The Bomber Mafia: A Tale of Innovation and Obsession
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- Create Date：2022-07-12 05:51:29
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Malcolm Gladwell
- ISBN：0141998377
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Summary
An exploration of how technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
In The Bomber Mafia， Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer， a band of brothers in central Alabama， a British psychopath， and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history。
Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought。 But a small band of idealistic strategists， the “Bomber Mafia，” asked: What if precision bombing could cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal？
In contrast， the bombing of Tokyo on the deadliest night of the war was the brainchild of General Curtis LeMay， whose brutal pragmatism and scorched-earth tactics in Japan cost thousands of civilian lives， but may have spared even more by averting a planned US invasion。 In The Bomber Mafia， Gladwell asks， “Was it worth it？”
Things might have gone differently had LeMay’s predecessor， General Haywood Hansell， remained in charge。 Hansell believed in precision bombing， but when he and Curtis LeMay squared off for a leadership handover in the jungles of Guam， LeMay emerged victorious， leading to the darkest night of World War II。 The Bomber Mafia is a riveting tale of persistence， innovation， and the incalculable wages of war。
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
In The Bomber Mafia， Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer， a band of brothers in central Alabama， a British psychopath， and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history。
Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought。 But a small band of idealistic strategists， the “Bomber Mafia，” asked: What if precision bombing could cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal？
In contrast， the bombing of Tokyo on the deadliest night of the war was the brainchild of General Curtis LeMay， whose brutal pragmatism and scorched-earth tactics in Japan cost thousands of civilian lives， but may have spared even more by averting a planned US invasion。 In The Bomber Mafia， Gladwell asks， “Was it worth it？”
Things might have gone differently had LeMay’s predecessor， General Haywood Hansell， remained in charge。 Hansell believed in precision bombing， but when he and Curtis LeMay squared off for a leadership handover in the jungles of Guam， LeMay emerged victorious， leading to the darkest night of World War II。 The Bomber Mafia is a riveting tale of persistence， innovation， and the incalculable wages of war。
Reviews
Dan D
，
A really REALLY interesting read with interviews from people who first hand experienced the dropping's of bombs on Japan。 My BIGGEST takeaways from the book is Winds experience 300+ over Japan was later found to be the JET-STREAM published in the 1920's by a Japanese scientist， but it was written in Esperanto。 The amount of inaccuracy of target bombing and the creation of Napalm chemical A really REALLY interesting read with interviews from people who first hand experienced the dropping's of bombs on Japan。 My BIGGEST takeaways from the book is Winds experience 300+ over Japan was later found to be the JET-STREAM published in the 1920's by a Japanese scientist， but it was written in Esperanto。 The amount of inaccuracy of target bombing and the creation of Napalm chemical 。。。more
Amy Allen
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Most of my friends know that I love history， have my masters degree in it， but do not like the war part。 I know， I know。 “How can you even know history without war？” I just don’t like the long descriptions about different battles。 Yes。 There was a war for these reasons and after 4 years， and lots of killing， the North won。 Whatever。 The interesting part is the reasons and the intrigue。 Not the battles。 To me。 So how could I give 5 stars to Bomber Mafia？ First the author。 I love Malcolm Gladwell’ Most of my friends know that I love history， have my masters degree in it， but do not like the war part。 I know， I know。 “How can you even know history without war？” I just don’t like the long descriptions about different battles。 Yes。 There was a war for these reasons and after 4 years， and lots of killing， the North won。 Whatever。 The interesting part is the reasons and the intrigue。 Not the battles。 To me。 So how could I give 5 stars to Bomber Mafia？ First the author。 I love Malcolm Gladwell’s writing。 He tells the back story of everything and I love it。 Plus， this wasn’t about battles， but about the reasoning， the discussion， the decision making behind the battles。 And it harked back to conversations with my mom about why we dropped the bomb twice in Japan。 Lots and lots to think about。 。。。more
Christopher Fry
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very readable
Andy
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A compelling historical account， but strangely and uncomfortably superficial in its examination of the ethics of war。 Gladwell speaks with admiration for high-altitude precision bombing as a "moral" way to wage war--nevermind that the actualization of such technology in modern drone strike diplomacy has been characterized by willful deception and overreach at the cost of innocent lives。 Despite a few disclaimers， this book reeks of American exceptionalism and accepts clichéd narratives or World A compelling historical account， but strangely and uncomfortably superficial in its examination of the ethics of war。 Gladwell speaks with admiration for high-altitude precision bombing as a "moral" way to wage war--nevermind that the actualization of such technology in modern drone strike diplomacy has been characterized by willful deception and overreach at the cost of innocent lives。 Despite a few disclaimers， this book reeks of American exceptionalism and accepts clichéd narratives or World War 2 morality as Americans making tough but necessary choices for the good of all。 。。。more
Katherine Fahey
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Malcolm Gladwell never fails to make me think！ No matter what the subject is I can see another perspective that usually surprises me
Naomi
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4 stars for audiobook version - with real audio recordings from historical references。 Interesting concepts and learning history I didn't previously know 4 stars for audiobook version - with real audio recordings from historical references。 Interesting concepts and learning history I didn't previously know 。。。more
Nikki
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audiobook - I’m not super interested in war books usually， but I like Gladwell’s writing a lot， & definitely love him as an audio reader/host， & this was interesting & very well produced。 I like how much Gladwell focuses on the attributes of the people involved， alongside the history。
Natalie Diedericks
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In my Air Force， plane， flight era。 A great read to understand a specific scene in WWII and the personal epiphanies involved… underlineable conflict and full circle resolution >>
Olivia Perez LaBore
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Even though I bought a hardcover of this book a few months ago， I listened to it on audio， and I’m so glad I did！ In the acknowledgments， Gladwell reveals that the book was intended to be an audiobook and made for print later。 The audiobook was full of old recordings， interviews， and even some great music。 All of it combined was very effective at engaging the reader while raising some important questions on the morality of precision bombing。 While precision bombing of an enemy’s major choke poin Even though I bought a hardcover of this book a few months ago， I listened to it on audio， and I’m so glad I did！ In the acknowledgments， Gladwell reveals that the book was intended to be an audiobook and made for print later。 The audiobook was full of old recordings， interviews， and even some great music。 All of it combined was very effective at engaging the reader while raising some important questions on the morality of precision bombing。 While precision bombing of an enemy’s major choke points causes critical damage in the here and now， can it also prevent considerably more harm in the future？ This was a great book that I will highly recommend。 。。。more
Andrew
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Extremely fascinating。 He has a way of pulling you into the mindset of historical figures that I've rarely experienced。 More than a book about WWII， this is a book about revolution， technology， and morality。 Extremely fascinating。 He has a way of pulling you into the mindset of historical figures that I've rarely experienced。 More than a book about WWII， this is a book about revolution， technology， and morality。 。。。more
apollo11fan
，
The Bomber Mafia is a short， digestible， but unremarkable history of the American bomber program during the Second World War。 Malcolm Gladwell sets up a conflict between the ideologies of two generals in the Army Air Forces: Haywood Hansell， a proponent of daytime tactical bombing to knock out important industrial facilities; and Curtis LeMay， who adopted the strategy of burning Japan's working class neighbourhoods with napalm to eviscerate the enemy morale。I appreciate Gladwell drawing attentio The Bomber Mafia is a short， digestible， but unremarkable history of the American bomber program during the Second World War。 Malcolm Gladwell sets up a conflict between the ideologies of two generals in the Army Air Forces: Haywood Hansell， a proponent of daytime tactical bombing to knock out important industrial facilities; and Curtis LeMay， who adopted the strategy of burning Japan's working class neighbourhoods with napalm to eviscerate the enemy morale。I appreciate Gladwell drawing attention to this understudied aspect of the war--as he notes， the policy of annihilating Japanese cities predated nuclear weapons， and the firebombing of Tokyo in March 1945 killed more civilians than the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki。 But this book is not up to the task it sets itself。 Gladwell's characteristically cheery and irreverent tone is at odds with the dark material， and his unfortunate tendency to draw sweeping conclusions from a few anecdotes goes uncured。It is easy to tell that this 200-page， large-type trifle began its life as a podcast episode which expanded to a short audiobook， as Gladwell includes numerous interview transcripts that are clearly meant to be heard in the audio format， and the level of research and sourcing is far below any serious historical writing。Entertaining but insignificant， and unworthy of its subject matter or the author's best work。 。。。more
Julia Kingston
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I loved this。 Definitely a bit simplistic with its conclusions （as is often the case with Gladwell）， but informative and thought-provoking。 This book painted such an intriguing picture of the moral ambiguity of war and the challenge of conflicting military dogmas。 Is one tragedy worth it if it potentially avoids another？ Overall， I recommend。
Krisno Wahyudha
，
Ada cerita lain di balik perang yang dibawakan dengan positif oleh om Gladwell。 Banyak hal baru yang saya ketahui dalam buku pendek ini。 Soal para hero dengan aksinya masing sekalipun itu dalam suasana perang。 Nilai impian dan kegigihan sepertinya tak bakal ditinggalkan oleh Oom Gladwell。 Yang bisa kulihat dalam keputusan untuk menyerang dari udara。 "Kami tak harus membantai orang-orang tak berdosa membakar habis semua orang untuk tujuan militer。 Kami bisa berbuat lebih baik。。。 "Kutipan yang say Ada cerita lain di balik perang yang dibawakan dengan positif oleh om Gladwell。 Banyak hal baru yang saya ketahui dalam buku pendek ini。 Soal para hero dengan aksinya masing sekalipun itu dalam suasana perang。 Nilai impian dan kegigihan sepertinya tak bakal ditinggalkan oleh Oom Gladwell。 Yang bisa kulihat dalam keputusan untuk menyerang dari udara。 "Kami tak harus membantai orang-orang tak berdosa membakar habis semua orang untuk tujuan militer。 Kami bisa berbuat lebih baik。。。 "Kutipan yang saya suka di Bomber mafia。 Ditunggu tulisan lainnya dari Om Gladwell。 。。。more
Katrina Detwiler
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Always enjoyable my guy， but I just didn’t get as into this one as the others
Kieran L
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Not his best， wandering and at times， due to the use if certain speech patterns taken from quotes， difficult to follow。 Strong theme running through， as every with malcolm gladwell
Tim Blackburn
，
I love the perspective that Malcolm Gladwell adds to historical events。 Mr Gladwell relates an overview history of the founding of air warfare in the US including detailed little-known tangential incidents。 An example is the discovery of Napalm in WWII and the devaststion it created when used by the US to bomb Tokoyo。 Without spoiling a key point the author makes in the book let's simply say that the author figuratively holds a mirror up to the reader for introspection。 What would YOU have done？ I love the perspective that Malcolm Gladwell adds to historical events。 Mr Gladwell relates an overview history of the founding of air warfare in the US including detailed little-known tangential incidents。 An example is the discovery of Napalm in WWII and the devaststion it created when used by the US to bomb Tokoyo。 Without spoiling a key point the author makes in the book let's simply say that the author figuratively holds a mirror up to the reader for introspection。 What would YOU have done？ This is characteristic of Mr Gladwell's books that I've read and is a great tool for forcing the reader to consider his/her actions had we been present in the historical event。 Great book that really makes you think。 。。。more
Andrew Ong
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Started off as an audio book。 So it has original interviews with some of the personalities in the book。 Gives a behind the scenes look at WW2。
Greg Herringer
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An informative audiobook structured as if it was a radio documentary or podcast。 Not just about WW2， but about the influence of technology - it’s capabilities and limitations- that amplified and in some cases invalidated war strategy。
Rhonda
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I find Gladwell’s books very readable， but often insubstantial。 His work reminds me of a high school essay: think up a point to make and then scrounge around for evidence to support it。 Finesse the inconsistencies。 This book was different。 The strong historical basis lent a much better foundation to his point about morality and war。 It makes me wish that my dad （who was serving in the Pacific on submarines—poorly equipped and dangerous—during this time） were around to give me his perspective。 I’ I find Gladwell’s books very readable， but often insubstantial。 His work reminds me of a high school essay: think up a point to make and then scrounge around for evidence to support it。 Finesse the inconsistencies。 This book was different。 The strong historical basis lent a much better foundation to his point about morality and war。 It makes me wish that my dad （who was serving in the Pacific on submarines—poorly equipped and dangerous—during this time） were around to give me his perspective。 I’ll bet it would make for a lively discussion。I’ll be thinking about this for a while。 。。。more
Ann
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Excellent audio book。 Author narration。 News clips。 Interviews。 Interesting history。 Highly recommend。
David
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In Bomber Mafia， Gladwell looks into the ideas of some within the US （Army） Air Force had after the First World War regarding high altitude precision bombing。Like a lot of of things leading up to the Second World War， in response to the horrors of the first， some believed that bombing and destroying the enemy's means to carry out a war would result in a much quicker， targeted affair。 This seemed to be a much more humane and overall less destructive approach than what happened in Europe （especial In Bomber Mafia， Gladwell looks into the ideas of some within the US （Army） Air Force had after the First World War regarding high altitude precision bombing。Like a lot of of things leading up to the Second World War， in response to the horrors of the first， some believed that bombing and destroying the enemy's means to carry out a war would result in a much quicker， targeted affair。 This seemed to be a much more humane and overall less destructive approach than what happened in Europe （especially Western Europe） from 1914-1918。Was it successful？ Read the book （or remember your history） and find out。In this case， with interviews and the like， the audiobook is especially recommended。 。。。more
William
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Great AirPower historyVery enjoyable， made for a great discussion about the ethics and approaches of practical airpower。 There's a fascinatingly clear line from the bomber mafia's theories to the gulf air war and Warden’s 5 rings。 Strongly recommend。 Great AirPower historyVery enjoyable， made for a great discussion about the ethics and approaches of practical airpower。 There's a fascinatingly clear line from the bomber mafia's theories to the gulf air war and Warden’s 5 rings。 Strongly recommend。 。。。more
Theresa
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Easy to read and very interesting; also darker than I expected which is a phenomenon I’m experiencing pretty much any military history book I read about WWII。
Mary Kniep
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Gladwell never disappoints。
Brett Roston
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I don’t think Malcolm Gladwell’s succinct， analytical writing style works well here。 Big jump from his prior books that are short-story focused， moving towards a broader theme around human behavior。 The psychological differences between the two main characters are too brief and lack depth （feels more like a summary of Wikipedia entries at times）， often creating a jumbled / forced storyline。 That said， I came in knowing very little about the WW2 Air Force and found it very interesting to learn ab I don’t think Malcolm Gladwell’s succinct， analytical writing style works well here。 Big jump from his prior books that are short-story focused， moving towards a broader theme around human behavior。 The psychological differences between the two main characters are too brief and lack depth （feels more like a summary of Wikipedia entries at times）， often creating a jumbled / forced storyline。 That said， I came in knowing very little about the WW2 Air Force and found it very interesting to learn about and had no issues getting through it。 Wish there was more storytelling。 。。。more
Sammy Tiranno
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The topics of Gladwell’s books are always intriguing， with plenty of insight from within the fields of psychology and sociology， but this one seemed to be the most niche as far as genre is concerned。 It’s also my favorite of his that I’ve read so far。 I appreciate the narrative the author creates， focusing mostly on two men and their different approaches to command， whether in the European or Pacific theaters。 That central storyline is buttressed by appreciable consideration given to the Norden The topics of Gladwell’s books are always intriguing， with plenty of insight from within the fields of psychology and sociology， but this one seemed to be the most niche as far as genre is concerned。 It’s also my favorite of his that I’ve read so far。 I appreciate the narrative the author creates， focusing mostly on two men and their different approaches to command， whether in the European or Pacific theaters。 That central storyline is buttressed by appreciable consideration given to the Norden bombsight， opposing strategies among the British and American forces， napalm， atomic bombs， and the efficacy in war of those influencing factors。 Woven together with a bit of signature psychoanalysis， the end result is a biographical war history that essentially describes two sides of a moral argument。 。。。more
Joshua
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Brisk read highlighting a lesser known aspect of WW2This book did a great job of telling a compelling story about an unassuming piece of equipment and the outsized influence it ultimately had on the course of World War Two。 Through the stories of key players， we are taken on a trip through the war and and how it ties into military doctrine today。
Gregory
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An interesting and quick read about the evolution of large-scale bombing from the Allies’ perspective during WWII。 It didn’t go into the same level of depth that I expect from books about the war， but I’m also a total WWII history nerd and regularly read books about that time period that are over 700 pages。 For someone looking to get a cursory view， this book is excellent。 It’s biggest strength is its engaging style—if you like podcasts or This American Life， this book will be perfect for you。
Vallerie Budrovich-Stack
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This was interesting but I'd give it a 3。5 because I feel it was confusingly written sometimes。 It was more like a podcast as opposed to a book。 This was interesting but I'd give it a 3。5 because I feel it was confusingly written sometimes。 It was more like a podcast as opposed to a book。 。。。more
Reid Mccormick
，