Ann

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/ma...t-t.html?fta=y

inhibitor

Poems and Experimental/Alternative writing is tough for me to comprehend, but as for retention, I can recall facts from a literary piece quite well. Shakespeare gives me a hard time, and I didnt really enjoy "A Tale of Two Cities" (T'was the best of times....) because it was hard to comprehend the metaphors and other guises for true meaning.

winnie96

This interesting article in the NY Times is based on a book written by a West Point professor. Book was published 10/16/07 and is available on Amazon, etc.

Ann

Yes, the article was published in September and does state:
"Elizabeth D. Samet teaches English at the United States Military Academy. Portions of this essay have been adapted from her book “Soldier’s Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point,” which will be published next month by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. "

winnie96

Have read the Samet book (great) , and am now reading Rick Atkinson's 2nd volume of his proposed Liberation trilogy, "The Day of Battle -- Sicily and Italy". "An Army at Dawn: the War in North Africa", Vol I, was great and "The Day of Battle" is, I think, even better. Granted, the strategy and tactics of the North African and Italian campaigns of WW2 may not be of importance in today's wars, but I do think that his characterizations of the major players (makes you want to read bios of Ike and Monty), as well as the guys who got it done (Waskow et al) are relevant to today's studies.

I mention this mostly with the hope that we can create an active thread which lists books that are of interest to the WP community -- prospective cadets, and those who are currently at WP, and what they find relevant reads.

Ann

I believe that USMA publishes a list of books that it recommends candidates read in the literature they send once a candidate is offered or accepts and appointment. Maybe one of the candidates can look it up as a start.