Category Archives: history

Storm of Steel

Posted on February 8, 2010 by smellincoffee

Storm of Steel © 1921 Ernst Jünger 319 pages Storm of Steel is the oddest war memoir I have ever read. I’ve read a few of them in hopes of understanding various motivations for young men marching off to war, … Continue reading →

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The Gangs of New York

Posted on January 2, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Gangs of New York© 1927 Herbert Ashbury368 pages A few weeks ago I opted to read Herbert Ashbury’s Gangs of New York to see what his writing style might be like. I have a strong interest in city life … Continue reading →

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China Marine

Posted on December 29, 2009 by smellincoffee

China Marine: An Infantryman’s Life after World War 2© Eugene Sledge 2003192 pages Last week I read Eugene Sledge’s With the Old Breed, a memoir of his experiences in the Pacific War. The memoir ranks as one of the most … Continue reading →

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Black Edelweiss

Posted on December 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience By a Soldier of the Waffen-SS© 2002 Johann Voss206 pages As the last coach slid by, it cleared the view of another train, a goods train as it appeared, slowly passing by … Continue reading →

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With the Old Breed

Posted on December 18, 2009 by smellincoffee

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa© 1981 Eugene B. Sledge326 pages The recruiting sergeant asked me lots of questions and filled out numerous official papers. When he asked, “Any scars, birthmarks, or other unusual features?” I described an inch-long … Continue reading →

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The Zinn Reader

Posted on November 21, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Zinn Reader© 1997 Howard Zinn668 pages When I pulled this book from the shelf, I did so with the intention of checking it out and reading it over the Thanksgiving holiday. I did not anticipate the book monopolizing my … Continue reading →

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Constantinople: the Forgotten Empire

Posted on September 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

Constantinople: the Forgotten Empire © Isaac Asimov 1970 289 pages The history of the eastern Roman empire, ruled from Constantinople, has long been a weak point in my own historical literacy. When I spotted a book on its history by … Continue reading →

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The Sons of Caesar

Posted on September 9, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome’s First Dynasty© 2006 Philip Matyszak296 pages, 16 pages of plates. Most of my Roman reading has been set in the late Republic, although as a western student of history I have a working knowledge … Continue reading →

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A History of God

Posted on September 5, 2009 by smellincoffee

A History of God: the 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam © 1993 Karen Armstrong 460 pages I checked this out in early 2006 but quickly lost interest after encountering the Sumerian mythology that Armstrong introduces the book with. … Continue reading →

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The Japanese Experience

Posted on August 24, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Japanese Experience: A Short History of Japan © 1999 W. G. Beasley 299 pages, including glossary and index. I checked this book out in April 2007. I remember this well, because I tried reading it on April 22. It … Continue reading →

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