Samuel Morison

I first got this book and read it in eighth grade. I read it once a year ever since! This is, without a doubt, the quintessential book on the US Navy in World War II. (That is, excluding his 15 volume set) Well written, it shows not only the big picture, but the smaller battles and skirmishes. Morison goes over the buildup to it, speaking of the "Twenty Years' Peace", sheds light on the oft-overlooked ABDA command, talks about the attack on Pearl Harbor in-depth, gives amazingly accurate details on the Battle for the Atlantic, and speaks of the battles that have become synonymous with the Pacific, as well as some that may be new to even the most accomplished World War II/Navy buff. A great read, and it's a great way to understand how important the US Navy was in WWII.

Critically acclaimed classic lets Puritans speak for themselves in crucial documents covering history, theory of state and society, religion, customs, behavior, biographies and letters, poetry, literary theory, education, science, and more. Regarded by historian Samuel Eliot Morison as "the best selection ever made of Puritan literature, point of view and culture."

by Jeremy Black (Author)
As centers for defense and bases for attack since ancient times, fortifications are a crucial aspect of military history. Indeed, as Jeremy Black shows, the history of fortifications is a global history of humanity itself