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Military History. We speak of pork instead of swine-flesh, because the English lost the battle of Hastings in 1066 on October 14. The Norman invaders made the English language of the day illegal in the areas they controlled (generally the cities). As one of the many results, English speakers adopted (by necessity) the French words beef and pork for the edible carcase, while in the less patrolled English hinterlands, the native (Germanic) words remained for the live beasties.

Montrose in War Through the Ages describes how the battle was fought, and why the English lost. The book, a volume I stumbled across while in High-School, so impressed me that when I could afford it, I purchased a copy via a used book service. Kahn's Code Breakers covers some of the same ground via a very different perspective. Each book complements the other to provide a better view of what happened and why throughout history.

Martial Arts. Having lived for several years in Japan, a culture where martial arts are pervasive, it would be more than a little bit unusual not to have an interest in the subject. I began reading early, tucking into adult novels in 1st and 2nd grade (I'm old enough TV was not really an option back then). My life was forever changed when I read the books of swords and adventure... John Carter of Mars. Influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs, I eventually studied fencing in college... where not only was I was the captian of the informal college team and student instructor, but engaged in such oddities as fencing against two simultaneous opponents; fencing up and down stairs; and fencing with two foils. Later yet, I fenced in the Army and then for a TV news program. Study of various Eastern Martial Arts came in between college and Army, and continues to be avocation.

Table of Contents

→Books Read and Worth Reading

→Martial Arts

→Military Arts

→Military History

→Weapons & Defense

→On the Reading List

→Martial Arts

→Military Arts

→Military History

Books Read and Worth Reading
Martial Arts
⇒Complete Book Of Taekwon Do Forms Keith Yates
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Military Arts
⇒Kahn on Codes: Secrets of the New Cryptology David Kahn
⇒The Art of War Sun Tzu (James Clavell)
⇒The Art of War Sun Tzu (Thomas Cleary)
⇒The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli. The classic treatise on obtaining and keeping power.
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Military History
⇒The Code Breakers David Kahn
⇒The Ignorant Armies E.M. Halliday
⇒War in the Shadows : The Guerrilla in History Vol 1 Robert B. Asprey
⇒War Through the Ages Lynn Montrose
⇒When Hell Froze Over E.M. Halliday
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Weapons & Defense
⇒50 Weapons That Changed Warfare William Weir
⇒Castle David Macaulay
⇒Castles and Fortresses Robin S. Oggins
⇒Castles: Their Construction and History Sidney Toy
⇒Fire & Stone: The Science of Fortress Warfare 1660-1860 Christopher Duffy
⇒The Medieval Fortress: Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages H. W. Kaufmann
⇒The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery William Gurstelle
⇒The Book of the Crossbow Ralph Payne-Gallwey
⇒The Crossbow: Its Military and Sporting History, Construction and Use Ralph Payne-Gallwey
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On the Reading List
Martial Arts
⇒Complete Sinawali: Filipino Double-Weapon Fighting (Galang)
⇒Filipino Martial Culture (Wiley)
⇒Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai: a manual for the samurai classes consisting of a series of short ancedotes and reflections that give both insight and instruction in the philosophy and code of behavior that foster the true spirit of Bushido -- the Way of the Warrior. It is a collection of of thoughts and sayings recorded over a period of 7 years, and as such covers a wide variety of subjects. The work represents an attitude far removed from our modern pragmatism and materialism.
⇒Modern Arnis: The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting (Presas)
⇒Stick Fighting: Techniques of Self-Defense Kukishin Ryuu
⇒The Life-Giving Sword: The classic text on Zen and the No-Sword by Musashi's great rival.
⇒The Secrets of Giron, Arnis, Escrima (Somera)
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Military Arts
⇒Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany: June 7, 1944 to May 7, 1945 Stephen E. Ambrose
⇒On War Carl von Clausewitz
⇒Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton Van Creveld
⇒The Art of War: War and Military Thought Van Creveld
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Military History
⇒Russian Sideshow : America's Undeclared War 1918-1920 Robert L. Willett
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