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bknight16's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.75
Yeah I didn’t love this, at all. Maybe it just wasn’t my interest? But I had hopes because of the way Gladwell writes that I may find enjoyment in it because his style is so engaging…
I was not really engaged.
It read well, if not a little ‘over quoted’ but we’re dealing with historical events so I understand.
I enjoyed some of the questions he asked and I did enjoy parts of it - especially towards the end.
This could certainly be more of a me issue than the book but I just didn’t enjoy it?
I felt it was clearly concerning a matter of huge interest to Gladwell but that interest didn’t necessarily translate to me.
I think he’s an incredible story teller, with amazing influence in his writing but this one wasn’t for me.
I was not really engaged.
It read well, if not a little ‘over quoted’ but we’re dealing with historical events so I understand.
I enjoyed some of the questions he asked and I did enjoy parts of it - especially towards the end.
This could certainly be more of a me issue than the book but I just didn’t enjoy it?
I felt it was clearly concerning a matter of huge interest to Gladwell but that interest didn’t necessarily translate to me.
I think he’s an incredible story teller, with amazing influence in his writing but this one wasn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
blackswan_1228's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Excellent portrayal of both sides to an impossible moral dilemma and an in-depth look into the realities of war that surround it.
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
3.0
Answers the modern day question about why in wars past the opposing side wasn’t just bombed into submission. Talks about what modern war has become. Reads like a podcast of Gladwell’s (which is sort of where it originated from). He always looks at things from a fascinating angle.
cdjdhj's review against another edition
2.0
The Bomber Mafia is largely about the competing philosophies of air war of two generals during the closing days of World War II. It is well researched and documented, and the audiobook, which I listened to, had actual interviews and other audio. I understand that Gladwell did the audiobook first and then the print version was derived from the audio. The story is certainly interesting from a historical perspective, but what I didn't much like was the moral philosophizing that Gladwell does - especially comparing the two generals involved, Hayward S. Hansell and Curtis LeMay to Jesus. That whole comparison fell completely flat for me. I learned a lot of WWII history and the air war against Japan, and even the two philosophies of the generals, but Gladwell's attempt to judge the thoughts and intentions of the two men made me not like this book much. I like history more when I can draw my own conclusions from the facts that are presented.
yogamom3452's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved listening to this book. I am a huge fan of Malcolm Gladwell and I found out in the epilogue that this was originally an audiobook that was translated to a traditional book. The connections between how we fight war today and these technological advancements was fascinating to me. I wish that we taught history to our students this way instead of the date driven way. I have never thought about the how and why’s of precision bombing. But now that is has been pointed out I can see how WWII fighting was very different between the European theater vs the Pacific theater.
vandwnbydariver's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
The audiobook is lit
appaloosa05's review against another edition
This excelled as an audiobook. According to a note in the book, it was initially created as an audiobook which explains the interviews, music, and sound effects which greatly enhanced the listening experience.