The Bomber Mafia: A Tale of Innovation and Obsession
Paperback Published on: 02/06/2022
Price: £12.99
Bookseller Reviews
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Morals of war.
Malcolm Gladwell, explores the morality of war and methods being used during the Second World War by the American Air Force.
“Bomber Mafia” is full of col... READ MORE
Worth reading!
As someone who knows a bit about air warfare this book really got me thinking, offering a different way of looking at the bombing war of WW2. Probably one ... READ MORE
An intriguing page-turner
An easy read into the less-explored topic of the Bomber Mafia. Gladwell’s book gives interesting insight into the dreams behind warfare and the ambiguous m... READ MORE
Synopsis
A riveting tale of persistence, innovation, and the incalculable wages of war, from Malcolm Gladwell, the international bestselling author of Talking to Strangers and host of the award-winning podcast Revisionist History
Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought. But a small band of idealistic strategists had a different view. This "Bomber Mafia" asked: What if precision bombing could, just by taking out critical choke points - industrial or transportation hubs - cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal? In The Bomber Mafia, Gladwell delves deep into questions of how technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780141998374
- Number of pages: 256
- Dimensions: 197 x 129 x 16 mm
- Weight: 205g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allThe possibilities and moral ambiguities of aerial warfare
'The Bomber Mafia' by Malcom Gladwell focusses on the possibilities and moral ambiguities of aerial warfare. From carpet bombing/area bombing, precision bo... READ MORE
Historical investigation
Basically, air power proponents were like surgeons ("cure anything and everything with a knife") and bombing proponents like neurosurgeons ("fixing God's m... READ MORE
Engrossing potted history of an often overlooked aspect of WWII
More often known for his popular science books in this book Malcolm Gladwell instead presents a potted guide to American bomber hardware and strategies dur... READ MORE
Fascinating - stylish - readable
This is a very engaging study of the two approaches the Allies adopted to bombing during WWII: area bombing and precision/strategic bombing. General Hansel... READ MORE
Grabs and never lets your attention wane.
I chose this book (an advance reading copy), from NetGalley believing it was a fictional thriller set in the Pacific theatre of World War II.
How wrong ... READ MORE
Fascinating
Although books on the second World War are in plentiful supply, Malcolm Gladwell has found a quirky, fresh insight into air warfare and how small decisions... READ MORE
War facts
An interesting but different slant on WW2, a short book but fully packed with interesting facts. Well worth a read for any war fanatic.
Fascinating, articulate and engaging !
I loved this book.
It is about the development of aerial bombing and the related development of technology, strategy and moral components that result in ... READ MORE
An easy-reading, interesting story that is accessible to everyone
Following the mass casualties of the trench warfare of World War 1, a group of radical thinkers in America pushed for a change in the way wars were fought ... READ MORE
Precision bombing in WW2 - was it really possible?
Both my parents were involved with RAF Bomber Command in WW2. My father being aircrew and my mother in RAF Intelligence, therefore the background story of ... READ MORE
Interesting and entertaining
As someone with little interest in the Second World War, I was drawn to this book because of the author. Having previously read Outliers, listened to podca... READ MORE
Absorbing and readable
Malcolm Gladwell did excellent and passionate research in the field to build this book. His fascination with the bombing and history behind the scene can a... READ MORE
A fascinating and engrossing book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
I read the synopsis and did not believe a word of it. In spite of that I "gave it a go" and was amazed to discover that the synopsis undersold the book and... READ MORE
Fascinating!
Another Gladwell triumph. I had no idea how that a change in american air power tactics had such an enormous influence on the outcome of world war 2 and ev... READ MORE
Fascinating and well researched, well written too.
I had never heard of Malcolm Gladwell before seeing this book on NetGalley. Wow, it's a fanastic history of American air tactics and the men behind them. U... READ MORE
Interesting story on the evolution of aerial warfare
The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell is a nonfiction book that explores the methods and morality of aerial warfare. The book explores the development of te... READ MORE
It's Gladwell so it's worth it
The Second World War was just that, fought across the globe and in different arenas. Enterprising militaries thought that fighting the war completely from... READ MORE
Highly recommended
Malcom Gladwell is an excellent popularizer and I was hooked even if I'm not very interested in the topic.
His style of writing and his ability of connecti... READ MORE
Interesting
Malcolm Gladwell here brings his forensic analysis to the Bomber Mafia, the group of dedicated men who gave themselves over to working out the complicated ... READ MORE
Horrible book
This is a terrible book. It is well written but full of historical errors or just lies. There is little understanding of the wider war or decisions that le... READ MORE
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