Book Reviews — Dennis D. McDonald's Web Site

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

All in History

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.

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.

Bernard Cornwell's AZINCOURT

Jul 23

Jul 23 Bernard Cornwell's AZINCOURT

Dennis D. McDonald

Fiction, History, War, Historical Fiction

Nick Hook is an archer in Henry V’s army. The events in this novel go from 1413 to 1415 and follow Hook as Henry’s army invades France to assert his claim to the French throne.

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.