Wavell Room’s Christmas Recommendations 2024

‘Tis the season for giving…knowledge! 

Take a look at our curated mix of intellectual nutrition and thought-provoking ‘wildcard’ offerings, recommended by the Wavell Room team. Whether you’re looking to expand your mind, spark lively discussions, or simply escape into a captivating military tale, we’ve got you covered.

 

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Phil

Recommendation: Arnhem: Black Tuesday by Al Murray                    

Summary: To say this battle has been an obsession for Al Murray is perhaps an understatement.  Murray does not let his passion for those fateful days in September 1944 run away with him – instead, he uses his deep understanding of the battle to craft a superb narrative regarding the events of Tuesday the 19th of September.  I would liken the level of detail to Middlebrook’s First Day of the Somme.  By running a detailed timeline against 4 key locations: the Woods, the Town, the Bridge, and the Village Murray has produced something really special that deserves its place amongst the best books written on this campaign.

Wildcard offering: And We Shall Shock Them by David Fraser.

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Mavs

Recommendation: Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Summary: Ever wondered what sets high achievers apart, and if their success really is so extraordinary? In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell explores how factors like background, environment, and opportunity shape the success of rock stars, athletes, software moguls, and scientific pioneers. This thought-provoking read reveals that success is not solely about individual talent. Gladwell challenges the idea that anyone, even the most gifted, succeeds in isolation. I thought about this for months after reading it, a highly recommended genuine page-turner and eye-opening book. 

Wildcard offerings: Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, and True North by Sal Naseem.

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Manish

Recommendation One: Empireworld: How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe by Sathnam Sanghera

Summary: 2021’s Empireland explored how the British Empire and colonialism shaped modern Britain. This follow-up continues the same nuanced yet brutally honest approach, broadening the scope to delve into global legacies of British Imperialism and how the British Empire shaped, and continues to cast a long shadow over, both former colonies and the rest of the world.

Recommendation Two: Defiance: Fighting the Far Right by Riz Ahmed

Summary: Just a generation after their forefathers fought to help Britain and her Allies defeat Nazism and Fascism in Europe and across the world, through the 1970s and 1980s, British Asians, the quintessential ‘good immigrant‘ community, took to the streets to fight the Far Right at home in Britain. In a year that has seen racist riots across the country, against a backdrop of increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric in mainstream politics, Channel 4’s 3-part mini-series offers a timely and poignant reminder that we’ve been here before.

Wildcard offerings: A selection of three online interactive ‘edutainment’ games from Nicky Case: Parable of the Polygons; The Evolution of Trust; and The Wisdom and/or Madness of Crowds. Plus Silk Roads at The British Museum.

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Leonard

Recommendation one: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman 

Summary: Fans of existential fiction, dystopian worlds, or profound psychological narratives won’t want to miss this classic. When a sudden and inexplicable event sets them free, the women emerge into a barren, post-apocalyptic landscape where the rules of survival are rewritten. As they wander this desolate world, the protagonist—a woman who has never known men, never known connection, never known the life her companions grieve—narrates a deeply introspective and moving journey of identity, resilience, and humanity’s unyielding quest for meaning. Utterly compelling, contemplative and a relatively short read (for those with kids and short on time).

Recommendation two: Beyond Ukraine – Debating the Future of War by Tim Sweijs & Jeffrey H Michaels 

Summary: Offers a comprehensive analysis of contemporary warfare, contextualised by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Assembling insights from esteemed experts in war studies, it examines how the Ukraine conflict has reshaped perceptions of modern warfare, challenging prior assumptions and highlighting the multifaceted nature of war in the 21st century. It delves into the implications of technological advancements, the evolving character of military engagements, and the enduring elements of warfare. By analysing the interplay between traditional combat methods and emerging technologies, the authors provide a nuanced perspective on future conflicts. Critical reading.

Wildcard offering: The Fall of Civilisations Podcast by Paul Cooper.

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Frosty

Recommendation: Lunatic Express by Charles Miller

Summary: At its best, this book (originally published in 1971) is an interesting summary of how British and European powers have shaped East Africa.  Using the British project to construct a railway from Mombasa in Kenya to Uganda, the book charts the histories of the different tribes encountered en route, and explains the impact of the colonising powers. At its worst, it’s a white-centric apology for colonisation. It’s a useful text for anyone who wants to understand how Britain has affected the continent of Africa. 

Wildcard offering: The Rest is Politics USA Podcast by Katy K and Anthony ‘The Mooch’ Scaramoochy.

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Nick

Recommendation: The Price of Victory by N.A.M. Rodger

Summary: The much-anticipated third volume of Rodger’s ‘A Naval History of Britain’ series, this gem of a book covers the period 1815-1945. As is to be expected, Rodger presents many fascinating takes on the undulating fortunes of the Royal Navy during this period, all backed up by meticulous research. The technological transition from Nelsonian age of sail, through the steam era, and ending with the oil-powered might of the British Pacific Fleet and it’s array of aircraft carriers on 1945 is particularly well covered ‘Golden Thread’ throughout. An absolute must for any naval scholar or those who want to understand the practical application of global maritime power.

Wildcard offering: Libertarian Ideas, by Javier Milei. 

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Charlotte

Recommendation: Raising a Happier Mother by Anna Mathur 

Summary: A fantastic and practical book which focuses a parent’s mind on the psychological and sociological reasons behind the way they choose to parent. What is unique about this book is the practical aspects of it. At the end of each section there is a small exercise for the reader to carry out. Personally, what I found really impactful and insightful reading (and using) this book was how many parallels could be made about the way in which I choose to parent and how I apply myself at work!

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Steve

Recommendation one: Pride and Fall by Sergio Miller

Summary: Sergio has been a stalwart of the Wavell Room this year. His analysis of the war in Ukraine has been excellent. However, he has other interests. In Pride and Fall he traces the history of the campaign in Afghanistan. Many of our readers will have been there. It merges academic ideas with a practitioner’s sense of how things happen. Well worth it. We’ve reviewed it here. 

Recommendation two: The Human Face of War by Jim Storr

Summary: I recommended this last year. And I will next year. I first read this during a command post exercise in 2018. It changed how I look at the study of warfare and military academics. From my perspective, you simply cannot be a serious military academic without reading it. 

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Matthew

Recommendation one: The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 by Christopher Clark

Summary: A magisterial account of the beginning of the Great War – a conflict that no belligerent truly wanted, nor believed would happen; right up until it did. Clark complexifies traditional narratives, focusing not on unitary state actors and ideas of national interest, but on key individuals and their role within the organs of state. Without losing sight of the broader historical context, Clark transports us into the smoke-filled backrooms and map-strewn offices of the July Crisis; his work is immersive, insightful – and deeply tragic. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Recommendation two: The Ottomans: Khans, Caesars, and Caliphs by Marc David Baer

Summary: A detailed, accessible history of the Ottoman Empire – from its beginnings as nomadic raiders in central Anatolia, through the capture of Constantinople and its heights as an early modern hegemon; to the bitter end in the First World War. Baer skilfully weaves a narrative across seven centuries, showing the broad trends of the imperial power without losing sight of the human details – in all their cruelty, glory, oddity, and pity – of the residents of the story. An engaging book which is well worth your time.

Wildcard offering: Tangled Up in Blue by Rosa Brooks. 

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