has anyone read a good Military-related book lately? I have to read one for my Military History final, and I don't have a clue what is good.

How related to military history does it have to be?

pretty darn related.

The only one I can think of off the top of my head would be "We were soldiers once, and young". It was about one of the first major battles in Vietnam, written by the company commander or whatever he was. They made it into a crappy movie with Mel "I"m a bigot" Gibson

Meditations in Green by Stephen Wright wasn't bad either.

How much time do you have (want to expend) to read it?

Also, although I have not read it, I wonder if Wright's novel qualifies as military history. I know it's based on his experience, but a novel nonetheless.

that would depend on how interesting it is I guess... a couple hours, maybe more.

Welp.... the stuff on my shelves is generally about the revolutionary war and would take lots longer than two hours to read.....

hmm.....

well, as long as it's not really dry I can do that..

what, no Cliff Notes John?

I liked "Jarhead" by Anthony Swofford. It's relatively recent history (first Gulf War) and had a movie made from it a year or two back...

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, a fact-based novel about the officers who fought on both sides in the 3-day battle of Gettysburg, is one of the most interesting books I've ever read. And I've read a few...

Ooh, thanks guys. I'll check that out.

Rachel

I keep seeing this thread title show up. It reminds me of the #3 Reason Why It's Great to Be a Guy:

You know stuff about tanks.

(notice not a single female offered Rachel any help)

While The Killer Angels is indeed a tremendous book, it falls more into the historical fiction genre than "true" history. It's highly recommended reading even if it doesn't apply in this particular circumstance.

Books I might recommend that haven't been mentioned yet include:

Flags of Our Fathers, by James Bradley
The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power, by Max Boot (probably drier than what you're looking for though)
In Harm's Way, by Doug Stanton
Ghost Soldiers, by Hampton Sides
Band of Brothers, by Stephen Ambrose
Black Hawk Down, by Mark Bowden
The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang (may not be military-specific enough for you, but recommended nonetheless)

what about the things they carried by tim o'brien? is that considered military history?

IMO, no.

She said "Military-related", not that it had to be strictly historical. If it does actually have to be military history, then The Killer Angels is indeed inappropriate.

You're right. Her statement that it was for a final in military history prompted me to make an assumption that was perhaps unwarranted.