books on modern warfare

[PrimordialBeast]

I'm really interested in finding a book about what's going on with the war in the Middle East, something that digs deep and isn't just a glaze over of what we've only seen through tv media. Also any books about wars going on around the world. I've recently become interested with what is going on in southern Russia and the civil wars going on in Africa.

Anything you think would suit these interests would help, I really just don't know where to start

[_Shannon_]

Gotta read Generation Kill....it's one of the best books I've ever read...and have read a serious mass of war literature. It's like Dispatches, but for the Second Gulf War.

I haven't read it yet, but sitting on my shelf is The Unforgiving Minute by Craig Mullaney, which looks to be interesting.

Oh I just thought , too, you might want to check out the book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. Not Kidder's best--but I found it fascinating and compelling. It's about disease rather than war...but thought I'd put it out there in case it looked interesting to you.

[PrimordialBeast]

Thanks, I'll start looking into 'em. I actually watched the mini-series Generation Kill when it was on HBO about two years ago, it wasn't too bad, but I'm sure the book is more insightful.

[_Shannon_]

I liked the miniseries-but even having watched it twice, I still found it confusing and frenetic. THe book makes things much clearer. My only gripe is that it could have used a few really good maps.

I am thinking about conflicts in the rest of the world. If I think of any titles I'll add them.

I have a friend who works for the UN in Palestine and she recommended the Omar Yussef mysteries (The Collaborator of Bethlehem in particular) as the best background she's read regarding the conflict there. It's fiction, but I still useful. I was glad to have read it. The author lived in the area, wrote as a journalist, and published a non-fiction book about the conflict.

(sorry for any spelling/typing weirdnesses--my baby has been in my arms kicking my arms while trying to wrote :) )

[Virgil]

I'm really interested in finding a book about what's going on with the war in the Middle East, something that digs deep and isn't just a glaze over of what we've only seen through tv media. Also any books about wars going on around the world. I've recently become interested with what is going on in southern Russia and the civil wars going on in Africa.

Anything you think would suit these interests would help, I really just don't know where to start
I can interpret that in several ways. Are you looking for personal war experiences, novels, the complex politics of the various players, or the technical strategies and weaponery of this particular war?

[PrimordialBeast]

I can interpret that in several ways. Are you looking for personal war experiences, novels, the complex politics of the various players, or the technical strategies and weaponery of this particular war?

more of the personal experiences and the complex politics etc. I want to know the hypocrisy that comes with war and campaigns. I like to hear from all sides, the leaders, the fighters, the civilians and everything in between, the things the masses aren't so aware of.... if this helps at all?