What is your favorite book and why?

Anniversary is very good as well. Unfortunately I don’t own it and only play it with a friends game.

Sorry all, had to bump this thread for research reasons.

Two things on Mark’s comments.

Further to Marc’s comments
#1.  Looking at the Agrarian society farmers model.  It’s important to distinguished that in the Nomad society, the Raider/warrior is the Farmer.  Pillaging as he moves along, living off the milk of his horse, loot from the conquest, bounty of the land.

As for Mongol Officers - Let’s review some important distinctions.  I wouldn’t necessary call Mongol officers “Staff” officers in the sense we know them - but it’s important to note that Mongol officers were not needlessly expended - but rather protected.

The Mongol battlefield tactics were a combination of masterful training with excellent communication and discipline in the chaos of combat. They trained for virtually every possibility, so when it occurred, they could react accordingly. Unlike many of their foes, the Mongols also protected their ranking officers well. Their training and discipline allowed them to fight without the need for constant supervision or rallying, which often placed commanders in dangerous positions.

Whenever possible, Mongol commanders found the highest ground available, from which they could make tactical decisions based on the best view of the battlefield as events unfolded. Furthermore, being on high ground allowed their forces to observe commands conveyed by flags more easily than if the ground were level. In addition, keeping the high command on high ground made them easier to defend. Unlike the European armies, which placed enormous emphasis on personal valor, and thus exposed their leaders to death from anyone bold enough to kill them, the Mongols regarded their leaders as a vital asset. A general such as Subutai, unable to ride a horse in the later part of his career due to age and obesity, would have been ridiculed out of most any European army of the time. But the Mongols recognized and respected his still-powerful military mind, who had been one of the Genghis’ most able subordinates, so he was transported around in a cart.

Where there’s a will, there’s an inheritance tax.

Vader. Cult icon. Leader. Revolutionary. Visionary. Only sith capable of dancing ‘Can’t touch this’ and do it better than MC Hammer.

A true American.

GG

A few for starters:

Military:
Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson
Carl Von Clausewitz
Randall Shughart
Gary Gordon
George Patton
Erwin Rommel

World Leaders:
Ronald Reagan
Richard Nixon
Megas Alexandros
Michael Collins

Berard Cornwell-

The man is a genius- Sharpe’s series, Starbuck, Archer’s tale etc.

Jefe- if you are going to read AnnCoulter’s recent book then I
Highly reccomend Sam Tannenhaus’ biography Whittaker Chambers.

I read TR Frehenbach’s This Kind of War (it’s about the Korean War)
every June for the last 4 years.

I also reccomend, Stanley Karnow’s, Vietnam.

Recently, I’m reading Ernest R. May’s, Strange Victory. It’s about how the French lost against The Germans in 1940.

-Joseph Ellis’, Founding Brothers.

-John Earl Haynes & Harvey Klehr’s Venona:
Decoding Soviet Espionage in America.

And Reading the Lord of the Rings Books with my oldest.

Being anonymous and all, I would like to recommend two/three most excellent books:

-The rise and the fall of the Thrid Reich, by William L. Shirer. This book is fantastic! All you wanted to know of the German stirde to power and their downfall is in here. Has won alot of awards. Should last you 6 months.

-The second world war [a very innovative title] by martin Gilbert. This book has a more general overview and is more focused on the how the civilians and soldiers had it during the war.

-Rommel as military commander, by Roanld Lewis. This book has the biography of herr Rommel and all the tactics he used. The book I have is rather old (1968), but it is probably out there somewhere.

Enjoy,

Vinnie