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michelleloretta's review against another edition
3.0
I’m a big fan of Malcolm. But this was a topic mismatch for me. (And my review is based on that and not the writing.) It is probably a great book - for people interested in the subject material.
christie_esau's review against another edition
3.0
My least favourite of Gladwell's books, but only because I'm not really captivated by 20th century war history. Otherwise, a very good book - and a better audiobook than print book since it was recorded first, then written.
1mpossiblealice's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. I've read all of Malcolm Gladwell's books and enjoyed some more than others. This is not a topic I would ever have picked up a book about, but I'm also a big fan of his Revisionist History podcast. He covers parts of history I've never heard of, or don't know much about, and tells a story about it - I think the tagline is things overlooked or misunderstood. And whatever the topic is, he always makes it interesting. And this seemed like that.
I listened to the audiobook, and it really felt like a very extended episode of Revisionist History. It was so good. Instead of quotes in the physical book, you get recordings of interviews, some from archives, some he's done himself. And there's sounds and short pieces of music between sections.
The subject was something I knew nothing about, but was really interested in. His best stuff for me is when he tells stories from history in a really fascinating way. And that's what this is.
I was interested to hear at the end that this started off as an audiobook and then was converted into print, which explains why the audiobook is so good.
I listened to the audiobook, and it really felt like a very extended episode of Revisionist History. It was so good. Instead of quotes in the physical book, you get recordings of interviews, some from archives, some he's done himself. And there's sounds and short pieces of music between sections.
The subject was something I knew nothing about, but was really interested in. His best stuff for me is when he tells stories from history in a really fascinating way. And that's what this is.
I was interested to hear at the end that this started off as an audiobook and then was converted into print, which explains why the audiobook is so good.
booksnooksandcooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book feels like it would be a waste to read it in any form other than an audiobook. The use of actual interview reels, sounds from the planes, etc. was the thing that kept me focused.
That being said, it just felt like an amalgamation of facts with no real argument. It was interesting, but nothing revolutionary.
That being said, it just felt like an amalgamation of facts with no real argument. It was interesting, but nothing revolutionary.
epicdaz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
victoria_c's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
lajacquerie's review against another edition
4.0
For books that I'm enjoying, I'll often flip to the "back area" when I'm a third or so through it, just to take a look at the various footnotes for chapters I've read, maybe read through the Acknowledgements, see if there are Notes on the book. I'm glad I did in this case: Gladwell mentions that this was a podcast first, and then a book. I'd been thinking to myself that the book had felt far more conversational than any of his earlier work (which is all accessible, but written in a different tone/at a slightly different level) and was on the fence about whether I liked it. But as a podcast-turned-book, it makes perfect sense.
This slim volume tells the story of, well, bombing philosophies in the US Air Force. It touches on the early days of the Air Force; WWI and WWII; the development of napalm; and gives a riveting account of how both military flying and bombing developed in the span of a few scant decades. More importantly, it talks about some of the dreamers who helped make those plans a reality, and looks at what happens when a dreamer's ideas run afoul of reality. In this case, those ideas had a major impact on how the United States waged war, and as a result, on the world.
This slim volume tells the story of, well, bombing philosophies in the US Air Force. It touches on the early days of the Air Force; WWI and WWII; the development of napalm; and gives a riveting account of how both military flying and bombing developed in the span of a few scant decades. More importantly, it talks about some of the dreamers who helped make those plans a reality, and looks at what happens when a dreamer's ideas run afoul of reality. In this case, those ideas had a major impact on how the United States waged war, and as a result, on the world.
marissaren's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War