All About Pocket Knives

If you like a good mystery/suspense read, with a touch of Special Forces/CIA intrigue try the Joe Picket series from best selling author C.J. Box. I've read them all and they keep getting better. The main character Joe Picket is a Wyoming game warden, a flawed every-man with a low paying job that he loves, a wife and kids you'll relate to. But sort of like the old TV character Columbo, Picket is a lot smarter than people give him credit for. Box's villains will typically make your skin crawl.

Ken

Saw the movie years ago. Picked up a copy of the book at a garage sale. Good read!

Ken

Just finished "Tough As They Come" by SSG Travis Mills, one of only 5 surviving quadruple amputees.

Very inspiring read.

Just started Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille. Another in his series of John Corey stories. I've read most of his stories and have not been disappointed.

Just finished a book I had picked up at gunshow a few weeks ago, a non fictional account on the Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1830 to 1915. A peek into the industrial revolution in the US from the beginning at one company. And the beginning of the end for steam and the beginning for diesel powered locos.

Just finished David Baldacci's 2nd book - The Collectors, in the Camel Club series. Good stuff!

I was reading the Camel Club series, because I had already read all 20 of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books and was waiting for the new one - Night School, to come out. It was released a few days ago and I'm about 30% through it now. I really like the Jack Reacher character.

Before that, I read all of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series. Great stuff!

Just a few more pages to go in John Sandford's latest Virgil Flowers book, "Escape Clause". I've read all his "Prey" series and the Virgil Flowers series. John Sandford is just an excellent writer. Like Lawrence Blocks "Matthew Scudder" series, I just feel like I'm sitting around with an old friend and he's telling me a story.

I picked up David Baldacci's "The Guilty" at the library yesterday and it's sitting on the table waiting for me to finish Sandford.

I'm reading The Fallen Colossus by Robert Sobel. This book traces the history and growth of the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads, and their eventual merger and subsequent failure as the Penn Central. It's really a contrast in two successful cultures that didn't mesh. OH

Am reading the 3rd and final volume of "The Last Lion," William Manchester's superb biography of W. Churchill. Manchester died after beginning the final volume and he selected a friend to complete it. This is not the pleasureable reading experience of the first two volumes. Lots of information about WWII but the paperback version is poorly printed. I do highly recommend the first volume. Almost anyone will enjoy this recounting of the great man's early years including his war time experience and entrance into politics.

Reading Lee Child new book "Night School" #21 of the Jack Reacher series. Started out a little slow, but can't put it down now.

Larry

jlw257 wrote:Reading Lee Child new book "Night School" #21 of the Jack Reacher series. Started out a little slow, but can't put it down now.

Larry

Larry, I'm hoping that one is under the Christmas tree.

.....friend of mine just gave me a copy of bill o'reilly's latest book- "OLD SCHOOL",looks like a pretty good read and it definitely applies to me!!!!............... .....................

Am reading Dr. Steven Gundry's Diet Evolution. Amazing science. Originally one of the very top cardiac surgeons in the world :he was on the team implanting the first artificial heart/he designed an instrument now used by every cardiac surgeon. Because of his own overweight issue he eventually discovered the controlling factor of our gut microbes. He is now the leading expert in that field. His discoveries radically change our understanding of weight gain and loss.

Just finished reading Killing the Rising Sun - another good read in the series of history books. OH

Currently in the middle of Stephen Hunter's: Shooter - Point of Impact about Bob Lee Swagger. Then... the next Bob Lee Swagger story: Black Light.

CheckSix wrote:Currently in the middle of Stephen Hunter's: Shooter - Point of Impact about Bob Lee Swagger. Then... the next Bob Lee Swagger story: Black Light.

One of my favorite series and author.
Speaking of which, authors that is, Hunter's last couple of books didn't measure up, at least to me. It seemed like he subbed them out or something.
I see he has another one coming out in May and I'll likely get it just because I have time invested in his other books and as a general rule, I like them. We'll see.

Ray

Paladin wrote:

CheckSix wrote:Currently in the middle of Stephen Hunter's: Shooter - Point of Impact about Bob Lee Swagger. Then... the next Bob Lee Swagger story: Black Light.

One of my favorite series and author.
Speaking of which, authors that is, Hunter's last couple of books didn't measure up, at least to me. It seemed like he subbed them out or something.
I see he has another one coming out in May and I'll likely get it just because I have time invested in his other books and as a general rule, I like them. We'll see.

Ray

Thanks for the heads up Ray! I'm about a third of the way into POI and have found a few factual errors but still enjoy the story. I also find an author I like and I read a whole series. So, I'm glad I found Bob Lee. My kinda guy!

Reading Alex Berenson's book (my first by him, I think) "The Shadow Patrol

'. I hate it when an author doesn't do his research!!!! On page 30 he tried to tell me that the Army's burn unit was at Ft. Bliss in SAN ANTONIO Texas. When I was stationed at Ft. Bliss, it was in El Paso Texas and I'm sure it still is. Gave me a sour taste in my mouth right off the bat.

The Army burn unit was at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio TX. As you are aware Fort Bliss was home to the Air Defense Artillery. OH

Anyone have a recommendation on a good book with a balanced view of the Vietnam War? I have been on WW-II for the last several years, ready to change conflicts for a while. I am not interested in fiction. Thanks, OH

Old Hunter wrote:Anyone have a recommendation on a good book with a balanced view of the Vietnam War? I have been on WW-II for the last several years, ready to change conflicts for a while. I am not interested in fiction. Thanks, OH

..............stay on WW2 and read LAST OF THE FEW by max Arthur, or my favorite, THE BIG SHOW by pierre closterman............... .....................

Old Hunter wrote:Anyone have a recommendation on a good book with a balanced view of the Vietnam War? I have been on WW-II for the last several years, ready to change conflicts for a while. I am not interested in fiction. Thanks, OH

OH,
I haven't read it, but a friend of mine has.
He says Stanley Karnow's book, VIETNAM, A HISTORY is well written and balanced.
https://www.amazon.com/Vietnam-History- ... ietnam+war

Old Hunter wrote:Anyone have a recommendation on a good book with a balanced view of the Vietnam War? I have been on WW-II for the last several years, ready to change conflicts for a while. I am not interested in fiction. Thanks, OH

Not entirely about Vietnam... but one of the best books I've ever read, is the book by General Norman Schwarzkopf - It Doesn't Take A Hero.

I would have loved to sit down over a beer and talked with this man.

What a leader! So much respect for him!

Another book I really, really liked was Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. Excellent read!!

For WWII, one of my favorite leaders of men, was Maj Richard Winters. His book - Beyond the Band of Brothers: War Memoirs of Maj Dick Winters... is also a fantastic insight into the leaders of men we had in the Greatest Generation during WWII.

Super respect for Major Winters!! <Salute>

Old Hunter: Don't know how deep you want to go but here are my thoughts. Taking the advisor's course at Bragg we were required to read Bernard Fall, "Street Without Joy." This is about the French and their ultimate loss of Viet Nam. Also, see his book on Dien Bien Phu, which as you may know was the great defeat of the French. Unless you are just looking for a general overview, I recommend these books as background and as an introduction to just what we were getting into in RVN.

Another resource: If on You Tube you type in "Army War College" you will discover scores of lectures on all kinds of military subjects/wars/strategy etc.etc. A number of them will of course deal with Vietnam. Although Westmorland has his supporters, I'd suggest that you watch the lecture, Westmorland The General Who Lost Vietnam.

If you have a strong stomach you can read Robert S McNamera's memoirs of VN. [ For a couple of years he was virtually on his knees in front of the North Vietnamese begging: "Just tell us what you need. Please."]

On Amazon there are many individual accounts of personal experiences and other books you may find useful.

A novel written by a Marine who served, "Matterhorn" was written by Karl Marlantes. In real life, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts and ten Air Medals. I have a copy you can borrow. I thought it was PDG.