My fun reading

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 4:53 PM Share

I read tons of current books for my day jobs -- almost all the new stuff about the military, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on. At night I try read farther afield. On the fun front, I've finally finished Antonia Fraser's biography of Cromwell. I liked it but after 600 pages began to find her style off-putting -- she tends to explain the event before telling you what actually happened.

Following the suggestion of a comment on this blog, next up on the nightstand is The Cousins' Wars, by Kevin Phillips. Speaking of your postings, I appreciate all your comments. I read every one of them, but try to respond only when I think I've got something to say. Often I find that someone else has gotten there first with my thought, which is fine by me.

EXPLORE:FUN STUFF

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ANON_ANON

5:10 AM ET

March 18, 2009

Your blog does seem bereft of commenters

Do you imagine they're all over at Abu Muqawama, busy being snarky?

:-)

TOM RICKS

11:12 PM ET

March 18, 2009

Snarky anonymous commenters

I actually would prefer to have no anonymous comments posted, but I don't know how to do that.

BILL KELLER

1:28 PM ET

March 18, 2009

No, maybe the focus has changed....

Bereft, maybe it comes as Blogs become more focused advocacy and personal promoting mechanisms. It is as if a discount house finds a need to become a Saks 5th Avenue. Or as each market part of the world of Jihad wars grows, each one scrambles to play Alec Guinness's Colonel in the Bridge over the River Kwai, each now a prisoner and enthralled in the beauty of the application of soldiers and resources applied to its focus project and each knowing that as that Blog's whistled tune grows louder and more unique, more advertisers, more benefactors and career opportunities will appear to reward one among many who once wondered about the war zones as modern but aged Jedi.

A blog with a broad perspective may find itself like a large department store, empty while all the boutiques are full.

VIZIER

11:05 PM ET

March 18, 2009

Recommended war book

Fiasco by - well - you! I didn't think I'd like it so much, but like you I have to read everything for my day job.

THECARDINAL

4:04 PM ET

March 23, 2009

Books and Comments

Two books...

Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer - so good that even the footnotes are enthralling. If you love the period you must read it.

Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba by Tom Gjelten - this book is ridiculously good. A narrative so smooth that a long flight (with lay-over) could allow you to finish it. It's about a faimly's dedication to its business, country and family...and definitely not in that order. I didn't want to read it but my brother who hates reading books recieved it as a gift, managed to finish it and recommended it highly.