 8

Dec 8 David McCullough’s THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS

Dennis D. McDonald

Engineering, History, Non Fiction

As I’ve always enjoyed detailed stories about challenging engineering and construction projects (atomic bomb, hydroge bomb, skyscrapers, the Brooklyn Bridge, etc.) this book fit my interests like a glove. I just wish we could send McCullough back in time to tell us how the Pyramids were really built!

Robert Harris’ “IMPERIUM”

Aug 25

Aug 25 Robert Harris’ “IMPERIUM”

Dennis D. McDonald

Ancient Rome, Antiquity, Fiction, History, Law, Politics, Robert Harris, Historical Fiction

What’s amazing about this novel is that so much is based on fact.

Tim Wu’s MASTER SWITCH: THE RISE AND FALL OF INFORMATION EMPIRES

May 5

May 5 Tim Wu’s MASTER SWITCH: THE RISE AND FALL OF INFORMATION EMPIRES

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Politics, Exceptional

The lessons of history (telephone, telegraph, FM radio, networks, cable TV, etc.) and how companies with the complicity of government try to shut off competition are incredibly important given current battles to save net neutrality.

Boris Chertok's “ROCKETS AND PEOPLE VOLUME 3: HOT DAYS OF THE COLD WAR”

Feb 25

Feb 25 Boris Chertok's “ROCKETS AND PEOPLE VOLUME 3: HOT DAYS OF THE COLD WAR”

Dennis D. McDonald

Cold War, History, Politics, Science, Space Program

I can’t help but wonder when reading about these exciting times what it might have been like had the U.S. and Soviet Union cooperated in space exploration earlier on. Would the combined resources have resulted in greater joint accomplishments like a moon base or a landing on Mars? Or was the competition and secrecy effective in pushing both sides ahead?

Shelby Foote’s “THE CIVIL WAR, A NARRATIVE: FORT SUMTER TO PERRYVILLE”

Jan 15

Jan 15 Shelby Foote’s “THE CIVIL WAR, A NARRATIVE: FORT SUMTER TO PERRYVILLE”

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, War, US Civil War, Lincoln

This book is the perfect antidote for anyone who seriously believes that politics back then was any different from today. Lincoln faced incredible dissension and disagreement within his own party and his own cabinet. This makes Gates’ recent revelations about his relationship with the Obama Administration pale by comparison.

Garry Wills' “LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG: THE WORDS THAT REMADE AMERICA”

Jan 4

Jan 4 Garry Wills' “LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG: THE WORDS THAT REMADE AMERICA”

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, US Civil War, Lincoln

I’m especially fond of history books that not only explain events but help the reader understand the people involved and how they and events were impacted by history, culture, personal relationships, and where appropriate, by technology

Sarah Vowell's ASSASSINATION VACATION

Nov 18

Nov 18 Sarah Vowell's ASSASSINATION VACATION

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Humor, Politics

Sarah Vowell’s ASSASSINATION VACATION is an unusual book.

Jim Baggott: “THE FIRST WAR OF PHYSICS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC BOMB, 1939-1949”

Oct 20

Oct 20 Jim Baggott: “THE FIRST WAR OF PHYSICS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC BOMB, 1939-1949”

Dennis D. McDonald

Engineering, History, Science, War, Physics, Nuclear

I’ve always been fascinated by “big science” projects and how they were managed. Often there’s a confluence of private and public sector, academia, and military; the nuclear arms race as presented here is certainly not an exception.

Robert F. Dorr's MISSION TO TOKYO: The American Airmen Who Took the War to the Heart of Japan

Oct 6

Oct 6 Robert F. Dorr's MISSION TO TOKYO: The American Airmen Who Took the War to the Heart of Japan

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

This book describes what it was like to bomb Japanese cities via B-29 raids conducted by the U.S. during 1944 and 1945. Most of the action is from the American perspective and takes place on the air-base islands off Japan from which most raids were launched (chiefly Tinian and Saipan), in the air while over water, or over Japan itself

Eugene Fluckey's THUNDER BELOW

Oct 4

Oct 4 Eugene Fluckey's THUNDER BELOW

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, Submarines, War

I read a lot of history books where you get caught up in the sweep of big ideas, big movements, and larger-than-life historical figures. In THUNDER BELOW we have a captain, his crew, and the ship, doing their job while trying to stay alive. It’s a keeper.

Melvyn Bragg's THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH

Oct 1

Oct 1 Melvyn Bragg's THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Language, Exceptional

If you’re interested in history and how languages evolve, this book is for you. Bragg treats English like an evolving organism that absorbs and transforms itself as it grows.

Craig Nelson's ROCKET MEN: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon

Sep 16

Sep 16 Craig Nelson's ROCKET MEN: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science, Space Program

Having always been a fan of aerospace history this book is one of the first I’ve read that actually attempts to answer in some depth the question, “What was it like to be part of the Apollo program?” We hear from the different participants from astronaut on down. It’s highly educational and even surprising in parts.

C.S. Forester's THE SHIP

Aug 6

Aug 6 C.S. Forester's THE SHIP

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, History, War

Forester’s message is pretty transparent, though: high class are low, educated or not, smalltown or urban, young or old — all have parts to play in the well oiled war machine that cares less about class than about performance.

Stephen Budiansky's “BLACKETT'S WAR: THE MEN WHO DEFEATED THE NAZI U-BOATS AND BROUGHT SCIENCE TO THE ART OF WARFARE”

Jul 17

Jul 17 Stephen Budiansky's “BLACKETT'S WAR: THE MEN WHO DEFEATED THE NAZI U-BOATS AND BROUGHT SCIENCE TO THE ART OF WARFARE”

Dennis D. McDonald

Biography, Engineering, History, Non Fiction, Science, Submarines, War, Physics

Blackett’s War is an uneven but very interesting account of how basic science and engineering techniques, now called “operations research” or “operational research,” were applied to solving military problems during World War II.

Evan Thomas' IKE'S BLUFF: PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S SECRET BATTLE TO SAVE THE WORLD

Feb 22

Feb 22 Evan Thomas' IKE'S BLUFF: PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S SECRET BATTLE TO SAVE THE WORLD

Dennis D. McDonald

Biography, History, Non Fiction, Nuclear

Thomas’ thesis is that Ike kept the world from sliding inexorably into a civilization-ending World War III through deft avoidance of direct conflicts with China and Russia.

Junot Díaz' THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

Jan 26

Jan 26 Junot Díaz' THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, History, Politics

My main impression: everyone has a story and a family history. We should take the time to listen and learn about the people we meet, especially when they come from somewhere else. Until we do that our judgments about them are incomplete.

Christopher Kemp’s FLOATING GOLD: A NATURAL (AND UNNATURAL) HISTORY OF AMBERGRIS

Jan 14

Jan 14 Christopher Kemp’s FLOATING GOLD: A NATURAL (AND UNNATURAL) HISTORY OF AMBERGRIS

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science

It’s an oddly touching book. The author bounces around modern day buyers and sellers, lone wolf secretive ambergris “prospectors,” whaling museums, and frequent trips to walk along the beach after high tide. It seems disjointed but is worth a reading if the unusual interests you.

Drew Gilpin Faust's “THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING: DEATH AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR”

May 29

May 29 Drew Gilpin Faust's “THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING: DEATH AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR”

Dennis D. McDonald

Book Reviews, History, Non Fiction, War, Medicine, US Civil War

This book addresses all aspects of death from the vantage point of the U.S. War Between the States, a massive orgy of carnage that took place on U.S. soil between 1861 and 1865.