The Bomber Mafia: A Story Set in War
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- Create Date：2021-05-11 17:31:04
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Malcolm Gladwell
- ISBN：B08VNCNSHL
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Mala Ashok
，
We are all familiar with Malcolm Gladwell's writing and have grown to expect well-researched writing。 "The Bomber Mafia" is no exception。 This is a story set in WW II and the moral dilemma that the Air Pilots face。 Should you bomb out the whole area below you or should you bomb precisely。 Each has its own set of problems and the science involved is quite elaborate。 Both the bombing of Germany and Japan are involved and Gladwell has explained exactly how the pilots went about them and what led to We are all familiar with Malcolm Gladwell's writing and have grown to expect well-researched writing。 "The Bomber Mafia" is no exception。 This is a story set in WW II and the moral dilemma that the Air Pilots face。 Should you bomb out the whole area below you or should you bomb precisely。 Each has its own set of problems and the science involved is quite elaborate。 Both the bombing of Germany and Japan are involved and Gladwell has explained exactly how the pilots went about them and what led to Japan surrendering in the aftermath of Napalm bombing and Atomic Bombing。 The ethical questions raised are riveting and the book is gripping。 。。。more
Carl Gervais
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Great history lesson。
Graeme Stewart
，
At this point， I'm an unrepentant Gladwell fan。 While the usual criticisms （too reductive， pop pyschology， etc。） have merit， there is no writer who distills science and culture in such a compelling way。 This one is a little different than his usual outings （and began as an audiobook， which his company Pushkin is doing some exciting things with）， but might be my favourite given my own interest in WWII history。 I never understood why the American 8th Air Force bombed during the day- and now I do。 At this point， I'm an unrepentant Gladwell fan。 While the usual criticisms （too reductive， pop pyschology， etc。） have merit， there is no writer who distills science and culture in such a compelling way。 This one is a little different than his usual outings （and began as an audiobook， which his company Pushkin is doing some exciting things with）， but might be my favourite given my own interest in WWII history。 I never understood why the American 8th Air Force bombed during the day- and now I do。 And the story is equal parts tragic and fascinating。 。。。more
James Larsen
，
Once again， a great read from Gladwell。 While slightly off his normal beaten path， this book gives great insights to the background， key people， and major philosophies behind the strategic bombing strategies of the second world war。
Ramakant Pande
，
A war is won by reducing the overall time or is it won by destroying the industrial areas。 Anther fascinating work by Malcolm Gladwell as he takes both the accounts into consideration through the stories of two people heading the Pacific theatre in the islands of Marianas。
Mandy
，
I found this a truly fascinating exploration of the actions of the US Air Force in WWII， and the evolution of precision bombing。 The general idea was that the more precise the bombing， such tragic widespread slaughter that had occurred in WWI could be avoided， and more lives could be saved。 It was a revolutionary idea at the time， not least because the technology was new and untried， and the strategy in its infancy。 The so-called Bomber Mafia thought that their approach was somehow more “moral” I found this a truly fascinating exploration of the actions of the US Air Force in WWII， and the evolution of precision bombing。 The general idea was that the more precise the bombing， such tragic widespread slaughter that had occurred in WWI could be avoided， and more lives could be saved。 It was a revolutionary idea at the time， not least because the technology was new and untried， and the strategy in its infancy。 The so-called Bomber Mafia thought that their approach was somehow more “moral” – but warfare and morality make for unlikely bedfellows， of course。 It’s a short but intriguing read – and a very accessible one。 I would not normally read a book about warfare but this one raises such complex and thought-provoking questions， and puts a human face to many of the names that I have merely heard mentioned before this， that I found myself reading the book in one sitting。 For the non-specialist this is a very good book indeed。 I learnt a lot about aerial warfare， a subject I have never pursued before。 However， I see that there are many negative reviews， criticising Gladwell’s knowledge of the subject， and perhaps they have a point。 I can’t judge。 But from a personal point of view this was a really interesting read from which I gained a great deal。 。。。more
Hell
，
my least favorite by gladwell。
Carissa
，
I saw Malcolm Gladwell's name and checked this out。 Much to my surprise， this was a history book。 I know， the title should have given it away but it's Malcolm Gladwell。 The Bomber Mafia wasn't my favorite。 There was too much jumping around and I felt a little lost most of the time。 I read history books from time to time but I am not well-versed in World War II military tactics， leaders and airplanes。 Maybe those who are more knowledgable would enjoy The Bomber Mafia more than I did。 The last hou I saw Malcolm Gladwell's name and checked this out。 Much to my surprise， this was a history book。 I know， the title should have given it away but it's Malcolm Gladwell。 The Bomber Mafia wasn't my favorite。 There was too much jumping around and I felt a little lost most of the time。 I read history books from time to time but I am not well-versed in World War II military tactics， leaders and airplanes。 Maybe those who are more knowledgable would enjoy The Bomber Mafia more than I did。 The last hour of listening was my favorite。 I didn't feel confused and I was invested。 If the whole book would have been like that， I would have enjoyed it a lot more。 I did like the format of this audio book。 It was an experience。 There was background music and lots of clips from interviews。3 Stars。 。。。more
Peym
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Quite average。
Kenny Johnson
，
I listened to the audio version- very cool with actual interviews from the time period in the book。
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，
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Fabián
，
Read anything by Malcom Gladwell， and it be the most entertaining， interesting book that month。 Plus， the audiobook for this is a work of art。 This is how you enhance your writing。
Elizabeth
，
First of all Malcolm is a master at audiobooks。 I can’t imagine not listening to them。 This was short and didn’t go on the typical tangents he does。 It was an equally fascinating and horrifying look at war and the changes of military strategy and tactics。 I loved it。
Bonnie
，
While this is not one of my preferred topics， the introduction through Malcolm Gladwell's story telling is compelling。 I had heard the 3 episodes of this topic on Revisionist History podcast prior to reading the book， and found that more engaging。 I am， however， intrigued by learning how wartime allows for a greatly accelerated process of testing out radical ideas。 While this is not one of my preferred topics， the introduction through Malcolm Gladwell's story telling is compelling。 I had heard the 3 episodes of this topic on Revisionist History podcast prior to reading the book， and found that more engaging。 I am， however， intrigued by learning how wartime allows for a greatly accelerated process of testing out radical ideas。 。。。more
Tim Joseph
，
LeMay and Hansell were absolute beasts; as was this book。 Well researched and told with a clear voice this is the story of the undercurrent of an ideal that directly led to saved lives， a quicker war， and innovations that ripple to our day。 I really enjoyed this departure from Gladwell's usual work！And I read it！！ I've heard it's far better in audiobook form。 LeMay and Hansell were absolute beasts; as was this book。 Well researched and told with a clear voice this is the story of the undercurrent of an ideal that directly led to saved lives， a quicker war， and innovations that ripple to our day。 I really enjoyed this departure from Gladwell's usual work！And I read it！！ I've heard it's far better in audiobook form。 。。。more
Bisera
，
This was my one and only book by Malcolm Gladwell and I am pretty disappointed。 I have read quite a bit on WWII and military history。 While I appreciate the snippets of audio from the era in question， there are factual inaccuracies in the book。 I'm not familiar with Gladwell's work but this being in the history genre， I was hoping this would be a book on the bombing campaign in the Japanese Theater of WWII free of the author's opinions。 I was wrong。 This was my one and only book by Malcolm Gladwell and I am pretty disappointed。 I have read quite a bit on WWII and military history。 While I appreciate the snippets of audio from the era in question， there are factual inaccuracies in the book。 I'm not familiar with Gladwell's work but this being in the history genre， I was hoping this would be a book on the bombing campaign in the Japanese Theater of WWII free of the author's opinions。 I was wrong。 。。。more
Alyssa Gonzales
，
I love anything and everything history。 To summarize the book I would say the history and art of bombing。 Hearing the interviews， radio audio makes it a plus as well。
The Story Girl
，
Malcolm Gladwell starts off this book by talking about obsession， and that's exactly what this book is: something that was an obsession of his that he turned into a book， not something that I think will interest as wide of an audience as any of his previous books have。 And that is disappointing。 I， especially， could not have cared less about this book！ It really just is all about his fascination with the making of bombs during WWII and the people behind it。The only part that really spoke to me w Malcolm Gladwell starts off this book by talking about obsession， and that's exactly what this book is: something that was an obsession of his that he turned into a book， not something that I think will interest as wide of an audience as any of his previous books have。 And that is disappointing。 I， especially， could not have cared less about this book！ It really just is all about his fascination with the making of bombs during WWII and the people behind it。The only part that really spoke to me was when he talked about how sixty-seven cities in Japan were bombed！！！ Ever since learning about Hiroshima， Nagasaki， and the atomic bombs， I could never forget about them。 But I never knew 67 other cities were bombed before that？！ So horrific。 He shares the account of one Japanese woman who was a child at the time - she had to watch as her city was bombed， and her dad and sister died too。 But she got to live and see all the charred， burned bodies around her。 She lived until the age of 93， passing away in 2017。 How heart-breaking to have to live with that for the rest of your life。I think this book will appeal to fans of military history， but for me， I'm glad it was free。 。。。more
James Latham
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Not really a book， more of an extended essay。 I finished it in 3 hours。 Not really a story about the bomber mafia， more "anecdotes from the bomber mafia"。 It gives you a bit of an idea about them， but jumps around to other characters。 And then ends in 1945， missing the rise of the bomber mafia and the cuban missile crisis - so it can it really be called a book about the bomber mafia？ What is it？ I don't know， some thought the author had that got spun together？ Not recommended。 Not really a book， more of an extended essay。 I finished it in 3 hours。 Not really a story about the bomber mafia， more "anecdotes from the bomber mafia"。 It gives you a bit of an idea about them， but jumps around to other characters。 And then ends in 1945， missing the rise of the bomber mafia and the cuban missile crisis - so it can it really be called a book about the bomber mafia？ What is it？ I don't know， some thought the author had that got spun together？ Not recommended。 。。。more
Eric
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The audiobook is exceptional。 It contains recordings of live interviews and music。 The audiobook came before the book。 Content wise I was intrigued by the history。 Many things I didn’t know。 Gladwell comes to some conclusions you may or may not agree with， but he lays solid groundwork for his opinion。
Mighty Sea
，
I am always happy for a new book from Malcolm Gladwell。 His "signature" is to look at something interesting from multiple angles。 Usually conventional wisdom， and my own notions， are challenged。 That's good stuff！ And I also like a good World War II history。 So Gladwell on World War II bombers seems like a slam dunk。I give it four stars。 I read it swiftly in less than a week。 So it's a fun and engaging read。 I enjoyed it！ At 252 pages its on the shorter end of the spectrum。 Given that Gladwell f I am always happy for a new book from Malcolm Gladwell。 His "signature" is to look at something interesting from multiple angles。 Usually conventional wisdom， and my own notions， are challenged。 That's good stuff！ And I also like a good World War II history。 So Gladwell on World War II bombers seems like a slam dunk。I give it four stars。 I read it swiftly in less than a week。 So it's a fun and engaging read。 I enjoyed it！ At 252 pages its on the shorter end of the spectrum。 Given that Gladwell flirts with comparing the military philosophies of limited vs total war （vast subjects） that's not necessarily a strength。 I don't think this is Gladwell at his most insightful。 He mostly limits himself to the strategies of two different Generals: Curtis LeMay （who most will recognize） and Hayward Hansel （who？）。 Hayward was an early champion of precision bombing and sought a more moral way to wage war。 LeMay favored overwhelming force and was indifferent to hitting enemy civilians。 Hayward failed to produce results and was replaced by LeMay。 LeMay firebombed Tokyo （and many other cities in Japan）。Gladwell ends the book by saying that Hayward was forgotten in favor of LeMay， but that his ideas are more important in how the airforce has evolved。 For the first time in one of his books I think Gladwell is probably wrong。 Gladwell looks at how modern munitions have gotten increasingly accurate but does not look at America's nuclear arsenal。 Of which the Airforce controls the most warheads。 I think the argument he advances of looking for a more moral way to wage war is incompatible with deference and MAD （mutually assured destruction）。 Instead I think he has more to say about the limited wars we have fought since WWII than how competing dogmas might play out in the horrible event of a total war。In some parallel universe there is probably a bigger book from Gladwell that used this as a starting point and stepping stone to get to bigger ideas。 The Bomber Mafia is content to be smaller。 I ding a good book a little for that。 。。。more
Suzanne
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I borrowed the audio version of The Bomber Mafia on Hoopla， and I'm very glad I did that rather than read the print copy。 The audiobook is just like a podcast （and it was based on one） in that there are audio clips， sound effects， interviews， and other flourishes that set it apart from a standard audiobook。 I don't think the print copy would have been nearly as engaging。 I love a lot of Malcolm Gladwell's writing， particularly his New Yorker articles。 But I did not love his last book， which I fo I borrowed the audio version of The Bomber Mafia on Hoopla， and I'm very glad I did that rather than read the print copy。 The audiobook is just like a podcast （and it was based on one） in that there are audio clips， sound effects， interviews， and other flourishes that set it apart from a standard audiobook。 I don't think the print copy would have been nearly as engaging。 I love a lot of Malcolm Gladwell's writing， particularly his New Yorker articles。 But I did not love his last book， which I found quite muddled。 This one was a little more cohesive but there just wasn't enough material for a full-length book。 。。。more
South Brunswick High School Library
，
Perhaps best enjoyed as an audiobook as， in addition to Gladwell’s narration， newsreels， interviews， and media clips help to tell the story of the Bomber Mafia， an idealistic group of aviators who believed that war could be shortened through a careful use of strategic bombings。 Gladwell does what he does best， weaving a story through careful research and connecting seemingly disparate elements to tell his tale。 In contrast to strategic bombings， the development of Napalm and the indiscriminate f Perhaps best enjoyed as an audiobook as， in addition to Gladwell’s narration， newsreels， interviews， and media clips help to tell the story of the Bomber Mafia， an idealistic group of aviators who believed that war could be shortened through a careful use of strategic bombings。 Gladwell does what he does best， weaving a story through careful research and connecting seemingly disparate elements to tell his tale。 In contrast to strategic bombings， the development of Napalm and the indiscriminate fire bombings that decimated Japanese civilians at the direction of American General Curtis LeMay， allowed the Allied forces to avoid a land invasion， but Gladwell concludes with two questions。 At what cost？ Was the cost worth it？ A brief， but fascinating look at the rationale behind the military actions of World War II。 。。。more
Eli Pollack
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A very quirky history book， dealing with the development of American bombing strategy。 How quirky can you get？There were parts， especially where Gladwell discusses the psychology of changing （or not） one's mindset and views， that was very interesting。Overall， if you liked Gladwell's other books， but don't particularly like military history， this may be disappointing。 But the good thing is， you won't be investing a lot of time as the book is very short。 A very quirky history book， dealing with the development of American bombing strategy。 How quirky can you get？There were parts， especially where Gladwell discusses the psychology of changing （or not） one's mindset and views， that was very interesting。Overall， if you liked Gladwell's other books， but don't particularly like military history， this may be disappointing。 But the good thing is， you won't be investing a lot of time as the book is very short。 。。。more
Amy
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Sorry， this should not have been published。 It is a small book， with massive margins， 200 pages， and filled with long paragraph quotes。。。 it is nothing but a long essay or podcast episode。 Oh wait， it was a podcast episode turned into a book！ But to me， this is gimmicky and not long enough to truly stand out as a book。 I also found the material to be incredible dry。 So so boring。 But I am not interested in war time books so my fault for picking this up。
Marti Tirinnanzi
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Two important character studies， and a page turning storySeventy five years after the Tokyo bombing， the moral and ethical decisions behind saturation bombing， and dropping atomic bombs on defenseless civilians are still relevant。 The book examines two key military leaders， and the reasoning of the times to best defeat the Germans and Japanese using newly introduced strategies， weapons and air power。 A quick read that is at once thought provoking， intriguing and disturbing。
Geoff Grant
，
Pros1） It was a topic about which I knew very little， and it was interesting and thought-provoking。2） I like Gladwell as a writer （which also means I'm probably pre-disposed to like his books）3） I love history about WWII （and most wars）4） It was a quick read5） Somehow I ended up with an autographed copyCons1） I certainly get some of the criticism that this was just a series of podcasts warmed over and flushed out into a short book。 But I hadn't listened to any of those podcasts， and I've got not Pros1） It was a topic about which I knew very little， and it was interesting and thought-provoking。2） I like Gladwell as a writer （which also means I'm probably pre-disposed to like his books）3） I love history about WWII （and most wars）4） It was a quick read5） Somehow I ended up with an autographed copyCons1） I certainly get some of the criticism that this was just a series of podcasts warmed over and flushed out into a short book。 But I hadn't listened to any of those podcasts， and I've got nothing against reading a shortish book occasionally。2） It's literally a short book （I don't just mean the 200 pages， but the fact it's literally smaller/shorter than most any book I've read， which makes the 200 pages an even quicker read。3） Given the above， if you paid $30 for this newly published hardback， you might feel disappointed。 。。。more
Elise Thanasouras
，
Very interesting listen。 It’s told by Malcolm Gladwell and I enjoy his voice。 It’s about a group at Maxwell Air Field （now Maxwell AFB） in Montgomery， AL that came with bombing instead of fighter planes。 I’m not a war buff but this was interesting slice of history。
Phil
，
Not a bad book， but extremely underwhelming after what I thought was a ground breaking piece in Talking to Strangers。 Nothing here feels new or insightful， but this may be because I had heard a lot of the press on the matter。 Further the positive representation of the actors， when highlighting the consequences of their actions didn't sit well with me。Definitely worth a read/listen if you are into the area， but again last one was much more successful。 Not a bad book， but extremely underwhelming after what I thought was a ground breaking piece in Talking to Strangers。 Nothing here feels new or insightful， but this may be because I had heard a lot of the press on the matter。 Further the positive representation of the actors， when highlighting the consequences of their actions didn't sit well with me。Definitely worth a read/listen if you are into the area， but again last one was much more successful。 。。。more
Brian
，