Here is a non-exhaustive list of books I read in 2019. Almost all books I read electronically, the odd one I listen to as an audio book. I’d rather read the real thing, wouldn’t we all, but I consume so much material every day that it is just cheaper and easier to use my Kindle app. I’ve given away hundreds if not thousands of books over the years and every time it breaks my heart a little. These days I am judicious in the books I purchase in hard copy and keep on my tiny bookshelf, if I really love one I read on Kindle I will buy it and add it to the collection.
Send me your recommendations!
January
The Red Circle – Brandon Webb
First Man In – Ant Middleton
The Forgotten Highlander – Alistair Urquhart
Books rarely leave an impression like this one did. Even if you’re not a fan of the military history genre, this is a book everyone should read to understand what resilience and spirit really means.
February
The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader – Jason Redman
Fearless – Eric Blehm
Make Your Bed: Small Things that can Change Your Life and maybe the World – William McRaven
The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan – Eric Blehm
A Captain’s Duty – Richard Phillips
March
Alone on the Wall – Alex Honnold
Open – Andre Agassi
I discuss this book in the episode Passion. It’s a great book and not at all a typical memoir.
April
Always Another Dawn: The Story of a Rocket Test Pilot – Scott Crossfield
First into Action: A Dramatic Personal Account of Life in the SBS – Duncan Falconer
May
Flying the line – An Air Force Pilot’s Journey: Volume 2 1981-1993 – Jay Lacklen
Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations – McRaven, William H
June
Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy Seal – Pfarrer, Chuck
July
Delta Force: A Memoir by the Founder of the U.S. Military’s Most Secretive Special-Operations Unit – Beckwith, Charlie A.
August
Across The Fence: The Secret War In Vietnam – Meyer, John StrykerOn The Ground: The Secret War in Vietnam – Meyer, John
September
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – Lynne M. Black Jr.
Soldier ‘I’: The story of an SAS Hero – Kennedy, Michael Paul
October
Immediate Action – McNab, Andy
Bravo Two Zero: The Harrowing True Story of a Special Forces Patrol Behind the Lines in Iraq – McNab, Andy
The Terminal List – Jack Carr (Audiobook)
November
Battle Scars: A Story of War and All That Follows – Fox, Jason
First into Sangin – MC, Trevor Coult
War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line – Nott, David
Another must read, this book was one of the most moving books I’ve read in recent years.
The Here and Now Podcast 