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The Bomber Mafia
The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War | Malcolm Gladwell
33 posts | 46 read | 18 to read
An exploration of how technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war A New York Times Book Review Editors Choice In The Bomber Mafia, Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American 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, the Bomber Mafia, asked: What if precision bombing could cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal? In contrast, the bombing of Tokyo on the deadliest night of the war was the brainchild of General Curtis LeMay, whose brutal pragmatism and scorched-earth tactics in Japan cost thousands of civilian lives, but may have spared even more by averting a planned US invasion. In The Bomber Mafia, Gladwell asks, Was it worth it? Things might have gone differently had LeMays predecessor, General Haywood Hansell, remained in charge. Hansell believed in precision bombing, but when he and Curtis LeMay squared off for a leadership handover in the jungles of Guam, LeMay emerged victorious, leading to the darkest night of World War II. The Bomber Mafia is a riveting tale of persistence, innovation, and the incalculable wages of war.
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LatrelWhite
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This up next! With audio dramatizations🙌🏾🙌🏾🎧

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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

Great on audio with Gladwell narrating and back ground music and old interviews!

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TheBookgeekFrau
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ncsufoxes
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I‘m a big Malcolm Gladwell‘s work & his voice is so great for audio books. My husband‘s grandfather was a SeaBee & photographer during WWII. He was located off the coast of Japan, Guam. He was one of the photographers that went up to take photos for reconnaissance missions. After listening to Gladwell discuss the bombing of cities in Japan I realized these were the photos he probably took (the family has a metal box full of photos that he took

Amiable This was one of the most amazing audiobooks I‘ve ever heard. I recommend it all the time. 1y
ncsufoxes that he was able to keep). Anyhow the book was more than that, just an interesting connection. The book revisits this piece of history (which is what Gladwell does well) to try to understand more. He discussed the start of the US Air Force & their development of precision bombing. Gladwell brings to light interesting ideas about how bombing was used & the influence of what happened in WWII. #bookspin bingo 1y
ncsufoxes I was also amazed to learn that Napalm was developed at Harvard & tested on the Harvard soccer field. We live 6 miles away from Harvard, so it‘s pretty surreal to read about Napalm being tested in Cambridge (Boston has some really weird & interesting moments in history). 1y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1y
marleed Great review. I loved this book. I‘m pretend m taking a college class and getting college credit every time I read his books. He both teaches me and makes me consider things from alternate perspectives. 1y
26 likes5 comments
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TheBookgeekFrau
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Pickpick

I'm not a fan of military/war strategy history books, but I'm huge fan of Malcolm Gladwell's writing and genius of showing the relationship between seemingly unrelated things. And this was a most fascinating read.

Even though the book doesn't take place in Alabama, the Bomber Mafia was based at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, so, yay #Alabama for #BooksByState2023 😁

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TheBookgeekFrau
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KCofKaysville
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Interesting story of how Air Force group wanted to make war less lethal and how it did not turn out that way.

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KCofKaysville
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I'm starting this one also. Found a copy at a thrift store.

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stevesbookstuf1
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Pickpick

Malcolm Gladwell turns to history and does a pretty darn good job. Definitely do the audiobook on this one. It's got archival interviews from some of the key players and sound clips from WWII, and Gladwell's podcasting experience shines through. As a fan of books on history I found it to be a great refresher as well as a unique look at the air war in WWII.

Full review: https://bit.ly/rvw-BomberMafia

jlhammar This was really interesting. Agree, audio is definitely the way to go! 2y
MonicaLoves2Read Stacked. I love WWII books 2y
stevesbookstuf1 @Monica5 Then you'll definitely like this one. 2y
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jspoelker
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Pickpick

Malcom Gladwell does it again. This time he focuses on WWI and the lesser known intricacies of the bombing strategies and human back stories. Originally written as an audiobook with actual footage of high level conversations and digital support via the net. The audio version transports the reader to the exact conversation complete with tel tail 1940‘s recording sounds. It‘s incredibly powerful to hear it first hand.

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brushlo
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Short and easy read. interesting history that i was not aware of around bombing technology and competing visions of war.

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fredthemoose
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Interesting exploration of two competing schools of thought around the use of indiscriminate vs. precision bombing in WWII and the promises, challenges, and consequences of each. Originally developed as an audiobook, the audio includes original interviews from people who were involved and historical broadcast material.

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Singout
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Excellent #NYWD from @Amiable: probably my first war strategy book. The history of war planes before and during World War II focusses on how new technology meant that very specific targets could be used with less deaths, leading to conflict in the USAF and between them and Britain over this method on Germany and Japan vs “carpet bombing.” Very intriguing analysis of war ethics I shared with fellow peaceniks.
#Nonfiction2022 #Brain
#Audiobook

Amiable I'm so thrilled that you loved this one! I was mesmerized by it. Gladwell is SUCH an engaging author and narrator. 3y
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Berryfan
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Full disclosure, I am a big fan of Gladwell and expected to like this book. It‘s well-researched and wee-written. The focus is on a long-standing issue about the most moral way to wage war. In this case it is precision bombing vs area bombing. It is a bit thin compared to his other books.

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Singout

The psychologist Daniel Wegner has this beautiful concept called “transactive memory,” which is the observation that we don‘t just store information in our minds or in specific places. We store memories and understanding in the minds of people we love. You don‘t need to remember your child‘s emotional relationship to her teacher because you know your wife will...when your partner dies, all that you have stored in your partner‘s brain is gone.

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jlhammar
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This audiobook is an exceptional listen. With sound effects, music and old interviews, Gladwell delves into the history of bombing in warfare and specifically the development of bombing technologies and strategies employed in WWII. Leaves you pondering questions of morality in warfare.

#Airplane #SavvySettings
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ✈️📚👍🏻 3y
Eggs 💙 ✈️ 🖤 3y
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DcSunshine
Pickpick

This books would make a great gift for almost anyone. It was enlightening and interesting, while approachable in its typical Gladwell style.

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DanielFrohlich
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Excellent story I never knew about precision bombing vs carpet bombing

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AvidReader25
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Gladwell is a must-read author for me. A book about World War II bomber planes wouldn‘t necessarily grab my attention, but like all of his books, the topic delves far beyond the surface subject and explores the sociological implications of some critical inventions. I was completely enthralled the entire time. It was designed as an audiobook, so I highly recommend reading it and that format.

marleed Must read for me as well. I consider him a teacher! 3y
AvidReader25 @marleed Yes! He has such an incredible skill for communicating Big ideas in an accessible way. 3y
Amiable Such an amazing audiobook! I try to recommend this to everyone who will listen to me about it. :) 3y
AvidReader25 @Amiable Yes! I feel the same way about his audiobook Talking to Strangers. 3y
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ClairesReads
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I love Malcolm Gladwell, and his books occupy a unique niche in that I think they are better on audio than they are in print. In this book, Gladwell looks to history, specifically the development of bombing technologies and the bombing strategies employed in WWII to ask- is it possible to have more moral war? It's exceptionally and exceptionally well-produced and engaging story.

MelAnn I agree his audio books are amazing!! 3y
ClairesReads @MelAnn they‘re fab aren‘t they? 3y
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gclews
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This wasn't what I was expecting from a Malcolm Gladwell book. I'm used to him telling interesting stories and attaching them to a theory in order to help you understand why or how something is the way it is. However, you can tell that he has a love for the history he is retelling and his style of telling a story still shines through to make this a great read. I would know a lot more about history of it was explained by Gladwell

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Twainy
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🎧 There‘s music, sound effects, news clips that all fit in with the author‘s narration.

Starting in the evening of March 9, 1945 the US fire bombed Tokyo. 100K died. This book tells the story of the years approaching this night. The tech, the pilots, the planes, precision VS area bombing, the weather.

If you like any of Gladwell‘s previous books you‘ll probably like this one also. He‘s a good story teller.

Hind sight.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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CRR
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I‘ve read and enjoyed sever other Gladwell books. This one was different than the others I‘d read but still similar too. It told an interesting story about WWII and I learned much in reading it.

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marleed
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I‘m accustomed to earning my psychology reading credits from Malcolm McDowell. But what‘s this, Malcolm‘s a visiting professor for a history lesson - I‘m all in! Why he is interested in his research makes the book even better. I don‘t often spend time in the historical details of war but have new understanding for how difficult it was to deliver a bomb on an intended target during WWII.

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451Degrees
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I love Gladwell‘s work. There‘s something about his writing that makes you feel like he‘s telling the story just to you and that he is just as astonished and fascinated as you are while you‘re reading his writing! As someone who loves WWII history and more specifically aviation during WWII this was a great read for me! And those who are also interested in these subjects!🙂

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jpj7474

I find virtually all of Gladwell's books interesting & enjoyable. He delves so thoroughly into a subject that on its surface you think you understand, but he gives you context & a different perspective. And his prose is so straightforward & comprehensible. He doesn't fall in love with his own intellect.

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RamsFan1963
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Panpan

I found this book very surprising, but not in a good way. I've always enjoyed Gladwell's writing, but this did nothing for me, I kept speeding it up just to get through it. Maybe it was my mistake, reading two war books in a row.
2nd book for #20in4 readathon @Andrew65

Andrew65 Oh dear! Well done on finishing it. 3y
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Amiable
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I almost never listen to audiobooks. It‘s just not my thing. But when it‘s a Malcolm Gladwell book read by Malcolm Gladwell? I‘m totally here for it. I just sat in my car for an extra 11 minutes to get to the end of the chapter. He has me enthralled by discussions of tactical bombing exercises designed to cut off choke points to power grids—at 7 am, before I‘ve had any caffeine. He‘s just that good.

Megabooks Oh yeah. This audiobook is fantastic and so sad. (edited) 3y
Amiable @Megabooks I had the hardcover of this in my hand last week at the bookstore and put it down at the last minute —thank goodness I did! I don‘t know how this book can truly work in any other format than an audiobook. It is amazing. (edited) 3y
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booksaremyfavorite
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I started this book reading the hardcover but was then made aware of the audiobook on hoopla. I am so glad I switched over. So good! Gladwell‘s detail was amazing as always.

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CaitlinByTheBook
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Finished this audio book and thought it was incredible! A new take on WW2 history and written with the level of detail Gladwell is known for with his other books. I pre-ordered from Pushkin and got the book via podcast player RSS which was a great way to listen. Highly recommend! 5⭐️

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PurpleTulipGirl
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In between long walks on the beach and eating good food, I‘ve done a ton of reading and knitting. Our Molly goes to the vet tomorrow to see how reducing her immunosuppressant med is going. If this week is any indication, she‘s doing well. She LOVES walks on the beach and has enjoyed getting there daily.

Including a picture of the finished knitting for @Lindy

Lindy What striking use of colour! 😍 3y
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CaitlinByTheBook
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Current audiobook! 🎧📚

RamsFan1963 I'm looking forward to reading this. 3y
CaitlinByTheBook @RamsFan1963 I‘m really enjoying it! The audiobook is great. 3y
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Megabooks
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This is a new direction for Gladwell. He looks at a pivotal moment in history, and while he examines it with the same attention to detail as his other books, there‘s no pop sci element.

There were two schools of thought in WWII: bomb the morale out of them and strategically bomb their assets. Gladwell looks at how the two inventions and a change in command in the Pacific theater determined the course of world history.

Note on format! ⬇️ #hoopla

Megabooks ⬆️ This is meant to be read as an #audiobook. It has some podcast elements, like interviews where the subject speaks themselves, and historical and translated recordings as well. For those who read him in print, it will be released that way, but I think this is his experiment with an “audio first” publishing strategy. It is available on #hoopla if your library has that. It is worth a shot if you enjoy history! (edited) 4y
Bookwormjillk Is this new? I haven‘t heard of it until now. 4y
Kimberlone I think a large part of this book was already included in the most recent season of his podcast Revisionist History. I kind of lost interest in the story when it was presented in a weekly format, but I am interested in checking out the version packaged as an audiobook. I do love Malcolm Gladwell‘s perspective on the world. 4y
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Megabooks @Bookwormjillk Yes! It is new. 4y
Megabooks @Kimberlone I bet it was. I‘m not really a fan of podcasts for that reason. I‘ve tried, but I‘m just not big on serialized stories. You may enjoy it more here. It is very well done. I much prefer audiobooks. 4y
Cinfhen I‘ve seen this on #Hoopla / not sure if it‘s for me 🤷🏼‍♀️really helpful review 💜 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘m not sure this is for you either, especially since you have so few borrows. I think you‘d enjoy the immersive narration experience, and you generally have more interest in WWII than I do, but I‘m not sure this is the part of the war that would interest you. Maybe when you have an unused borrow. 🤔 3y
Cinfhen Exactly!!!! 3y
Ruthiella I listened to this on Gladwell‘s podcast last year. It was fascinating and sobering. 3y
Megabooks @Ruthiella Totally agree. War is horrifying. 3y
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