[23], Writing for The Baffler, Noah Kulwin criticized the book as "an attempt to retcon the history of American aerial warfare by arguing that developing the capacity to explode anything, anywhere in the world has made America and, indeed, the rest of the globe, unequivocally safer" and stated "by taking up military history, Gladwell's half-witted didacticism threatens to convince millions of people that the only solution to American butchery is to continue shelling out for sharper and larger knives. Here is Gladwells stunning description of a United States Air Force B-17 bomber being cut up on a run over Germany: One 20-millimeter cannon shell penetrated the right side of the airplane and exploded beneath the pilot, cutting one of the gunners in the leg. Much of Japanese housing was wood, paper, with straw mats. [] Hansell won the war". Malcom Gladwells book Talking to Strangers is a very good book that ties together The author of the book is Malcolm Gladwell, an English-born Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker. Malcolm Gladwell and "The Bomber Mafia". Malcolm Gladwell on the Hard Decisions of War, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/books/review/the-bomber-mafia-malcolm-gladwell.html. It was decided primarily by General Curtis LeMay to carpet bomb Tokyo, using napalm. This Bomber Mafia asked: What if precision bombing could, just by taking out critical choke points industrial or transportation hubs cripple the enemyandmake war far less lethal? In one day in March, 1945, more than 400 B-29s totally burned 16 square miles of Tokyo killing far more than 100,000 people. Ultimately, though, the Bomber Mafia was right. Content Warning: The source text contains historical quotations that use offensive terms for Japanese people. Rather than focus on industrial or military targets, the napalm bombs spewed all over cities, destroying housing and killing civilians in a most devastating way. The book concludes that "LeMay won the battle. Chapter 6 notes the development of the new B-29 bomber and how that extended the range of bombing the Americans could conduct against Japan. He and several friends decided People have been flocking to the Egypt-Sudan border to escape the violence from two Sudanese rival forces despite a South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged still-more strengthening of the U.S.-led security alliance guarding against nuclear-armed North Korea One fun way to see the world and visit unique locations is on a cruise ship. These Podcasts Aren't So Sure", "Presenting: The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell", "The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War", "The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell review why 'precision bombing' is an utter delusion", "Wrestling with the strategy and morality of the firebombing of Japan", "The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell, review the Outliers author on the morality of war", "Malcolm Gladwell on the Hard Decisions of War", "When Pop History Bombs: A Response to Malcolm Gladwell's Love Letter to American Air Power", "Malcolm Gladwell's The Bomber Mafia is misleading history-lite", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Bomber_Mafia&oldid=1134344848, This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 06:23. And interesting. During World War II, some of these pilots became major decision makers. All rights reserved. As a key member of the Bomber Mafia, Hansells theories of precision bombing had been foiled by bad weather and human error. The Listeners Guide is only available from Pushkin Industries when you buy The Bomber Mafia. The airmen believed that the tool would allow forces to focus on taking out specific targets that could cripple the enemys production lines rather than engaging in the kind of indiscriminate bombing that the Germans did on London and the Allied forces would against Dresden. For those of us who had family waiting to invade, whatever the reason(s), it was very welcome. Malcolm Gladwell had a podcast on this topic last year. [2] In November 1932 when British Lord President of the Council Stanley Baldwin said "the bomber will always get through", he was talking about the terror bombing of cities. Sorry, but these apps are not currently supported: Stitcher, Podbean, or NPR One. War stories are a brand-new category for those utilized to Macolm Gladwells distinct brand of nonfiction. The strategic bombing concept, however, was a major factor in the eventual victory and became the first core doctrine of the independent United States Air Force. Malcolm Gladwells exploration of how technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war. Revisionist History host Malcolm Gladwell joins Dan to discuss the development of U.S. precision bombing ideas, Curtis LeMay and the firebombing of Japanese cities. His interview with Fareed Zakaria was interesting, spanning everything from auto-pilot vehicles to U.S. university rankings to a critique of The Little Mermaid (which, thankfully, I have never seen). https://ipaudio.club/wp-content/uploads/GOLN/Bomber%20Mafia%20(Malcolm%20Gladwell)/01.mp3, https://ipaudio.club/wp-content/uploads/GOLN/Bomber%20Mafia%20(Malcolm%20Gladwell)/02.mp3, https://ipaudio.club/wp-content/uploads/GOLN/Bomber%20Mafia%20(Malcolm%20Gladwell)/03.mp3, https://ipaudio.club/wp-content/uploads/GOLN/Bomber%20Mafia%20(Malcolm%20Gladwell)/04.mp3, https://ipaudio.club/wp-content/uploads/GOLN/Bomber%20Mafia%20(Malcolm%20Gladwell)/05.mp3, Terry Pratchett The Colour of Magic Audiobook, Catherine Ryan Howard The Liars Girl Audiobook, James Islington The Shadow Of What Was Lost Audiobook, Gary Taubes The Case for Keto Audiobook, Ken Follett A Place Called Freedom Audiobook. in History Nonfiction June 10, 2021, Malcolm Gladwell The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War Audiobook. There is nothing 'inappropriate' in the book, it is simply not about battles and actions. This page is not available in other languages. Yet the issue the Bombing plane Mafia was attempting to fix has both physics as well as moral angles. Those are exactly the same, but there's a lot more to the book. Suggestions, Fan Mail, Bones to Pick, and All Other Queries, For Speaking Engagements With Malcolm Gladwell. The Bombing plane mafia under Hansell are bent on reduce the destruction as well as focused on throwing a spanner in the works of battle. However the tale deserves to be informed. Simply not a subject I seem out, neither do I think I would certainly have liked it as much had I review. Was Henry Stimson, Franklin Roosevelts secretary of war, truly responsible, more than anyone, for the extraordinary war machine that the United States built in the early years of the Second World War? [10] The doctrine also ran counter to the theories of Billy Mitchell himself, who espoused that pursuit support was essential for daylight bombing operations.[11]. If youre an audiobook listener, thats the version to choose. All Rights Reserved. This guide is based on the hardcover first edition. Most of his books deal with research into the social sciences, particularly sociology and psychology and have been best sellers. >> and with one of our favorite guest. We are excited to provide you an exclusive Listener's Guide that offers an inside look at the production process, archival imagery, and commentary from Malcolm and the producers and engineers involved with this extraordinary project. or ask your favorite author a question with 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. With thousands of Veterans Day military discounts to choose from, how do you find the best ones? [21] In The New York Times Book Review, Thomas E. Ricks called the book "a conversational work" which he enjoyed, but noted that "when Gladwell leaps to provide superlative assessments, or draws broad lessons of history from isolated incidents, he makes me wary". As a work of history, it borders on reckless". The kind of indiscriminate destruction that LeMay used to win the war is absolutely a thing of the past, at least for American forces. Copyright 2023 Free Audiobooks. But when Gladwell leaps to provide superlative assessments, or draws broad lessons of history from isolated incidents, he makes me wary. The Listeners Guide features additional commentary from, Suggestions, Fan Mail, Bones to Pick, and All Other Queries, For Speaking Engagements With Malcolm Gladwell, Hasta la Vista, America: Trumps Farewell Address, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Why? By dropping bombs with precision onto strategic targets, Hansell believed wars could be won faster and with far less . Its a history of the dueling philosophies regarding bombing that existed in the US military during World War II. It's pretty much about the history of how the military went from ground wars to air wars and theoretically . and Terms of Use, 2023 Hachette Book Group | Terms of Use | It's true: The audiobook breaks conventional audiobook standards, as this is a well-produced audio experience. Norden, LeMay, the Air force, DuPont, a complete range of personalities that created methods to make war much more effective, with the hope that this war would certainly be the last. Contact Us | Much of the book concerns the technical and practical aspects of the Norden bombsight, in a 'grown-ups arguing' sort of way. A novelty of this book is that Gladwell says it began as an audiobook and then became a written one, reversing the usual process. New Review from Brian Castner: Malcolm Gladwell's "The Bomber Mafia 50% Off The Bomber Mafia | Senior Discounts Club A fourth shell hit the cockpit, taking out the planes hydraulic system. Restricted in scope, short in play time, I located this believed prompting. James Grosjean Strategy Cards (ShopLVA Exclusive), Las Vegas Advisor Membership + Member Rewards, Other Games, Weird Rules, Promos, Side Bets, Podcast - former surveillance operator Junior. The print has its merits of being able to take your time to know the history of . Listener's Guide: The Bomber Mafia | Pushkin Industries Gladwell describes the challenges that both faced. It reviews the capabilities that todays military has in terms of bombing and notes that the Bomber Mafias philosophy of precision bombing won out in the end. I didn't know he had a podcast on this topic, but after listening to the book my immediate thought was "Why did I pay for this book? The book description sounds exactly like the podcast. Almost 100 B-24 planes were lost with only minimal damage done to the ball bearing plant.