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Best Biological & Chemical Warfare History

The Demon in the Freezer: A True Story
In The Demon in the Freezer , his first nonfiction book since The Hot Zone , a #1 New York Times bestseller, Richard Preston takes us into the heart of Usamriid, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, once the headquarters of the U.S. biological weapons program and now the epicenter of national biodefense. Jahrling is leading a team of scientists doing controversial experiments with live smallpox virus at CDC. For example, since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the subsequent end of its biological weapons program, a sizeable amount of the former Soviet Union's smallpox stockpile remains unaccounted for, leading to fears that the virus has fallen into the hands of nations or terrorist groups willing to use it as a weapon. This disturbing reality is the focus of this fascinating, terrifying, and important book. Based on extensive interviews with smallpox experts, health workers, and members of the U.S. intelligence community, The Demon in the Freezer details the history and behavior of the virus and how it was eventually isolated and eradicated by the heroic individuals of the World Health Organization. Some worry that further testing will trigger a biological arms race, while others argue that more research is necessary since there are currently too few available doses of the vaccine to deal with a major outbreak. Officially, yes, nods Preston, who devotes the first half of the book to the valorous attempt by an army of volunteers to wipe out the virus (an attempt initially sparked by '60s icon Ram Dass and his Indian guru) via strategic vaccination; in 1977 the last case of naturally occurring smallpox was documented in Somalia, and today the variola virus exists officially in only two storage depots, in Russia and at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta (in the freezer of the title).
Reviews
"Although natural smallpox does not exist, the US and Russia have maintained frozen smallpox."
"Unlike nation-state attempts to produce material for nuclear weapons, bio-weapons do not require the scale or leave the signatures of nuclear material production. The author does a great job in describing the process of taking an already deadly threat and engineering it into an even more dangerous threat using commonly available technology and knowledge. Forget the massive arrays of centrifuges needed for production of weapons grade nuclear materials. The balance, perhaps 65 people were distributed to trauma centers up to 50 miles away due to the vastly reduced capability of the regional trauma centers to deal with more than the normal day to day crash and gunshot victims."
"I have read other books by this author -- notably "The Hot Zone" -- and can recommend him highly."
"The author believes that this is a an error because it is possible now to engineer the virus so it can overcome vaccinations."
"This book is flat out scary at times, the cover particularly caught my gaze and I wasn't prepared for the story but I can't fault the author because the book has changed how I look at the control efforts now and the dangers we face."
"Although the book talks about the anthrax attacks after 9/11, the government's response, and the science behind it to try to contain the problem, and find the culprits, it really is about smallpox."
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The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The riveting, tick-tock account of the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the atomic bomb, and the equally astonishing tales of survival and heroism that emerged from the ashes. , from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon. This is the unforgettable story told in John U. Bacon's The Great Halifax Explosion : a ticktock account of fateful decisions that led to doom, the human faces of the blast's 11,000 casualties, and the equally moving individual stories of those who lived and selflessly threw themselves into urgent rescue work that saved thousands. This is the unforgettable story told in John U. Bacon’s The Great Halifax Explosion : a ticktock account of the hours preceding the disaster, the fateful decisions that led to doom, the human faces of the blast’s 11,000 casualties, and the aftermath. The blast dominated global headlines, transformed Canada and the United States from adversaries to allies, and, years later, gave J. Robert Oppenheimer his best case study in the power of a weapon of mass destruction.
Reviews
"A very readable book particularly when the stories of several local people are included in the listing of the events."
"Deeply researched and told in a riveting fashion, this book vividly draws you through the moments of one of the biggest man made tragedies ever experienced."
"He suspensefully sets up the collision of two ships and explosion that followed against the backdrop of WWI and US - Canadian relations in 1917."
"Hard to believe that this is a disaster story way overlooked by most history buffs."
"Fantastic book covering not only the technical aspects of the explosion but also follows the human aspects as well."
"I knew a little of the incident before reading it, but now knowing how the community all came together is heart warming."
"Gives alot of history of the area and the relationship of Canada and the US."
"A great mix of history and humanity."
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The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top-Secret Military Research Agency
NATIONAL BESTSELLER. A Pulitzer Prize Finalist. and t. he definitive history of DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, from the author of the New York Times bestseller Area 51. Jacobsen (a journalist and the author of Operation Paperclip and Area 51 ) strikes a balance between lauding the technology leaps driven by DARPA and pointing out that the ultimate goal is to create wartime tools to guarantee U.S. dominance. "Filled with the intrigue and high stakes of a spy novel, Jacobsen's history of DARPA is as much a fascinating testament to human ingenuity as it is a paean to endless industrial warfare and the bureaucracy of the military-industrial complex. "Jacobsen offers a definitive history of the clandestine agency.... She explores the implications of DARPA work on technology that will not be widely known to the public for generations but will certainly impact national security and concepts of war. "Jacobsen's account will serve as the model for histories of military research and development and is likely to lead to more works and articles about DARPA.... Engrossing, conversation-starting read..."― Library Journal. "Annie Jacobsen's considerable talents as an investigative journalist prove indispensable in uncovering the remarkable history of one of America's most powerful and clandestine military research agencies. "In this fascinating and terrifying account, Annie Jacobsen regales us with the stories behind the agency's 'consequential and sometimes Orwellian' innovations, including autonomous weapons systems--killer robots that could decide, without human intervention, who lives and who dies.
Reviews
"The volume starts by describing the founding of the agency as a response to the scientific and technological threat posed by the Soviet Union and describes the political maneuvering involved in making the organization as independent as possible. For me, two aspects of the book were particularly revealing. My minor gripe with the book was that it does not delve as much into the science as it could have and seems to contain some errors; for instance Enrico Fermi never told President Truman that the hydrogen bond was an evil thing (he voiced that opinion in an analysis by the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission), and a JASON report on the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Vietnam was not commissioned by Robert McNamara (it was inspired by a careless remark by a high-ranking general at a party)."
"Great trio of documented records of secrets unknown to common people and Annie Jacobsen brings this all to life."
"This book should be required reading in high schools and colleges throughout the nation."
"Secrets of the pentagon revealed and it will amaze you that they got away with it."
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Best World War I History

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. "Kate Moore's new book will move, shock and anger you" -- The Big Issue Kate Moore is a Sunday Times bestselling writer with more than a decade's experience in writing across varying genres, including memoir and biography and history.
Reviews
"In The Radium Girls Kate Moore tells the story of these young women, seemingly so fortunate, who were poisoned by the jobs they felt so lucky to have. After some of the women died and more became ill the companies making large profits on radium rushed to dismiss any hint that the work was unsafe. Eventually publicity stemming from lawsuits filed by some of the victims (using their own scanty resources) focused enough attention on the problem that governments felt compelled to set safety standards and regulations. The safety regulations and restrictions which were finally put into place hardly seem adequate, and the Epilogue and Postscript giving details of the women's later lives, as well as an account of another industry that made careless use of radium as late as the 1970s, are especially harrowing."
"This is one these books that will stay with you long after you finished reading it."
"One of the best books I have read in a long time!"
"I learned so much from this book."
"This was such a heartfelt story bringing to life the stories of such brave women and their suffering."
"This a book that should be read by people of all ages and occupation."
"Awesome book could not stop thinking about it for weeks such a long fight these woman had n some did not make it sadly."
"I have not read many of these types of books about real life stories about history and I found this fascinating."
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Best Canadian History

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. As the passengers stepped from the airplanes, exhausted, hungry and distraught after being held on board for nearly 24 hours while security checked all of the baggage, they were greeted with a feast prepared by the townspeople. Due to the ongoing closure of U.S. airspace, the passengers spent four days in this isolated town of 10,000 before being allowed to continue on their way. --John Moe Journalist Defede calls our attention to a sidelight of the events of September 11, when the town of Gander (pop.
Reviews
"The shelf full of books for my grandkids to read and keep for their grandkids because of the tangible and intangible life stories and lessons told."
"The people of Gander and the surrounding area are wonderful and we can only hope to be as giving as they were on those days."
"The book is obviously well researched in order to get so many true human interest tales of the people aboard multiple airlines forced to land in New Foundland."
"This is a terrific story about the thousands of people stranded in Gander immediately after the 9/11 attacks."
"A very heart warming story and a good reminder that there are wonderful people in the world."
"A FANTASTIC book about the BEST that people can be at a time when others were showing their worst!"
"The story of Gander should always be told when the story of 9/11 is told."
"This is an easy read and tells the story of real people in a small town or two who gave of themselves unselfishly to help hundreds of people stranded in their area of the world."
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Best Canadian History

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. As the passengers stepped from the airplanes, exhausted, hungry and distraught after being held on board for nearly 24 hours while security checked all of the baggage, they were greeted with a feast prepared by the townspeople. Despite the grim consequences that led to the situation, DeFede finds humor: two flight attendants are offered a car for sightseeing by a local woman who happened to be driving by; the stranded chairman of Hugo Boss finds himself shopping for men's underwear at the local Wal-Mart.
Reviews
"The shelf full of books for my grandkids to read and keep for their grandkids because of the tangible and intangible life stories and lessons told."
"The people of Gander and the surrounding area are wonderful and we can only hope to be as giving as they were on those days."
"The book is obviously well researched in order to get so many true human interest tales of the people aboard multiple airlines forced to land in New Foundland."
"This is a terrific story about the thousands of people stranded in Gander immediately after the 9/11 attacks."
"A very heart warming story and a good reminder that there are wonderful people in the world."
"A FANTASTIC book about the BEST that people can be at a time when others were showing their worst!"
"The story of Gander should always be told when the story of 9/11 is told."
"This is an easy read and tells the story of real people in a small town or two who gave of themselves unselfishly to help hundreds of people stranded in their area of the world."
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Best Post-Confederation Canadian History

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. As the passengers stepped from the airplanes, exhausted, hungry and distraught after being held on board for nearly 24 hours while security checked all of the baggage, they were greeted with a feast prepared by the townspeople. Due to the ongoing closure of U.S. airspace, the passengers spent four days in this isolated town of 10,000 before being allowed to continue on their way. --John Moe Journalist Defede calls our attention to a sidelight of the events of September 11, when the town of Gander (pop.
Reviews
"The shelf full of books for my grandkids to read and keep for their grandkids because of the tangible and intangible life stories and lessons told."
"The people of Gander and the surrounding area are wonderful and we can only hope to be as giving as they were on those days."
"The book is obviously well researched in order to get so many true human interest tales of the people aboard multiple airlines forced to land in New Foundland."
"This is a terrific story about the thousands of people stranded in Gander immediately after the 9/11 attacks."
"A very heart warming story and a good reminder that there are wonderful people in the world."
"A FANTASTIC book about the BEST that people can be at a time when others were showing their worst!"
"The story of Gander should always be told when the story of 9/11 is told."
"This is an easy read and tells the story of real people in a small town or two who gave of themselves unselfishly to help hundreds of people stranded in their area of the world."
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Best Transportation

The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The riveting, tick-tock account of the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the atomic bomb, and the equally astonishing tales of survival and heroism that emerged from the ashes. , from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon. This is the unforgettable story told in John U. Bacon's The Great Halifax Explosion : a ticktock account of fateful decisions that led to doom, the human faces of the blast's 11,000 casualties, and the equally moving individual stories of those who lived and selflessly threw themselves into urgent rescue work that saved thousands. John U. Bacon, a superbly talented historian and story teller, has rescued from obscurity an astonishing episode of horror and heroism.” (GEORGE F. WILL). “When I first encountered the Halifax Explosion, I knew immediately it was a tick-tock of a story just waiting to become a book. With deep research and evocative writing, John U. Bacon has brought back to life this devastating wartime event and illuminated its lasting meaning.” (DAVID MARANISS, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of Once in a Great City ). “Fans of Ken Burns, Daniel James Brown’s The Boys in the Boat , and John Hersey’s Hiroshima will find in John Bacon’s meticulous reporting a story that literally rocked the world. “John U. Bacon’s The Great Halifax Explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest man-made disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. The astonishing true story of history’s largest manmade explosion before the atomic bomb, and its world-changing aftermath, from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon. This is the unforgettable story told in John U. Bacon’s The Great Halifax Explosion : a ticktock account of the hours preceding the disaster, the fateful decisions that led to doom, the human faces of the blast’s 11,000 casualties, and the aftermath.
Reviews
"I found the first third of the book an interesting read about life during WW I, but when the book gets to a point where about a dozen things go wrong in succession, leading to the devastating blast, it’s mesmerizing."
"The vivid details of the events leading up to, durring and following this catastrophic event have been painstakingly researched and woven together in a tapistry of calamity, death, grime, sacrifice, forgiveness and hope. I would put John's work up against any of the great historical nonfiction authors."
"The book also explains how the explosion played an important part in US/Canada relations, which were far less cordial than I'd realized prior to the tragedy described in the book."
"We're coming up to the 100th anniversary of the explosion that rocked Halifax and the surrounding communities on December 6, 1917 and author John Bacon has done a marvelous job in relating the events that led up to the tragedy along with the suffering that took place, and people coming together to assist one another in times of urgent need."
"This is an important story which is masterfully written in vivid detail and imagery."
"Well constructed, well researched."
"Bacon’s art is in the everyday details mixed with the perfect blend of drama and intrigue that is gripping right from the start."
"John gives such great detail into the circumstances, and the lives, of all the people involved...he truly did his homework; and this is a hefty read - John did such a good job of weaving the stories together."
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Best Conventional Weapons & Warfare History

Long Range Shooting Handbook: Complete Beginner's Guide to Long Range Shooting
This is the preliminary book to help you understand fundamental concepts such as MOA vs Mils and external ballistics, that can be like a trusted resource at the range. The author has a series of online instructional videos known for their ability to take seemingly complex areas of long range shooting and breaking them down so that they're easy to understand. The author has a series of online instructional videos known for their ability to take seemingly complex areas of long range shooting and breaking them down so that they're easy to understand. "Whether you're looking to dip a toe into the complex world of long range shooting, or you're a seasoned shooter with years of trigger time, Ryan Cleckner's book will prove to be excellent reference material. Whether you're looking to dip a toe into the complex world of long range shooting, or you're a seasoned shooter with years of trigger time, Ryan Cleckner's book will prove to be excellent reference material. Author Ryan Cleckner is unmatched in long distance accuracy and in this fantastic book, he tells us how it's done. While the subject of this book is hitting a target way out there with a heavier caliber super accurate rifle a small game hunter could even be blessed by this information. For law enforcement and citizens who want to be prepared for any long distance occasion, this book is absolutely a must read. Ryan Cleckner served as a special operations sniper team leader with the U.S. Army's elite 1st Ranger Bn. Ryan has a series of online instructional videos known for their ability to explain complex topics in a simple and digestible way.
Reviews
"The Long Range Shooting Handbook gives a clear-cut, no B.S approach and explanation to the fundamentals of long range shooting. Another thing to note is that many books on this subject which are introductory level, which the Long Range Shooting Handbook is meant to be, spend the whole book saying, "In (book, course, etc.). The cover should read, "An extremely comprehensive handbook guide to long range shooting." The Long Range Shooting Handbook will be the absolute best purchase decision you've made for you shooting gear bag in quite some time."
"Alot of things I know or thought " I had known" were cleared up in the long range shooting handbook and its not all written like a powerpoint slideshow."
"Learned a lot from first read, some memories of Military training evoked."
"This is the easiest book to read on long range shooting."
"The pic is a 3 shot group out of a factory Savage LRP .260 at 1250yrds., that I made, using the same info that Ryan has given in his book."
"Ryan can explain complex information and decision making in a common sense way that makes the conclusion appear obvious, therefore easy to remember and apply."
"Ryan shares with the reader the fundamentals that will develop consistent long range shots."
"Then I found out about this book by Cleckner that was published in January 2016."
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Best Nuclear Weapons & Warfare History

Three Days in January: Dwight Eisenhower's Final Mission
In Three Days in January , Bret Baier masterfully casts the period between Eisenhower’s now-prophetic farewell address on the evening of January 17, 1961, and Kennedy’s inauguration on the afternoon of January 20 as the closing act of one of modern America’s greatest leaders—during which Eisenhower urgently sought to prepare both the country and the next president for the challenges ahead. Ike looked to the future, warning Americans against the dangers of elevating partisanship above national interest, excessive government budgets (particularly deficit spending), the expansion of the military-industrial complex, and the creeping political power of special interests. “Bret Baier has given history a great gift: a riveting account of Dwight Eisenhower’s determination to call on his vast experience to prepare America for the perils of the new war--the cold war.” (Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation ). “Captures the essence of Ike’s leadership style. Three Days in January is a great read.” (Susan Eisenhower, CEO and Chairman of The Eisenhower Group, Inc. and Chairman Emeritus at the Eisenhower Institute of Gettysburg College). “Bret Baier’s Three Days in January brilliantly illuminates the genius and intrigue behind Eisenhower’s historic Farewell Address. ... Three Days in January is the BEST book on Eisenhower to appear in a very long time.” (DAVID EISENHOWER, Director, the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Public Service, and author of Eisenhower: At War , a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History). In this acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Bret Baier illuminates the extraordinary yet underappreciated presidency of Dwight Eisenhower by taking readers into Ike’s last days in power. Baier masterfully casts the period between Eisenhower’s now-prophetic farewell address on the evening of January 17, 1961, and Kennedy’s inauguration on the afternoon of January 20 as the closing act of one of modern America’s greatest leaders — during which Eisenhower urgently sought to prepare both the country and the next president for the challenges ahead.
Reviews
"In this absorbing historical story of transition of presidential power, during one of the most perilous times in our country's history, Baier brings to life the aspirations, hopes and concerns of a president (Eisenhower) in a generational shift in leadership to JFK."
"This book will give you a great respect for the Greatest Generation, as well as a fresh outlook on our world today."
"And I like the way he brought in our newest president and the forthcoming inauguration."
"As a lover of current affairs, Bret has written a captivating account of the transition of power to JFK, during a perilous time in our country."
"Very insightful and a wonderful look back!"
"An excellent book that summarizes the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower and analyzes the transition from from Ike to JFK."
"Given my understanding of the man from reading this book, I think he would not mind the fact that his legacy was overshadowed, but would most of all, want people to understand the difficulty of the presidency is and what a team effort in the White House should be and how important that piece is."
"This is a succinct, but thorough review of the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, told based upon his last three days in office, prior the presidency of John F. Kennedy."
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Best History eBooks of Military Weapons

American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms (P.S.)
Drawing on his unmatched firearms knowledge and combat experience, Kyle carefully chose ten guns to help tell his story: the American long rifle, Spencer repeater, Colt .45 revolver, Winchester rifle, Springfield 1903 rifle, Thompson sub-machine gun, 1911 pistol, M1 Garand, .38 Special police revolver, and the M-16 rifle platform Kyle himself used as a SEAL. No matter how much danger he faced, we always knew Chris would come out alive with an awesome story filled with close calls. He exemplified each word of the SEAL Creed, and he deserves the highest honor and respect for what he put on the line to keep his brothers safe from the enemy. Whether he sat high on a rooftop taking out the enemy threatening his teammates, or if he was fighting side-by-side with a Marine platoon, his mission was always clear: “draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect his brothers.”. I am so glad to see this important book, American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms , come to life, because it meant so much to Chris to get it completed. Lastly, y’all should know Taya and their kids receive the author proceeds of American Gun , so buy this awesome book in bulk and share with friends. Bestselling author Kyle (American Sniper) was putting the final touches on this discerning study of 10 firearms—completed by his widow and Doyle—that changed the course of warfare when he was killed at a gun range. Corral and the Battle of Cowpens during the American Revolution, recounting close calls, colossal errors, and the weapons that gave one side a key advantage over another.
Reviews
"This is informative based on the firearms selected and an easy enjoyable read."
"While the ten guns chosen (American Long Rifle, Spencer Repeater, Colt Single-Action Army Revolver, Winchester 1873 Rifle, M1903 Springfield, M1911 Pistol, Thompson Sub-machine Gun, M1 Garand, .38 Special and M16) are sure to be a source of argument (why one firearm was chosen over another), Kyle justified his choices with plenty of stories/accounts of the guns in action. I personally enjoyed reading the chapter on the “Wild West” and detailed account of the infamous shootouts and the guns associated with them. The chapters covering the twentieth century are obviously heavily associated with US involvement in World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam and many of the accompanying story-lines are Medal of Honor citations."
"Enjoyed the book."
"I never stopped to realize how much of our history and freedom that we enjoy is a direct result of the fact that we had superior guns."
"If every history book were like this, you wouldn't be able to beat the kids away fighting to sign up for history classes in schools."
"Purchased this for my husband who is interested in guns, and he loved the easy-to-read writing style."
"I purchased this book for my Dad after he read American Sniper."
"I've been into firearms for 50 years and have shot everything from .22 CB caps to .458 Win."
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