by Rick Bretz
1. Fortunate Son: The Healing of a Vietnam Vet
For autobiographies and a book that makes you empathize with and respect the author, this one is at the top of the list for me. This book earned the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 and it deserved it. He was the son of Marine General Lewis “Chesty” Puller, a hero to every Marine that ever served. His son followed in his footsteps and served with distinction as a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam. The Vietnam War handed Puller a challenge he fought his whole life when he lost both his legs, part of his arm, hand and part of his stomach. The chapter that tells the story of his father visiting him in the hospital is a gut wrenching read. The rest of his life story is riveting and he fights to come back. In a sad ending, three years after earning the Pulitzer Prize in 1992, Puller took his own life. The book is inspiring and an example of the fight that most wounded warriors go through when they come back from the fight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Burwell_Puller,_Jr.
2. John Adams
By David McCullough
McCullough has written several books that I have enjoyed throughout the years. He’s a pleasure to read and always tells me something new about the subject. He’s tackled subjects as diverse as Harry Truman and the Brooklyn Bridge. For Adams, McCullough gave us glimpse into the Adams personality and reminded us of how important this founding father was to American history who for a while was lost among the others stellar figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. I wasn’t expecting an interesting read but what I got was a page turner.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McCullough
3. TR: The Last Romantic
By H.W. Brands
This epic biography takes you from Teddy Roosevelt’s young days, through college, his heart aches, and his triumphs through to the end of his life. The book discusses his adventurous travels, his bombastic personality as well as his knack for being in the right place at the right time. Once he got his opportunities, he makes the most of them. The book also discusses his mistakes and his relationships with his sons and daughters. There are several books about this larger than life President but this is one that portrays the era and how a go-getter lives in it.
http://books.google.com/books/about/T_R.html?id=J7jMw0bwRy8C
4. Yeager, An Autobiography
By General Chuck Yeager and Leo Janus
A first-hand account of the pilot who was pilot that ushered in the supersonic age. Yeager is an interesting autobiography of a first pilot to break the sound barrier. However, it is much more than the story of that feat. It tells the story of his younger days and his World War II combat dog fights. He writes about his friends, family and his days as commander of several Air Force units and how he handled some delicate situations as commander and as a top-notch pilot.
http://www.amazon.com/Yeager-An-Autobiography-Chuck/dp/0553256742
5. Unbroken: The World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption
By Laura Hillenbrand
The story of Lt. Louis Zamperini who joined the war as an aviator bombardier and was part of crew that ended up in rubber raft trying to survive days and then weeks. Little does the reader know that this is only the beginning of a story that includes brutality at a POW camp and starvation for him and his crew mates. A few years earlier Zamperini was running in the Olympics and then the War. This is an all to real story of about what Prisoners of War have had to endure.
http://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-World-Survival-Resilience-Redemption/dp/1400064163
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Zamperini
6. A Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Today’s politicians could learn a few things concerning how President Lincoln handled his victories and as well as his defeats. Once he gained the Presidential Office, instead of isolating his rivals, Lincoln invited them into his inner circle. He did this because he was confident in himself and his abilities. He knew how to handle difficult personalities. He wanted the best minds available to weather the coming storm of the Civil War and its complications for the United States economy and standing among other nations. The Doris Kearns Goodwin book covers this subject expertly. After finishing the book, you will get a perceptive look into the genius that was President Lincoln.
http://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Political-Abraham-Lincoln/dp/0743270754
7. Great Rivals in History: When Politics Gets Personal
By Joseph Cummins
This is a read that explores why certain people throughout history hated each other. In fact, some of these people despised each other. They took it to a point where they ruined their countries and their lives. It analyzes the relationship among several of history’s colorful and despised personalities such as the rivalry between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Other rivalries include Charles XII of Sweden and Peter the Great of Russia. There are many with many reasons why each were against the other. It provides an analysis as to why leaders and generals clashed to form historical events.
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Rivals-History-Politics-Personal/dp/1607108658
8. What if? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been
Edited by Robert Cowley
This book poses fascinating questions has to what might have been. Would history have taken a left turn instead of right if certain meetings had occurred or if wrong decisions hadn’t been made by leaders and generals? For instance, would Germany have fared better in World War II if Hitler hadn’t invaded the Soviet Union? Would there have been a better way to handle Cuba and Fidel Castro? Some of these questions are pondered and answered. It’s a fascinating travel log through history and what might have been.
http://www.amazon.com/What-If-Foremost-Military-Historians/dp/0425176428
That is my list. There are several others books I like but for sheer enjoyment, these are my eight favorites. Do you have any to add to the list? Leave me a suggestion.
pastparallelpaths 