FAO Quotables

"But being right, even morally right, isn't everything. It is also important to be competent, to be consistent, and to be knowledgeable. It's important for your soldiers and diplomats to speak the language of the people you want to influence. It's important to understand the ethnic and tribal divisions of the place you hope to assist."
-Anne Applebaum

Monday, January 25, 2016

Weekly Reading: Leaping Lines, Revolutionary Baby Jesus, Repo Men at Sea and Great! Post Offices

I read a lot over the holidays so I am still catching up with my summaries of all my December reading.

Reading Is About the Lines That Leap Off the Pages
Much of what you read in the Times you read without giving a thought to who the author is.  I couldn't make that mistake after reading this year-end gem by Dwight Garner, literary critic extraordinaire.  In it he deftly leaps through about twenty different book recommendations, lifting delicious quotes from each of them.

The Christmas Revolution
Smart, well-written article on just how revolutionary Jesus was.  "He saw the inestimable worth of human life, regardless of social status, wealth and worldly achievements, intelligence or national origin. So should we."

ISIS’ War on Christmas
Interesting and thoughtful article on how Salafists think about Christmas theologically.  The author also draws parallels between Islamists' "origin' state and that of the far right en France.


MARITIME ‘REPO MEN’: A LAST RESORT FOR STOLEN SHIPS
Wow, fascinating report on the gritty underbelly of maritime repossessors.  This has to get made into a movie.

What’s Your Favorite Poem?
A round table of authors discuss their favorite poems--what's not to like!

How I Escaped Vietnam
Incredible untold story of the flood of children that escaped Vietnam in the midst of escalating violence and mayhem.

In Chile, Where Pablo Neruda Lived and Loved
Beautiful writing about the homes of Neruda in Chile.  Essential reading for any Pablophile.

The Deported
I feel like it's all too easy for both sides of the immigration debate to make sweeping statements one way or the other.  Articles like these should hopefully give one pause to consider the actual human lives behind whatever the policies enacted are.

Why the Post Office Makes America Great
Having lived overseas for more than two years in a third-world country I appreciate the author's sentiment.  As Americans we take things like being able to send a letter that arrives where it is supposed to for granted.  

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Weekly Reading: Washington's Study, Rosewood Riches, Ragamuffins, Biblical Iliteracy, Sean Penn and One Important Quesiton

A Well-Organized Study
I don't normally put these articles in any order but when I saw I had this one near the bottom I moved it up to the very top.  MY FAVORITE READ FROM THIS PAST WEEK.  A USNA Classmate has put together a detailed look and program for organizing your digital life.

Madagascar continue de fermer les yeux sur le trafic du bois de rose
Some key quotes for my non-francophone readers regarding rosewood trafficking in Madagascar:
- From one diplomat--The entire world is sick and tired of Madagascar's double talk
- No one can even really measure the amount of natural resources being pillaged by Madagascar's political elite

LEARNING FROM RICH MULLINS – A RAGAMUFFIN AT THE DOOR OF GOD’S MERCY
Will definitely check out this movie from about two years back


Life aboard a hospital ship
Great short article on the great work done by the volunteers at Mercy Ships!

‘Excellent Daughters,’ by Katherine Zoepf
Looks like a very interesting read by someone who worked for years with these women.


 My Last Day as a Surgeon
Ugh, a heart breaking article excerpted from the surgeon's swan song/book.

























We’ve lost our consciousness of the Bible
This article hits the nail on the head as the majority of the news/media establishment no longer has even a modicum of knowledge regarding what many Americans still believe.

Sean Penn is a college freshman’s Che Guevara T-shirt personified
For real though.  Talk about the lack of a moral compass.

Why We Write About War
The short answer: We write to know we are not alone.

THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION OF YOUR LIFE
Such a great post: what do you want so much that you are willing to endure pain to achieve/get it?

Brookings: Foresight Africa--Top Priorities for the Continent in 2016
A good reference and starting point for analysis.



Sunday, January 17, 2016

Weekly Reading: the Fugees, ISIS, Happiness and the Death of a Diplomatic Legend

Killing the Islamic State Softly Military power will win battles in Syria and Iraq, but only soft power can win the war
The prolific Stavridis makes his argument for soft power against ISIS--bottom line--it won't be cheap.

What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness
A decent (albeit long-winded) TED-ish speech on an INCREDIBLE and fascinating 75 year study on happiness.  Short answer: the most valuable thing you can do is invest in close relationships with family and friends.  Loneliness kills...literally.

YOUR HOLIDAY READING LIST: 58 BOOKS RECOMMENDED BY TED SPEAKERS
It's a good and interesting list to consider.

The Arts and the Military
Great deep thoughts from a Naval Academy classmate on civil-military relations.  He's got a great website/blog that he writes at--check it out.

What Would Cool Jesus Do? Inside Hillsong Church NYC
I never expect GQ to be so even-handed in an article about a Protestant movement/church but the author was--a fascinating look into the leadership of the Hillsong church..and Justin Bieber.

The 20 Habits of Eventual Millionaires
Really this is just a depressing article...10 ideas a day?  Who has time for that?  Who even has 10 ideas a month or a year?  ...I guess millionaires?

Call to battle’: Catholic bishop challenges men to be ‘men’ in awesome new video
Great call for men to be leaders in loving their families.

The CNO Puts it to Paper
The Navy's top admiral makes his pitch for the United States to maintain maritime superiority.  It's a quick read worthy of some thought.

The U.S. diplomatic corps loses a legend just when it needs him the most
A fitting requiem for diplomatic great Ambassador Bosworth.  A worthwhile read and summary of his myriad accomplishments.

My Selections from 2015 Africa Is a Country Book Recommendations

I love me a good book list!  AfricaIsACountry published their recommended books of 2015 here. I've put the ones that look interesting to me below.    Among them Lagoon would be the first African Sci-Fi book that I will have ever read.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Thoughts on Islam in Morocco and the Role of its King as the Leader of the Faithful


Found this short note going through old grad school notes when I happened to be studying Islam in Morocco.  Perhaps I will expand upon it in the future.

In a system of belief, one of whose pillars is submission to God (two other pillars include, making the journey  and charity),  can one man climb atop the shoulders of this belief –a belief that burns like hot coal in the heart of a nation—and effectively own the course of Islam in that nation?  

Can a political party?  

Can the fact of a man’s ancestors lift him above the beggars’ heads in Marrakesh? 

Surely charity lies in the heart
In the community of believers
Surely submission to God
Lies in the prostrate spirits
Surely making the hajj

Lies in the believers’ humble feet.




























Thursday, January 7, 2016

Weekly Reading: the DC Metro Suck, Camo of the World, PERFORMANCE, Poverty in America, the Big One, God's Death? and Naval Innvoation

This Map Shows Every Country's Military Camouflage Pattern
Just a cool little map.


























The Death of God Is Greatly Exaggerated
Good Wall Street Journal article on the important advocacy work being done by Eric Metaxas.  And great points on the important role the Christian faith has played and continues to play in our society and culture.

Application Period Opens for CNO Rapid Innovation Cell
I don't think it's a question of whether or not this will prompt new 'innovations'--it will.  But the bigger question is what will be the allowable limits of innovations.  And if there are articial limits, is it really innovation?

The Infuriating History of How Metro Got So Bad
Yikes.  Looks like things have gotten worse...much much worse since we left DC a few years ago.

In the age of Amazon, used bookstores are making an unlikely comeback
Love to see the resurgence of used bookstores.  Bookstores are still amongst my favorite weekend activities (i.e., when I am not in Africa).

The Really Big One: The Earthquake That Will Destroy the Pacific Northwest
Easily one of the most terrifying articles that I've read...maybe ever.  The short of it: the entire Pacific NW is due for a cataclysmic natural disaster like none ever before experienced in the United States.

The Life and Times of Strider Wolf
Ugh.  Such a sad and depressing story about poverty in the United States.  But also an important story lest we forget the scope and depth of poverty in the U.S.

While DoD-centric, below is a great cheat-sheet for anyone looking to elevate their own performance...or more holistically evaluate a subordinate or peer.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Weekly Reading: Pastor Santa, Christmas Focus, Shipwrecked Malagasy Slaves, and a Year Long Haul Trucking

With the feast of epiphany today, this week's readings are Christmas heavy to close out the season.

How Do We Know The Christmas Story Is Really True?
A great anecdote (from Donald Miller's Storyline blog) on the power and potency of indirect evidence.  The article has a great quote from C.S. Lewis on the subject: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.”

SANTA WAS A PASTOR
So Santa was actually Pastor Nicholas, of a church in Myrna (modern day Kale, Turkey).  Every parent (Christian or not) addresses Santa Claus in their own way but all in all, a good post on refocusing the scope of your thoughts around Christmas time.

BreakPoint This Week: Advent and Christmas Habits
On the subject of refocusing, this post poses a good question: What do your Christmas traditions communicate to the world about your stance and focus regarding the birth of Jesus?  Some good food for thought.

Lèse humanité What happened when slaves and free men were shipwrecked together
A fairly incredible story that could be a movie.  In the late 18th century, a French merchant who picked up some illicit slaves from Madagascar ends up shipwrecked on what is know today as Tromelin Island--a third of a square mile patch of sand some 500 nm east of Madagascar.  What followed was a 15 year journey before the last slave was rescued.






Island where shipwrecked souls spent 15 years
Middle East Time Bomb: The Real Aim of ISIS Is to Replace the Saud Family as the New Emirs of Arabia
A lot of good middle east and Saudi history that you probably had no clue about.

THE LONG HAUL: ONE YEAR OF SOLITUDE ON AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS
Wow.  An eye-opening look into the long-haul trucking industry and one young man's yearlong sojourn there in an attempt to pay off his college debt.



















A Year in Weekly Reading: Africa, the Navy, Foreign Affairs, Travel, Reading, Family, God and Leadership

I only started posting my weekly reading summaries beginning this past April but you will find a few hundred great articles from this past year.  Many of them are #longreads so enjoy!


What I read this week:  I read a quite a few articles that sprouted up in response to a young naval officer's 'resignation letter'--most were unsympathetic to her millennial assertions and aspirations.  


Stanley McChrystal on how to shake up the military.  His milkshake brings all the CEOs to the yard.

Incoming: Thank You for Your Service.  A 4-star that quotes Jim Morrison--gotta love him.

The Science of Improving Your Performance at Almost Anything.  Deliberate short practice 'chunks' and get plenty of sleep.

The Introvert’s Guide to Surviving an In-Person Conference.  It's amazing what forcing yourself to smile can do.  It works when you hit a rough patch while running too.

How successful people work less—and get more done -- Don't work more than 50 hours a week, it will cost you.


The Disintegration of the World -- Geopolitical consultancy now a hot commodity for businesses.

How Serious is the Rebalance? US Military Record Tells (part of) the Story -- Is the US military really sold on the rebalance to Asia?

$30 for a roll of aluminum foil.  A place that makes Nigeria looks like Switzerland.   It's frightening to think how much the myriad global companies dumping in hundreds of millions must be making off this country.  

A rehash bash of powerpoints which is always entertaining.  This one is a bit of a deep dive which is refreshing.  I am a big fan of using a powerpoint with no words--only pictures or maps.  RADM Lemmons--a former Director of International Engagement for the Navy used to talk for 45 fascinating minutes off three slides that just had photos and a map on them.  
The Delta.  Navy EOD stud Brad Snyder loses his eyesight to an IED and rediscovers meaning in the swimming pool and a new direction in his life.  
This is probably pretty true.  That's why it's vital that you have sharp people on your country team downrange--as this author aptly points out.  I will say this--don't listen to 'natural health people'--AMBIEN is your friend.  It is vital that you get sleep on that red-eye or on that first night.  
Focus on the person that you're with.  Ask yourself what connections can I make for other people?!
Fascinating read.  "For people like Sagarra who study the way our brains make sense of new languages, the challenge is figuring out when learning actually takes place. When is the brain playing by the new rules? In 2013, Sagarra and her colleague Nick Ellis, of the University of Michigan, foundthrough eye-tracking technology that people’s proficiency level determines where they spend their time concentrating. In that particular study, the investigators focused on adverb-verb congruency (“Yesterday the man eats” versus “Yesterday the man ate”) among English and Romanian learners of Spanish."
A great retro-read from 2009 on Army COIN work in Afghanistan.  It's illuminating to read in light of where we are today.  
Wow. Just wow.  This article reads like a twilight zone political thriller.  Incredible reporting that delves into the quasi-state Russian sponsored global troll/pseudo-news network.  This will blow your mind a little bit.
Mandatory reading.  An unfathomable account of a kidnapped journalist tale of survival amidst Somali pirates--and an interesting thought piece on paying ransoms.





















Who knew that the wine world got down like this...
Love me some Paris insider information.
One of the best writers today tells the heart-breaking tale of her father's kidnapping in Nigeria.   It's one of those pieces that sticks with you and can you give the reader more insight into a country than 20 pieces of political analysis.  Adiche fails to mention, HOWEVER, that she and her father are dual-citizens (US and Nigeria) and she leaves out just who helped get her father back--a glaring omission.
An Egyptian Arab Baptist revival in the Bible belt--a fascinating piece.  I'd be curious to get more background on the Arab Baptists--are they all Muslim converts or are some Coptic Christian Baptist crossovers?
The Supe at the Naval Academy pens a thoughtful piece on receiving thanks for one's service.  I love his suggested response: "Thank you for your trust."
I like his suggestion for 15 minutes of mobility work you can do in the office without getting all sweaty.
Stavridis continues to kill it with these pieces--it's so intimidating to be confronted with such a prolific writer and academic.
McConnel is one of the top pens reporting in Africa--I make sure to read everything he writes.
A story with excellent research that tells the story of the hard fought battles for growth within the aviation industry.
A rather brutal story that never made it to the international press back in 2012.
Yikes.  Flee Rwanda only to be choked to death in your hotel room.  From genocide to assassination in Rwanda.
I began my love affair with moleskine notebooks on 11 November 2013.  You know how I know that date? Because I looked in my moleskin notebook that's on my desk.
Interesting history on Amsterdam's love affair...with bikes.
Gritty Americana writing on the Bakersfield sound, a slowly dying Honky-Tonk and the melancholy existence of a fading Elvis.


Thorough and fascinating reporting on the most secretive SEAL team.  With contribution by none other than my former detailer and friend John Ismay.  
The power of "done."
A quick bio on the nations newest PLOTUS (Poet Laureate Of The United States).  Witty, funny and on-target poetry--I've added his incredibly titled 187 Reasons Mexicanos Can't Cross the Border: Undocuments 1971-2007  to my Amazon wish list.  
Now that my WIRLW is kind of a thing--I want to further delineate the trove of links and articles with the Best Thing I Read All Week (BTIRAW).  The WIRL column is useful for me because I read so many articles every week but previously had no repository (aside from the Evernote notebook I created online).  Finally, for me it's a good analytical exercise to condense what I read into a short sentence or two.

BTIRAW:
Powerful autobiographical #longread about Rwandan genocide flee-er turned wandering refugee turned Yale student turned young woman who found her voice.   Her story casts aside any easy categorizations of her struggle and journey.  I found myself checking the cursor on the right side of my IPAD screen to see how much of the article I had left--I didn't want it to end.  For someone who admits struggling with her English writing--she is superb.  Incidentally, this story is published on medium.com which in Comoros (where I am right now) you can't access without using a VPN.
Les Autres:
I've found this to be especially true in Madagascar--especially when you invite a counterpart and his/her spouse to an event--they will almost always reply yes for both people but then only one shows up.  Personally, I think the idea of an aspirational RSVP is juvenile and rubbish.
Hilarious.  All English majors dream of having a position from which we can dictate our very own 'elements of style'
A good reality check and warning against religion (versus love for God).
A nice plug from Men's Journal.  I previously wrote about two of the books he mentions (Redeployment and Preparation for the Next Life) herehere, and here.
Stavridis--the writing machine plugs ideas for Afloat Staging Base and highlights opportunities for public-private partnership.
A lengthy Navy Times investigation into the tragic mishap that occurred at my old squadron HS-6.  It highlights that facts that aviation squadrons can write HAZREPs till they are blue in the face but if SWOs aren't required to read them it is often all for nought.
One of my favorite writers that I only discovered this past year.  I've written about this author several times--despite some philosophical/moral differences I am sad that his reign within the realm of the written word has passed.
An unlikely story about a sector that sorely needs reform.
I've got mad respect for cobblers, much like the disappearing shoeshine stand, they are a dying breed. If you invest in nice dress shoes, a good cobbler is a godsend.  I've had several shoes resoled through the years and I personally preferred them in their repaired state to when I first bought them.  
Eye opening read on life in South Sudan.  
I like the disruption suggestion of making academic literature more relevant...and more widely read.
Six fascinating articles on learning languages.
An online photo museum of Madagascar.  This has some great photos of original construction of many of the buildings around town...from the 50's and 60s.
An intriguing excerpt from Julia Siler's The House of Mondavi.  It reads like a soap opera and tickled my interests enough to add it to my Amazon wish list for Christmas. 
An ode to the joys of of sommeliers.
An inspiring look at the re-entry program headed by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition that focuses on relationships and which is led by former prisoners.
In which Hemingway says the "Racing Form" (with regard to the subject of going to the races) is the true art of fiction.
A working habit he has had from the beginning, Hemingway stands when he writes. He stands in a pair of his oversized loafers on the worn skin of a lesser kudu—the typewriter and the reading board chest-high opposite him.
A great post related to the exploding heroin addiction problem in the United States.  Turns out addiction is less pronounced and powerful when people are in community.  People crave relationships...we were made for them.
It was only recently translated from Italian into English.  It's billed as a multi-generational fictional history of Libya beginning from the 1900s in the vein of the epic The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street --one of my favorites.  I just started it and am adding it to my 2015 Reading List.  
In which a very intelligent writer named Ursula Lindsey lays out exactly why The Confines of the Shadow is such an important book.
Cool little video about a Malagasy stunt bike rider named Dada up in Nosy Be.
Don't need to say much more than the title.   The hiker described has started a cool charity called The Far Sight Foundation .  He was the first blink hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail--check out his website.
A great post from the Chaplain for Mercy Ships that is here in Madagascar right now.  In it he offers a template to write out your hopes for your children by the time they turn 18.  Working backward from that then gives you an ability to build up those characteristics in your children.
A preacher's journey toward an expansive understanding of pro-life the grew from one focused on protecting the unborn to also protecting life in general through gun control.  Personally, I tend to agree that protecting the unborn goes hand in hand with fighting gun violence from a consistency aspect.
While we're reading about the value of life, this is a sober account of what the aftermath of a missile strike looks like for civilians.  So often, the actuality of these events are masked behind passive headlines--it's important to remember that a person's value is independent of their country of origin and that government's relationship to another.
An intriguing and frightening glimpse into the seedy underworld of Japan's crime world.  The depth to which the photographer seems to have been lulled into its pull speaks to families' power--he glosses over the deleterious aspects of their existence quickly--ignoring the implications of prostitution, bribery and corruption.
While Soamiely may be pretty much the only person writing in English on Malagasy culture and politics, he's also an incredible talented and interesting writer.  He's on my weekly reading list.  This article is a great example from June this year in which he dissects the (in)efficacy of the government in Madagascar to make concrete progress.
I will just give you the rule: "If an argument crosses over from anger to contempt, it needs to stop immediately."
This is a bit more of Moyo's "Dead Aid" redux...foreign aid comes in so many shapes and flavors it is quite difficult to quantify on a purely economic/quantitative basis. For example, you can't really quantify the economic effect of 15 million mosquito nets for example. On the other end of the spectrum sometimes those nets are used by fishermen instead...the best aspect that the author highlights is the difficult of quantifying aid since so many of the variables are micro (i.e., local) ones.
The third installment of an expected 17 volumes of Hemingway's letters.  Hemingway is one of my favorite writers (along with Salter and Markham) so this volume will automatically get added to my Amazon wish list.  Evidently Hemingway was not as stoic and guarded in his letters as he was in his fiction.
A fascinating look at the poor tired huddled masses that have come to the US from around the world over the past 100 years.  Who knew that the largest immigrant population group in South Dakota is Ethiopia...and in PA is China.
For whatever reason I've been coming across a lot of Libya-Italy articles/literature.  Unfortunately, Scego's novel has yet to be translated into English.  BUT, I'm currently reading another Italian-Libyan author named Spina's newly-ish translated The Confines of the Shadow--a century long look at life and colonization in Italy.
In the meantime you can read one of Scega's translated short stories: Sausages
The age old question.  And an article that examines the important question of territorial sovereignty as a function of state legitimacy.
Project cure.  I am hard pressed to see a better way to spend $100.  
Yeah, the title of the article says it all.  Not an impossibility 100 years from now.  
A lovely little vignette that captures the special relationship enjoyed by the children of ex-pats and their household help.
CJ Chivers is pretty much the man when it comes to reporting and this is an amazing tribute to him but also to the importance of family. 
Quick summary--a ton.  If you are an American, South Africa is pretty much the most awesome place to vacation right now.  The dollar is super strong--you can live like a prince there.  An amazing dinner for two with apps, dinner, dessert, bottle of wine at a nice restaurant will run you maybe $40...it's crazy--why haven't you bought your plane ticket yet.
Beautiful little vignette on Sicily but also father-son relationships.
Can't hate on the good old broil.
Before 1883 the US had over 300 different time zones--who knew?  A well-researched cogent argument for ditching the daylight savings system.  You can follow her on twitter here.
McConnell is quite simply one of the best reporters in Africa today.  If he writes it, I read it--you should too.  This is a must read article for senior military leaders and policy-makers alike.  Key quote:  "It matters because global terrorism and the international ivory trade are distinct problems, requiring different strategies; conflating the two risks undermining the fight against both." 
Donald Miller's 'Storyline Blog' is mandatory reading for introverts (I'm a borderline introvert) and I know exactly what he means about a people hangover.  
If your church or group sends Christmas shoeboxes abroad to Africa --PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read this helpful post first.
Great article by the prolific Staviridis.  Some great food for thought--I especially liked the idea of integrating the Af-Pak hands cadre across appropriate military planning staffs.  And of course, I also appreciation his plug for foreign area officers.
A rather complex wicked problem here in Madagascar.  Over 60% of children in Madagascar suffering from stunting--that is to say, chronic and lasting malnutrition that not only affect height but also long-term cognitive ability.
Looks like an interesting new magazine--but unfortunately the only way to read it is to download it as a PDF...not the most user friendly.
Short explanation: crack down on the financial flow from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
Published this past March, this is THE definitive 'scenesetter' on ISIS and its origins--a terrifying read.
Ezra Klein breaks it down a very complex subject in a digestible manner.
A good historical background on Saudi.
A great read and a challenging article about the dangers of unguided tolerance.
21 Steps is quite thorough BUT not one of them involves checking their facebook/twitter accounts.
This story will blow your mind!  I never had any idea about Squanto's incredible path.
A good reminder about preparing ours hearts for Christmas
Born to Run is one of my favorite books and made me fall in love with running.
Fascinating look at what makes a state a state and the wide disparity in Africa.


Such a beautifully written article about language, culture, identity and writing--a piece that will be cherished by every English major.
Terrific geeky article on the history and eclectic path of the English language.
An interesting idea by RZA...truly turning music into art.  A better execution might have been to sell it to a museum and that way people would have to physically travel to the museum to listen to the album.

So this dude just got arrested on securities fraud--guess he got what he had coming to him.  Guess he can try out his Wu-Tang style in prison, en garde.
Great little vignette on good old Mister Rogers.
Good OSC work being done to consolidate lessons learned from the Ebola crisis in West Africa.
Fascinating article...you likely won't guess the largest constituency buying up land in Africa--you will have to click to find out.  While you are clicking, check out two great books below.
 

I've been on quite a few flights out here where I've spent most of the time praying...that the plane wouldn't fall apart.
Brit Ash Dyke is attempting to become the first person to traverse the world's 4th largest island on foot.
These are the types of articles every American should read.  Islam, the Koran and Islamism are too often simplified and then misunderstood by our society at large.  On its face, the idea of wearing the 'hijab' in solidarity seems to be a praiseworthy idea but as the author demonstrates running through the Koran, the 'hijab' is used in many muslim cultures to denigrate and control women.  And on the other side of the argument, in some cultures wearing the 'hijab' is nearly devoid of any religious connotation.
A beautifully written piece that should be mandatory reading for everyone--especially anyone with a knee-jerk reaction in either direction.
Great book review by BJ Armstrong that completely sold me on the need for this book to be on every naval officer's bookshelf...filled with highlights.

This is the reading list you wish you were smart enough to tackle.  That said, I did find a few books (that I may or may not understand) to add to my wish list (below)