Book Reviews — www.ddmcd.com

Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.

All in Non Fiction

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.

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.

Dennis R. Jenkins' X-15: EXTENDING THE FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT

Aug 11

Aug 11 Dennis R. Jenkins' X-15: EXTENDING THE FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, Non Fiction

You have to be interested in engineering and technology to appreciate this book and its detail. So many aircraft books emphasize operational or military applications while skimping on the details that allow an appreciation of the huge number of challenges involved in aircraft development. This one really delivers the goods.

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.

Donald Mallick's “THE SMELL OF KEROSENE; A TEST PILOT'S ODYSSEY”

Jul 1

Jul 1 Donald Mallick's “THE SMELL OF KEROSENE; A TEST PILOT'S ODYSSEY”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, Biography, Non Fiction

Mallick’s book is a tour of post-WWII 20th-century US aviation like none other I’ve ever read. Here’s a pilot who has flown Cessnas, early jets, helicopters, the doomed XB-70, lifting bodies, lunar landing training platforms, the B-52, and the YF12 Blackbird, all on behalf of NASA or its predecessor NACA.

Richard H. Graham's “FLYING THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD; in the cockpit on a secret operational mission”

Jun 5

Jun 5 Richard H. Graham's “FLYING THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD; in the cockpit on a secret operational mission”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, Non Fiction

This book is a nuts and bolts — and almost minute to minute — description of what an SR 71 Blackbird pilot did before, during, and after secret intelligence gathering flights.

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.

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.

Tiffany Shlain's BRAINPOWER: FROM NEURONS TO NETWORKS

Dec 27

Dec 27 Tiffany Shlain's BRAINPOWER: FROM NEURONS TO NETWORKS

Dennis D. McDonald

Book Reviews, Non Fiction, Science

I’ve been interested in reading about the human brain ever since a family member had successful brain surgery. Given that my consulting frequently touches on Internet related issues, combining brain- and Internet-related topics in a single book seemed like a “no-brainer” to appeal to my interests.

Oliver Sacks' HALLUCINATIONS

Dec 18

Dec 18 Oliver Sacks' HALLUCINATIONS

Dennis D. McDonald

Non Fiction, Science

The Audible download of this book became a slog after a while. I kept with it since it is very educational.

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.

David E. Hoffman's THE DEAD HAND: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLD WAR ARMS RACE AND ITS DANGEROUS LEGACY

Apr 11

Apr 11 David E. Hoffman's THE DEAD HAND: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLD WAR ARMS RACE AND ITS DANGEROUS LEGACY

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Politics, War, Cold War, Nuclear

In the mood to read something scary? This book will make your hair stand on end.

Barrett Tillman's “WHIRLWIND: THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1942-1945”

Jan 28

Jan 28 Barrett Tillman's “WHIRLWIND: THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1942-1945”

Dennis D. McDonald

Aircraft, History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

The author provides a very good overview of the role of aircraft in bludgeoning Japan into submission. While never minimizing the role of seapower in strangling Japan’s WWII economy, Stillman documents Allied land and sea originated aair war efforts, the centerpiece being the role of the Boeing B-29.

Max Hastings' RETRIBUTION: THE BATTLE FOR JAPAN, 1944-45

Jan 15

Jan 15 Max Hastings' RETRIBUTION: THE BATTLE FOR JAPAN, 1944-45

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Pacific War, War

Hastings tells the story of the final year of the Pacific War from multiple perspectives, much of which will be new to people whose awareness of Chinese, British, and Russian action against the Japanese is low.

Richard Holmes' THE AGE OF WONDER: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science

Dec 13

Dec 13 Richard Holmes' THE AGE OF WONDER: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science

Dennis D. McDonald

Astronomy, Biography, Biology, History, Non Fiction, Science

This book covers the development of British science from the time of Cook’s famous voyage (which stopped at Tahiti) up to Darwin’s Beagle voyage. It concentrates on a few key luminaries (the Herschels, Davy, Mungo Park, Farady, Banks) and at the same time explores the relationship, sometimes synergistic, between art and science.

Len Fisher's WEIGHING THE SOUL: THE EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC BELIEFS

Aug 23

Aug 23 Len Fisher's WEIGHING THE SOUL: THE EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC BELIEFS

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Science

The theme of this book is that scientists do sometimes believe things that seem opposed to reality or common sense.

Conor Cruise O’Brien's FIRST IN PEACE: HOW GEORGE WASHINGTON SET THE COURSE FOR AMERICA

Jun 25

Jun 25 Conor Cruise O’Brien's FIRST IN PEACE: HOW GEORGE WASHINGTON SET THE COURSE FOR AMERICA

Dennis D. McDonald

Biography, History, Non Fiction, Politics

This little book is organized around George Washington’s first and second terms as U.S. President. The first chapter concentrates on the relationship between Washington and his Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. The second focuses on the visit to the U.S. by Edmond-Charles Genêt, also known as “Citizen Genêt,” whose job it was to secure support from the American people for the French Revolution.

Guy Delisle's SHENZHEN

Jun 11

Jun 11 Guy Delisle's SHENZHEN

Dennis D. McDonald

Autobiography, Graphic Novel, Non Fiction, Delisle

Have you ever worked by yourself for an extended period of time in a foreign country? If so, you’ll recognize a lot of what author Delisle writes about in Shenzhen.

Herman Wouk's THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS

Jun 5

Jun 5 Herman Wouk's THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS

Dennis D. McDonald

Autobiography, History, Non Fiction, Philosophy, Religion, Science

At first I thought this book was both meandering and annoying. It wasn’t till page 69 (out of only 183) that I finally figured out what it’s about.

Andrew Williams' THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

Jun 1

Jun 1 Andrew Williams' THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

Dennis D. McDonald

History, Non Fiction, Submarines, War

This war history book about the U-boat war in the Atlantic during World War II has one of the best balances of strategy, tactics, and firsthand experience that I’ve read.