A List of WW II Recommended Books

This is one of my passions, so I am hopeful that others will be interested as well. If you have books that you think should be added, please contact me. I have read or listened to these books when the CD is available; for illustrated ones, I have paged through them. The list of books below is broken up into three categories for easy access, based on a person's interest.

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Category 1 - the 'Entire' War

World War II – by Ivor Matanle – 1989, 393 pages. All theaters. History. Large, encyclopedia style, illustrated hardcopy. Purchase online: World War II Hardcover (Rating 4.6).

The War by Geoffrey C Ward & Ken Burns – 2007, 447 pages. All theaters of US participation 1941-1945. History. Purchase online: The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945 (1^st link)(Rating 4.34), (2^nd link) https://www.amazon.com/War-Intimate-History-1941-1945/dp/037571118X (Rating 4.8).

The Illustrated History of World War II by Time-Life Books – 2001, 490 pages. All theaters 1939-1945. History - Large, encyclopedia style, illustrated hardcopy. Purchase online: The Illustrated History of World War II (Rating 5.0).

The Two Ocean War by Samuel E. Morrison – 1963, 586 pages. The Pacific and Atlantic - US naval action of WW II 1941-1945. The Two-Ocean War (Rating 4.9), The Two Ocean War (Rating 5.0).

The Chronicle of the Second World War published by Longman Group, written by Derrick Mercer – 1990, 791 pages. All theaters 1939-1945, entire war. Illustrated history – large hardcopy book. Purchase online: The Chronical of the Second World War(Rating 5.0), The Chroniclel of the Second World War(Rating 4.7).

World War II at Sea by Craig L. Symonds, hard bound with photos and maps, 2018, 650 pages. Entire world. History. 26. World War II at Sea (Rating 4.8).

Category 2 - the European Theater Only

D-Day, June 6, 1944 by Stephen Ambrose – 1994, 583 pages. Europe 1944. History. Europe. Purchase online: D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of WW II (rating 4.7).

Battle Beneath the Waves U-Boats at War by Robert C. Stern – 1999, 199 pages. Atlantic 1939-1945. History. Battle Beneath the Waves (Rating 5).

Beyond the Band of Brothers by Dick Winters – 2006, 292 pages. Europe 1943-1945. Auto biography. Purchase online: Beyond the Band of Brothers (1^st link)(Rating 4.8), Beyond the Band of Brothers (2^nd link)(Rating 4.5).

Hungary in World War II: Caught in the Cauldron by Deborah S. Cornelius – 2011, 519 pages. Europe – Hungary 1939-1945. History. Hungary in World War II: Caught in the Cauldron (World War II: The Global, Human, and Ethical Dimension) (Rating 4.2).

Category 3 - the Pacific Theater Only

The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose – 2009, 449 pages. Pacific 1941-1945. History. Purchase online: The Pacific (Rating 4.4).

With the Old Breed by E. R. Sledge – 1981, 315 pages. Pacific 1944-1945 Peleliu & Okinawa. Auto biography. Purchase online: With the Old Breed (Rating 4.9).

Islands of the Damned by R. V. Burgin – 2010, 289 pages. Pacific 1943-1945. Auto biography. Purchase: Islands of the Damned (Rating 4.7).

Helmet for my Pillow by Robert Leckie – 1957, 312 pages. Pacific 1942-1944 (Guadalcanal-Peleliu, Auto biography. Purchase online: Helmet for my Pillow (Rating 4.6).

Strong Men Armed by Robert Leckie- 1962 & 2010, 530 pages. Pacific 1942-1945. History. Purchase: Strong Men Armed (Rating 4.7).

You’ll be Sor-ree! by Sid Philips – 2010, 240 pages. Pacific 1942-1944. Auto biography. Purchase online: You’ll Be Sor-ree! (Rating 4.6).

Challenge for the Pacific – Guadalcanal by Robert Leckie – 1965, 402 pages. Pacific - Guadalcanal 1942. Auto biography. Purchase: Challenge for the Pacific: Guadalcanal: The Turning Point of the War (Rating 4.7).

Neptune’s Inferno by James D. Hornfischer – 2011, 490 pages. Pacific – Guadalcanal 1942 Naval battles. History. Purchase online: Neptune’s Inferno (Rating 4.7).

Okinawa by Robert Leckie– 1995, 224 pages. Pacific 1945. History. Purchase online: Okinawa (Rating 4.6).

Marine, the Life of Chesty Puller by Burke Davis – 1962, 373 pages. Pacific 1942-1945, Korea 1950-1952. Biography of Chesty Puller: 1920-1971. Online purchase: Marine, the Life of Chesty Puller (Rating 4.8).

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer – 2004, 499 pages. Pacific, the Battle off Samar, October 1944. History. The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour (Rating 4.8).

Category 4 - Technical Enthusiasts

U.S. Battleships in action Part 1 by Robert C. Stern, large illustrated paperback by Don Greer – 1980, 49 pages. Mainly the Pacific. Illustrated History. U.S. Battleships in Action, Part 1 - Warships No. 3 Paperback (Rating 4.6). P.

U.S. Battleships in Action, Part 2 by Robert C. Stern, large illustrated paperback by Don Greer – 1984, 50 pages. Mainly the Pacific and beyond WW II. Illustrated History. U.S. Battleships in Action, Part 2 - Warships No. 4 Paperback (Rating 4.0). P.

U.S. Aircraft Carriers in Action, Part 1 by Robert C. Stern, large illustrated paperback by Joe Sewell – 1991, 50 pages. Illustrated history. U.S. Aircraft Carriers in Action, Part 1 (Warships) (Rating 5.0). P.

Essex Class Carriers of the Second World War by Steve Backer, large illustrated paperback – 2015, 64 pages. Mainly the Pacific. Illustrated history. Essex Class Carriers of the Second World War (Rating 4.4). P.