Oct 21

Oct 21 Peter W. Merlin's UNLIMITED HORIZONS: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE U-2

Aircraft, Cold War, Engineering, History, Management, Non Fiction

Did Kelly Johnson and the people at Lockheed, the CIA, and the U.S. Air Force realize they were developing a “platform” whose utility would extend over decades? Probably not. Aeronautical history of the time is littered with failed jets and engines designs. Survivors are few and the U-2 stands out.

Oct 15

Oct 15 Edward O. Wilson's THE MEANING OF HUMAN EXISTENCE

Dennis D. McDonald

Biology, Evolution, Non Fiction, Science, Exceptional

This is a profoundly entertaining and thought-provoking book.

Sep 17

Sep 17 Mary Roach’s “PACKING FOR MARS”

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Space Program

Somewhere in NASA and there must be an office plotting ways to replace human space explorers with machines. Reading this book explains why.

Aug 9

Aug 9 Mori Juzo's THE MIRACULOUS TORPEDO SQUADRON

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War, Japan

Translated by Nicholas Voge from the original Japanese, this memoir tells the story of one Japanese naval pilot from the time he earns his wings to his combat experience in China, Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Guadalcanal.

Jul 28

Jul 28 Curtis Peebles' PROBING THE SKY

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction

This book is pretty dry reading. There’s very little in the way of human interest or personal relationships on display here. That’s okay since, if you read between the lines, you can pretty much imagine the real world of terror and sweat Bridgeman, Crossfield, and the others had to deal with on a regular basis in order to “bring home the data” on the primitive data recorders of the day.

May 19

May 19 Nigel Walpole's “VOODOO WARRIORS: THE STORY OF THE MCDONNELL VOODOO FAST-JETS”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction, War

Apr 2

Apr 2 James Holland's “DAM BUSTERS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE INVENTORS AND AIRMEN WHO LED THE DEVASTATING RAID TO SMASH THE GERMAN DAMS IN 1943”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction, War, Physics

Yes, the raid contributed significantly to the Allies war effort. Hopefully, too, people today who only connect with war via video games will occasionally pick up and read a book like this.

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!

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.

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!

Jul 8

Jul 8 Andrew Karam’s RIG SHIP FOR ULTRA QUIET

Dennis D. McDonald

Cold War, Non Fiction, Submarines

Karam tells about the last voyage of the 28-year-old Thresher class PLUNGER submarine assigned to spy on a Northern Pacific Soviet naval base in the closing days of the Cold War.

May 27

May 27 Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace’s “CREATIVITY INC: OVERCOMING THE UNSEEN FORCES THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF TRUE INSPIRATION”

Dennis D. McDonald

Autobiography, Creativity, Management, Movies, Non Fiction, Exceptional

This “management of creativity” is a fascinating topic since it touches on so many things. In Catmull’s own case the journey started with personal interests in animation, Disney, and engineering.

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.

Mar 3

Mar 3 Alan de Queiroz' THE MONKEY's VOYAGE: HOW IMPROBABLE JOURNEYS SHAPED THE HISTORY OF LIFE

Dennis D. McDonald

Biology, Book Reviews, Non Fiction, Science

Ultimately science is about the data. Even the strongest “schools of thought” crumble at data’s doorstep.

Feb 17

Feb 17 Richard P. Feynman's “SURELY YOU MUST BE JOKING, MR. FEYNMAN!”

Dennis D. McDonald

Autobiography, Humor, Non Fiction, Science

For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.

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.

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

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

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.

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.