The Bomber Mafia Book Reviews

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Conventional Bombing WWII Well Explained. In a relatively short book, Mr. Gladwell explains the concept of conventional bombing (precision and area) as well as I have read. He avoids judgements and presentism, and he provides facts that well cited. I myself will cite “ The Bomber Mafia” in my college lectures. Excellent reading for any WWII historian.

Thought-provoking read that gives serious pause.. Thought-provoking read that gives serious pause.

Another fascinating book. I love pretty much everything written by Malcolm Gladwell. I like his tone and how he puts seemingly disparate events together to tell a really interesting story. I think the preface said this wasn’t social psychology and that’s not quite right. Seems like military social psychology. I just finished and an unbidden ‘oh no’ came out of my mouth. It was over in the blink of an eye. That’s my only complaint!!!

It’s a good read. I enjoyed it. Gladwell’s style is pretty engaging. But in the end, I kinda wished there was more here. Finished it in one day of airplane travel.

In this hodgepodge Malcolm makes a case for. 1. All war is madness 2. Try to win a war as quickly as possible regardless of how many innocents lose their lives 3. Conduct war from the moral high ground and reduce all collateral damage. He’s clearly got both feet planted firmly in the air.

Way overpriced. This was like a long form magazine article. For 14.99$ I want my money back! MG is selling out. Avoid this book.

Birth of Modern War. Though this effort represents a wholly different subject matter than his usual social psychology, this book proves that Malcolm Gladwell is the master of painting context in the clearest brush strokes. He does not lose any of his penchant for deep psychological inquiry into his subject and this one is particularly all consuming. I am no fan of war, but psychology of the decision making of those who run them and the ramifications were still feeling today are engrossing. The book is more than a look at the beginning of modern war, it serves as a critical analysis of how we come to certain beliefs and how we hold steadfastly to them even in the face of overwhelming counter evidence. A sort of look into cult like fanatical reverence for a particular view that drives the ethos of a group. Visualize Apple with its “Think Different” approach, or Toyota with its Six Sigma manufacturing precision, or Disney and its fun factory obsession. Each of these institutions start with an idea, a germ, that sometimes takes decades to see realized. That is the heart of this book. Like in Nolan’s Inception, Gladwell shows how an idea can take a root amongst a fiercely passionate founding group and grow into the standard operating procedure for every major army on the planet. The subject of war is disheartening, but for this instant it serves the purpose of illuminating the broader picture of how the best ideas can win out along a long enough timeline.

A fascinating read. A captivating and well written account of how men and machines combine and the effects of this

The art of bombing.. Once again Gladwell reveals something many people never knew. The art and morality of bombing cities and targets Is brought to life in The Bomber Mafia.

Apology, or justification? Re-writing history for pacificists. Discussions or publications analyzing the conduct of the Second World War is not readily or easily done, yet reality was ignored in this book in order to demonize those who were charged with conducting strikes against the enemy. The Japanese martial mindset is not understood by many, tradition and rules established for centuries before white men ever walked on North America. It was and, to a degree, still is a culture dedicated combat and self-sacrifice. Americans today think of war in terms of surgical air strikes, and invasion by heavily-armed teams of skilled professionals. In contrast, the Japanese Army and Navy were millions of men trained from the age of 6 to sacrifice themselves for the Emperor. Unlike today’s “woke” wimps, these soldiers and sailors were trained for combat, to die without thought of their personal needs or desires. It’s the Japanese national culture. This was the army that slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Chinese men, women, and children in every city in China they invaded. Millions perished in this manner at the brutal hands of Tojo’s troops. Even while American bombers were attacking military targets, civilians were being trained to resist Allied invaders through suicide attacks. In essence, the entire civilian populace had been inducted involuntarily to join the final military resistance. This, while the populace was being told that Japan was winning the war. One other point missed: Japanese arms, ammunition, and the goods associated with supporting the military were produced not in huge centralized facilities, but in the Ted home-based machine shops spread throughout Japan: almost 80% of their wartime production came not from large manufacturing sites but from decentralized sources. Here is what the author refuses to say: Japan’s entire population were dedicated to armed, suicidal resistance of the invasion certain to come, in a nation whose martial culture is inculcated in male children from their sixth birthday, where decentralized manufacturing of war supplies constituted nearly 80% of military stores. There were few innocent civilians, and in the eyes of the Japanese warlords, they were all expendable. How do you end that?

Starts out well. But winds up... thin.

The Bomber Mafia. Another great Gladwell tome. Always insightful into the human condition and mindset. The insanity of war contrasted with the vagaries of mankind’s dilemmas.

Good book. I read this during the final season of attack on titan. LeMay firebombing Japan indiscriminately is very reminiscent to an event in that series. As usual Gladwell delivers a masterpiece.

Way over rated.. Several technical things are totally incorrect. If one is going to indict LaMay and the bombing, build a strong argument. The author fails to go after failure of the bomb sight and what he infers as war crimes. Two hundred pages to infer. Macomb, get a pair.

Finished Quickly. This is what I considered a quick read. I flew through this book lol. However, I also went through this book so quickly because I’m fascinated with military history. Great read nonetheless.

AirPower & Ethics. Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Bomber Mafia” examines the inception and necessity of the B-29 Superfortress during WWII, woven with the differentiating operational approaches of then U.S. Army Air Force Generals Curtis LeMay and Haywood Hansell. By books end, the fundamental question must be asked, “Does the end justify the means?”

Great story but too expensive. Great subject, and well told and would have been 5 stars, but $14.99 for 134 pages seems a little steep

Not worth it …. More like a long magazine article, and lost interest quickly to the point I never finished. I wish I could get my money back …

Awesome book.. Awesome book as always Gladwell masterfully tells the story.

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