Reviews (1)

GPS for Mariners
This was a most disappointing book. It was not at all helpful and basically a waste of money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artificial satellites in navig    2. Artificial satellites in navigation    3. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    4. Global Positioning System    5. Military Science    6. Navigation    7. Satellite Communication Technology    8. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    9. Technology    10. Transportation    11. Boating    12. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (8)

A must for anyone interested in small arms
This book is a wealth of knowledge, from telling you what happens when various object are shoved down your rifle's barrel to breaking down the serial numbers and receiver composition of 1903 rifles. This book contains almost every bit of weird or not readily available information a firearms enthusiast or gunsmith could want and makes a great addition to any referance material.

Written by a lover of firearms, for the lover of firearms
This is one of the finest books about military firearms ever written. Julian Hatcher wrote this book in 1947, and it touches on virtually every aspect of firearms then current. The author's writing style is precise and clear without being dry. The operation of all military small arms and machine guns are given in great detail, as well as Hatcher's observations about recoil, gun powder, metallurgy, ballistics, and much more. I don't think I have ever learned more about firearms from any other single volume. It is an incredible history lesson for the firearms enthusiast written by a man that watched it all happen first hand. Read this book to truly appreciate the incredible engineering feat that the machine gun represents. A Firearms Classic
This book is an absolute must-have.Hatcher gives you the real, down to earth, practical information that just plain is not available anywhere else.Yes, lesser minds will complain that there are some errors in the ballistics tables and such, but they miss the point--here is an exceedingly fertile mind, investigating all aspects of riflecraft: how they are made, how they function, and how they shoot.One of a kind, any one interested in firearms will, sooner or later, read and own Hatcher's Notebook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Military Science    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (15)

In defense of John Craven
I agree with most other reviewers that this is the most comprehensive unclassified discussion of the SCORPION sinking.But it is not a balanced analysis.
Remembering a “Silent Warrior” and her heroic crew….“Sailors Rest Your Oars”
Not one to normally review books, I felt compelled to review Silent Steel today, the 38th anniversary of the USS Scorpion’s demise. It was 38 years ago, families and friends had watched her depart from Norfolk’s pier 22 on February 15th, and I later, in March, watched from the pier at Rota, Spain as the USS Scorpion left on her way to her deployment in the Mediterranean. After the Scorpion had retrieved her last mooring line, and had backed away from the pier, I remember listening to the muted voices of the Maneuvering Watch coming from inside the tall slender fairwater, but little did I know that 3 months later I would hear of the loss of the ninety-nine men, the Navy’s finest, along with the loss of their boat. It was beneath a cover of darkness, at Rota that this “Silent Warrior” began making her way, gliding effortlessly toward the opening in breakwater, ultimately leaving the safety of the harbor. With the vivid memory of Scorpion and her crew members along side of the Rota pier, where I was stationed onboard a Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine moored next to the submarine tender USS Canopus, it was hard to believe what had happened to this impressive submarine, and her heroic crew.
A must read for any brother of the Dolphin
In July 2003, I'm president of the USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601) Association and was contacted by Stephen Johnson, the author of this book about a possible connection to the loss of the USS SCORPION (SSN-589) and an event that occurred on the Lee, involving a MK-37 torpedo.I won't ruin the suspense, because this book is a "page turner" that you won't be able to put down.It's a gripping & true story about 99 men who died and no one knows why.Mr. Johnson does a marvelous job illuminating several theories behind her loss.But, I was most moved by how he told the story of the men who perished.They aren't just nameless faces.Mr. Johnson brings them to life, using letters sent home.Just one example, his recanting the Torpedo Room Polka party when 20 women were brought on board helps us remember our own shipmate, Frank Mazzuchi(RE Lee Commissioning Gold Crew from 1960-62).Frank is brought to life over several pages. Any one who earned Dolphins will experience a range of emotions - from chuckling, anger and even shedding a silent tear.A must read for any brother of the Dolphin. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Military - Naval    6. Military - United States    7. Military Science    8. Nuclear submarines    9. Safety measures    10. Scorpion (Submarine)    11. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks    12. Technology & Industrial Arts    13. United States    14. History / General   

Subjects:  1. Computer networks    2. Electronics in military engine    3. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    4. Information warfare    5. Military Engineering    6. Military Science    7. Military telecommunication    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Security measures    10. Technology    11. Technology & Industrial Arts    12. Telecommunication (Engineering)    13. Telecommunications    14. Communications engineering / telecommunications    15. Weapons & equipment   

Reviews (50)

STUPID PEOPLE
CONGO THIS CONGO THAT, BOLIVIA THIS BOLIVIA THAT.
VIB: Very Important Book
WARNING!
Bad book from a mad communist
Here in Brazil, about ten years ago, I tried to read this bad book, but I never finished it.I tried to read, one book printed in Argentina, wrote in spanish.This book is bad about even guerrilla warfare.
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Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies - General    2. Case studies    3. Guerrilla Warfare    4. History - Military / War    5. Latin America    6. Military    7. Military - General    8. Military Science    9. Technology    10. Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare   

Reviews (15)

Both comprehensive and demystifying
With many books out there claiming to prepare you for the Special Operations, it is difficult to find one that isn't merely a little workout routine to get in moderate shape.This book actually prepares your body for the hardships you will encounter while going through specialized training.The book includes rigorous routines whichhelp with the physical conditioning and information to help prepare you for the mental strain you will endure.The only thing this book doesn't do is run for you.

Carpe Diem!
Mike Mejia and Stew Smith put together a comprehensive book detailing what it takes to be apart of the Special Forces community.Together, their knowledge, know-how, and grit lay the foundation for what it takes, physically and mentally, to screen for the Navy Seals, Army Special Forces and Air Force Special Forces.The exercises and workouts contained there within give the reader a glimpse of what tools and abilities are needed to suceed and become a part of our Special Forces.
A Must have for the Serious Minded...
I am a prior service operator for the US Army.This is a must have book for the Serious minded individual who has the drive to enter this field.The book offers workouts for the various aspects of Special Operations.Not all are the same, and the workouts follow the critical areas.Thats Not Good Enough for YOU?Then design your own, utilizing your areas of interest.The Book can also be used for Public Health and Safety personal, for optimal performance in the civilan sector. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Exercise    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Military Science    6. Physical fitness    7. Training    8. U.S. Special Operations Comman    9. Exercise & workout books    10. Health & Fitness / Exercise   

Reviews (15)

Read it!
This is NOT a book for the military leaders - their eyes will glaze over.This is a book for everyone NOT in the military so you can think about what is meant by "war."Is what's going on in Lebanon right now "war?" Ask the next three people you meet.It's a history, of sorts, of "war" but it's really about how violence has evolved (devolved?) from relatively chivalrous to brutally awful to chivalrous and then - with Clausewitz's pronouncements - to "total" and "no quarter."Until we get to where we are today."War," we learn used to be a lot like it is now.Then it became Clausewitz's trinity of Government, Governed and Armed Force.Governments waged war - including "total" war as in the world wars - for the people through the armed forces.But now we're back to the idea of "small" and local and esoteric - at least some are.Clausewitz said it was a terrible mistake to temper warmaking with "rules" or "laws" other than what was expedient on the battlefield and his views became doctrine.Whole cities were burned and converted to dusty rubble.But there was a point - it was "good" against "evil."Worldwide.Now, though, we see "terrorists" waging "war" and we respond with a "war on terror."But the "terrorists" are not a nation - they cannot be fought as other wars were fought and they can't be defeated as other armed forces were defeated.They are applying the "new" rules of warfare while we and Israel and Great Britain and France and Germany continue to apply the Clausewitzian principles.That's why this book is not for the military reader - the military reader is steeped in his traditions and controlled by the government on how, when and where he will fight.This book is for the rest of us - how do we want to conduct our violent confrontations with other people in the world?Do we do as Clausewitz preached and use overwhelming force with no quarter given?Or do we do something else.Since it appears the overwhelming force idea may not be working all that well anymore, it's worth considering something else.
Recommended Reading
I highly recommend this book be on the US Army's Chief of Staff reading list for officers (if it has not already been done).This is one of those rare books whose message is not only important, but presented in a format that is easily understood.Creveld's message does help put wars like Iraq into proper context.
Not that great
read this book with very high expectations based on the reviews. There is a lot in it. Some of it is right, some is not (e.g. the workings of the Roman Army are oversimplified). My major gripe is that it equates the modern state to a war making organization: when classic armies disappear, the state disappears too. The modern state probably was born as the most effective warmaking organization of his time but others could argue that it was born as the most efficient task collecting organization of his time. In any case today it does a lot more than putting armies in the field and collecting taxes.Plus it has infinite resources compared to a small group of, say, terrorists. A state that is well led and aware of the dangers of low-intensity conflicts can survive by
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Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. General    4. History    5. History: American    6. Military - General    7. Military Science    8. Military Science (General)    9. Military art and science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. War    12. War And Peace    13. History / General    14. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (12)

800 Pound Gorilla, does Guerilla
Mao Tse-Tung: revolutionary, visionary, God-Emperor of Dune, damned fine singing voice. In all honesty, I kow-tow before Mao, certainly a genius of military and political strategy and tactics who ranks up there with Napoleon: sure he cracked a few eggs in making his hyper-power omelette, but look what he had to work with! Look what he did! Look how he turned a withered, senescent, chopped-up concession-ridden fiasco into a bristling, somewhat scary little monster that managed to hold off the two duelling superpowers of the Age!
An Eastern perspective sees clearly with balance
Griffith has translated two of mankind's most important works on warfare without losing too much of the original intent.These two works are: Sun Tzu's Art of War and Mao's words on guerrilla warfare.Throw away everything else and absorb: On Guerrilla Warfare (and The Art of War)--both, per Griffith II, and you will be occupied for the rest of your life with an opportunity for great study. I can hear it already, the Western Scholars in all their whimpy arrogance po-poing such narrow advice.Ahhh, Just Maybe from an in-depth immersion into On Guerrilla Warfare (and The Art of War) you might gain the kind of enlightenment that eludes the logical, biased and fragmented Western mind.Tenacity is the one human attribute that cannot be faked.American's possess little; the Asians own it, lock, stock, and barrel.Learn why with this book (and The Art of War) by Griffith II.

On the many facets of guerrilla activity
"On Guerrilla Warfare," by Mao Tse-Tung, has been translated into English by Samuel B. Griffith II.Griffith also provides a substantial introduction to the text.The book is written in the context of China's guerrilla war against Japanese occupiers; this conflict is mentioned often by Mao.In this book Mao discusses the differences between guerrilla and "orthodox" military forces, as well as how such forces can work together for a common goal.Other topics covered include propaganda and political concerns, the formation of guerrilla units, the qualities of a good guerrilla officer, discipline in a guerrilla army, and guerrilla bases.
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Subjects:  1. Guerrilla Warfare    2. History - Military / War    3. Military - General    4. Military Science    5. Technology    6. Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare   

Reviews (26)

A General's General.
This has to be one of those always-at-hand reference books that modern day military leaders pick up and consult. Not so much for the academic and technical resource because it of course, is a bit dated in that regard, but simply to understand and hopefully learn what leadership in it's ultimate pure form really is. Patton had it. It goes without saying that World War II would have been finished much different if it was not for his style and drive. Certainly the most quotable allied general of the war. Todays business leaders and managers (myself included) read books like "War as I knew it" and come away with a renewed confidence in the human potential. Patton pulled every ounce of self worth out of his men to achieve the final victory. It was his standing order. This book discusses in detail how he did that and why. All explained very clearly. His style was unorthodox, his demeanor sometimes in question, his spirituality vivid and some battlefield decisionsnearly cost him his career. "War as I knew it" will read at times like a dull teacher giving a lecture. Stick with it and breath it in. This is full-on George Patton. It all still works in the 21st century.

Patton - I imagine
This book is an excellent account of General Patton's battles in WWII. In his own words he describes some moments of the campaigns in the European Thater of Operations including North Africa. But this book is not only account of the battles, but it also contains events telling us stories about Patton's personal experineces and showing us that a war is not just battles, but also many other things.
see the war
You can actually envision the war as you read it. Described to the T. Makes you feel you are there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (George Smith),    2. 1885-1945    3. Africa, North    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Campaigns    6. History    7. History - Military / War    8. Military    9. Military - United States    10. Military History - World War II    11. Military Personal Narratives    12. Patton, George S    13. Personal narratives, American    14. Western Front    15. World War, 1939-1945    16. Biography: historical    17. Defence strategy, planning & research    18. Europe    19. History / Military / United States    20. Second World War, 1939-1945    21. USA   

Reviews (25)

Difficult subject made accessible
Without going into a long review like some of the others already submitted, this book took a very difficult subject (4G warfare), provided a brief history of warfare, and was able to show the evolution of warfare into the "4th generation".
Intriguing and eye-opening look at the future of warfare
_The Sling and the Stone_ by Colonel Thomas X. Hammes is an intriguing and eye-opening look at the future of warfare. After having spent time studying the history and practice of insurgency, Hammes concluded that we are in what he called Fourth-generation warfare (4GW) and that it is vital that policy makers understand how such warfare is waged if they hope to prevail against today's enemies.
Required Reading for Soldiers and Civilians
Col. Hammes has taken the original thesis of "we make war the way we make money" presented by the Toffler's in "War and Anti-War" and fleshed it out with real examples. He provides a useful background of he various "generations" of war or the evolutions that war has made as economy and cultures have changed, moves on to a description of Fourth Generation warfare (4GW) and then provides detailed examples including present date. It's important to understand that although this book is about 4GW or insurgency warfare, it is also about the direction warfare is taking. The United States must be ready for conflicts that span the spectrum from 2GW to what will become 5GW. 4GW is like any insurgency...it requires lots of human skill, good communications, and interagency support...and something that Americans are not known for....patience. If you are a soldier interested in insurgency and how it is evolving this is a MUST READ book. If you are a civilian you'd better read this book if you want to understand how the world is unfolding around you. This book gets Mike Barr's 6 Star Rating. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Guerrilla Warfare    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Military    5. Military - Strategy    6. Military Science    7. Military Tactics And Strategy    8. 21st century    9. History / Military / Strategy    10. Military tactics   

Reviews (2)

for readers outside EW field
EW101 is a compilation of articles published in the Journal of Electronic Defence, over several years. The level of treatment is semiquantitative. The basic methods in areas like jamming, decoys and simulations are expounded. Readers with an undergraduate background in engineering or science should be able to follow the text. People already in the Electronic Warfare field will find the discussion pretty elementary. But Adamy is writing for those outside the field.
Excellent and very useful!
This book is an excellent reference for those profesionals or specialists who are involved in the Electronic Warfare (EW) world. It's also useful for those who want to learn more about this interesting, complex and important subject. As it can be demonstrated thru the history of the EW, it has played an important role in the military actions related with the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (communications, radar, Infrared, laser and more). I strongly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. Electronic Warfare    4. Electronics in military engine    5. Electronics in military engineering    6. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    7. Information Storage & Retrieval    8. Military Science    9. Radar    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Electronics & Communications Engineering    12. Military engineering   

Reviews (4)

An intelligent, rational discussion of terrorism/counterterrorism
Only a twisted prankster or a deluded madperson would publish a book on how to build a nuclear weapon. The author of this book however does not fit any of these two categories, and despite the title of this book, he has written a book that covers the issues and horrifying prospects behind chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. The title therefore is somewhat misleading, and one should not expect to find detailed explanations on how to construct a nuclear bomb. Even a terrorist group who was interested or had the knowledge on how to do this would not share this knowledge, preferring instead to keep it to itself.
Meager
The book had some erroneous figures causing me to scrutinize the entirety of the information it contained.On top of this I felt it was poorly written with no closing to wrap up, typos, and instead of using a single form of currency when describing worth, Barnaby used several (e.g. Australian, the Euro, USD, Pounds, etc.) and I didn't like consulting a currency converter to make the numbers mean something to me.Overall, it was an informative but scatterbrained and, in my opinion, a useless book he wrote over the weekend to get some extra cash.
Short but informative
A reference book which does not delve into the exhausting details of the WMD technology but presents in a clear and easy to read text all the essential information. Of course the title is somehow misleading, as the book is not a manual for nuclear bomb producers. The strong point of the book is that it is not necessary for someone to have a PhD in Physics, Bilogy or Chemistry in order to understand the working principles of WMD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chemical And Biological Warfare    2. Military Science    3. Nuclear Physics    4. Nuclear Weapons    5. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    6. Prevention    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technology    10. Terrorism    11. Weapons of mass destruction   

Editorial Review

In this fast-paced memoir, Ken Alibek combines cutting-edge science with the narrative techniques of a thriller to describe some of the most awful weapons imaginable. The result will remind readers of Read more

Reviews (79)

I love this book!
This is one of my top 3 favorite books.It is so addicting you cannot put it down!Most of the statments in this book have do evidence to back them up contrary to what another reveiwer said.I learned a lot from this excellent book!

Dark side of microbiology
This book covers the production and development of bioweapons in the Soviet Union. Reading the book is an unique chance to have a peek in the paranoid bureocratic society, in which production of mass murder technologies becomes a norm. In a way, the book is another example how ideological (in this case state sponsored) propaganda can subvert humans to do incredible, inhuman actions.
Buenisimo libro.
Muy interesante conocer la manera en que se producian las armas biologicas de la ex union sovietica. Saber como se producian anualmente toneladas de microorganismos letales o incapacitantes como prevision a una guerra con el occidente es realmente de ponerle a uno los pelos de punta. Tambien hay que tomar nota del burocratismo y la politica envuelta en la produccion y obviamente en la toma de decisiones. En lo personal estoy convencido de que es una irresponsabilidad del tama�o del mundo producir un arma biologica sin tener a la mano o en desarrollo algun ant�doto para la misma o al menos un tratamiento para la enfermedad y creo que tomando en cuenta todo el arsenal y el conocimiento de estas armas que ha quedado disperso en manos de quien sabe quien, solo aumenta el numero de nuestras pesadillas.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. History: World    4. Military - Biological & Chemical Warfare    5. Military Science    6. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    7. History / Military / Biological & Chemical Warfare   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. General    3. History: American    4. Military - General    5. American history    6. History / Military / General    7. Palmer, John McAuley    8. USA   

Reviews (2)

The true "feminist agenda"
Cynthia Enloe is the author most quoted by opponants of women in the armed forces, because she presents the real Feminist viewpoint, which is staunchly anti-war and ambivelant toward the military.Enloe's arguments, supported by N.O.W., are coopted by "anti-feminist" foes of servicewomen as proof of their own contention that women have no place in the military.Paradoxically, after quoting Enloe, those same crusaders then lambast a so-called "feminist lobby" for promoting gender integration in combat operations.No doubt they confuse Feminism with some "politically-correct" positions of Congressional military panels, which are, ironically, often ignored or opposed by N.O.W.But Enloe's books go much further than simply stating Feminism's pacifist ideals.In "Maneuvers", she accuses the military of deliberate victimization of women worldwide.She makes a number of good points concerning the cruelties of war toward civilian women, but her antimilitary bias shows and is sometimes rather venomous.She gives no thought whatsoever to the conditions which make warfare an unpleasant reality and the armed forces a necessity.Nor has she any real concern for American military women or their reasons for wanting to serve. By relating selected incidents of harassment or violence against servicewomen, she presents a negative and mostly false impression of the American military's widespread and willful victimization of its female members.Read "Maneuvers" for the Feminist counter of Brian Mitchell's "Flirting With Disaster", but don't expect balance in the views of either author.

Important feminist study on militarisation
Cynthia Enloe adds to her series of writings looking at the effects of militarisation on women's lives - from the laundresses, camp followers, comfort women and sex workers to feminist military personnel and those who fight the home front.Read more

Subjects:  1. Gender Studies    2. Military    3. Military Science    4. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Women and the military    8. Women and war    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Women's Studies - History    11. History / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies)    12. Nationalism    13. Warfare & Defence    14. Women's studies   

Reviews (7)

Gold Standard
This book is the gold standard if you want to know about insurgency/counterinsurgency.There are a lot of books out there about insurgencies & how to combat them.If you are building a library on the subject, this should be one of the first books you get.

Thought Provoking Read
Galula had wide exerience in the French miseries in Indochina and Algeria as well as being captured in China. He was able to generalize from that experience. This book is an inciteful overview of a complex subject. His generalizations fit the world's experience of the forty years since this book was published. It is just as valid today as it was in 1963.

40 Years Old and Still the Best
First published in 1964, this is still the best book on the subject.Not as well known as it's more famous companion: "Defeating Communist Insurgency" by Thompson, it addresses the same isues, but is much more applicable to today's conflict.If you are too busy to read it, then go right to page 51, and see how Galula learned to deal with prisoners from his time spent as a prisoner of Mao's forces in China.If some one at the Pentagon had read this, the world would never have heard of Abu Garaib.In a page and a half, Galula told us how to win the war, or, at least not to lose it.Not as "harshly to the point" as McCuen's "The Art of Counter-Revolutionary War", it is the right book at the right time.Agree with previous reviewer, try to get your hands on the Hailer Publishing softcover version as it fits right in the cargo pocket. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Military Science    2. Science/Mathematics    3. Technology    4. Technology & Industrial Arts    5. History    6. Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare    7. Theory of warfare & military science   

Reviews (15)

Sun-Tzu: The Art of War (Classics of Ancient China)
This is an excellent translation of the various known texts including some of the more recent archaeological finds.Ames' preface also provides a valuable context for the writings - historical, cultural and philosophical.His insights into the Chinese culture, both past and present, prepares the reader well for the subsequent translations.The distinctions between western modes of thought, with their deep divisions between the physical and spiritual, are contrasted with the Chinese philosophy of continuous change within all extant things.For them there is no dichotomy - everything is defined by their roles and the ability to understand reality and truth as it is.Also, while I cannot read Chinese, it was cool to have the original writings provided for all the translations.Even if you've read the translations before, this book provides an excellent update to a literary/philosophical classic.

Sun-Tzu: The Art of War, edited by Roger T. Ames
This is the translated version that also includes the original Chinese text. Hence for the reader who can read traditional classic Chinese, one can truly appreciate what Sun-Tzu had achieved. His work is a masterpiece of scholarly literature as well as a demonstration of his military geniusness and insight.
Book review
I have not read other translations of Sun Tzu's "The Art of Warfare,"...in fact, I have not read anything by Sun Tzu.Thus, I had a huge sense of anticipation as I embarked on the legendary text. Yet, I must confess that I was also not expecting much, given that this was a translation.
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Subjects:  1. Early works to 1800    2. Eastern - General    3. History & Surveys - Ancient & Classical    4. Military    5. Military - General    6. Military Science    7. Military Science (General)    8. Military art and science    9. Philosophy    10. Technology    11. Philosophy / Ancient   

Reviews (5)

Bothing Beats This Book
This book farts in the general direction of the anarchist, terrorist andjolly roger cookbooks. Unlike them, this one was created by a bunch ofgovernment scientists so not only do the recipes work properly as long asguidelines are followed, but it contains many more recipe