From a purely intellectual standpoint, I think it would be fascinating to see something like a massive earthquake, a raging tornado, or a nuclear bomb explosion. I've seen some pretty amazing jets at airshows and it would be cool to see them in real action - dropping bombs or shooting down enemy fighters - basically doing what they were made to do. The unfortunate reality, however, is the very real danger in such situations and the probability of death and destruction.

Likewise, I enjoy reading military histories, notwithstanding the fact that they're all about death and destruction. But most focus more on the actions of generals and movements of armies; while they might give you some taste of the unpleasantness of war, they're still more often than not, rather sanitized. But that's where this excellent book is different; not only does it tell you about the battles - Bunker Hill (American Revolution), Gettysburg (American Civil War), and Iwo Jima (WWII) - but it gives you a feeling for what real war was like. The focus for each battle is methodic but slightly different: "... for Bunker Hill, we [can] deduce a militiaman's experience of combat depending on his location (redoubt, beach, rail fence) and for Gettysburg we [can] do the same by deconstructing the era's formal templates (artillery bombardment, attack, defense), [and] for Iwo Jima [we] mostly examine combat method -- that is, how Marines first confronted obstacles and then surmounted them by watching, doing, adapting, and learning." (from pg 217 of the advance copy)

It's true, there's plenty of blood and guts in the writing, but it's told with a professional detachment that satisfies my weird curiosity but still leaves room for a healthy appreciation for the personal sacrifices. Yes, I squirmed while reading about the effects of cannonballs and bullets on the human body or the frightening descriptions of grenades and flame throwers in battle, but it's not all gore. It's interesting to read how the battles progressed from a soldier's perspective and how each differed, as well as why modern-day combat would be different still. It's also loaded with many of the individual observations from people involved in the fighting, the kind of quotes that don't always make it into the regular histories. One interesting note is how progressively "work-like" war had become by WWII, and how few reports of PTSD-like cases there were at Bunker Hill. Another was the psychological effects of things like bombardments and bayonettes.

It might not be the ideal book for someone with a weak stomach, but I found it so engrossing and well-written that it never really bothered me (and I read most of it while eating lunch). It's scholarly-like in its thoroughness and approach, but not difficult to read by any measure. I know a man who fought at Iwo Jima and he's criticized most books on the battle, but I suspect he might be more approving of this one. It certainly gave me a greater appreciation for his experience.
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