[Kevmo]

I would recommend “The Ultra Secret” by Winterbotham. It is about how the Brits decoded German secret messages in WWII. Much of the Battle of the Atlantic was waged at this level, and it is an interesting read.

Another book, along the same lines of secret information & such: “Intercept UFO” by Renato Vesco. You can read through and get sort of an idea of what it goes into on this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1924782/posts

[lesser_satan]

Here ya go:

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL THE SECOND WORLD WAR - COMPLETE IN SIX VOLUMES IN SLIPCASE(I've read the condensed version, and I highly recommend it)

The Dangerous Book for Boys

[LiteKeeper]

Two Lives Of a Hero

The incredible life of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts...but who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the British Army, before starting the Boy Scouts. Especially interesting are the stories of his service in South Africa and India, as a spy and a true war hero!

[LiteKeeper]

Just to whet your appetite:

Wikipedia article on the life of Lord Baden Powell

[april15Bendovr]

A book on my must read list

The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, The First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Coast-Jefferson-Marines-Mission/dp/1401300030

[Star Traveler]

Well since you’re a GodfearingTexan and Okie, I would say that this one should fit the bill...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0842379428/

Check out his website at — http://www.epm.org/

Jan Markell at Olive Tree Ministries (KKMS, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) interviewed him about his book. You can hear it here, to get an idea about the book — http://mp3.olivetreeviews.org/OTM2007_06_30B.mp3

Now, this will keep you riveted on the subject matter, all the way through the book.

Regards,
Star Traveler

[Irish Rose]

“The Long Road Home” by Martha Raddatz is a well-written account of Black Sunday. Definitely bravery there. “Under Fire”, Oliver North’s autobiography, also might interest you.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I really enjoyed In the Heart of the Sea, too.

Try “Washington’s Crossing.” It is an incredible story of courage and surviving hardship against seemingly insurmountable odds. I guarantee you’ll be thrilled by it.

“Empire Express” - Building the transcontinental railroad
“A Newer World” - Kit Carson & John Fremont
“Men to Match My Mountains” - Thrilling stories of the U.S. western expansion

[Rockingham]

By way of personal survival stories, try:

“Survive the Savage Sea,” by Dougal Robertson. (family endures the sudden sinking of their boats at sea);

“The Hundred Days of Lt. Mac Horton. (autobiography)(Severely wounded and left to die in the jungle, a British soldier fights the Japanese, hostile terrain, flies, heat, and pain);

“Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage,” Alfred Lansing. (An Antarctic expedition is wrecked, but all survive due to Shackleton’s determination and resilience).

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Two Years Before the Mast - Richard Henry Dana

The Long Walk - Slavomir Rawicz

Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer

Also, read the Siege of Malta if you haven’t already...

[hoosier_RW_conspirator]

“Narrow Escapes and Outdoor Adventures” by Ben East (a collection of short stories of survival from the old ‘Outdoor Life’ magazines).

[maine-iac7]

You want to see or read about real courage and lasting fortitude of a small bunch of folk = read Gov. Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" or get the most excellently done film that faithfully follows it - titled : "Desperate Crossing" = I guarantee you'll be amazed at how much you never knew or suspected of what these people endured - for over a dozen years BEFORE they sailed on the Mayflower = including their 12 years in Holland.

Elder William Brewster played a cat and mouse game with the English Crown who sent detectives back and forth - as he scooted back and forth - always one step ahead.

They wanted his head because he had a publishing/printing business - hidden ingeniously - and printed books and pamphlets against the Crown, one being the famous "Perth Assembly". That's the one that really ticked the King off...

When they finally made the decision to sail on the Mayflower, he had to be smuggled aboard...

And did you know that the first face to face encounter they had with the Native Americans was the first warm spring day when Samoset came striding straight into the middle of the village...and that they stood, mouths agape, as he greeted them with: "Welcome, Englishmen." And then asked for a beer...

Anyway, I do think you'd be pleasantly surprised at the REAL story of the Pilgrims - one you never got in school or the newspapers...

[johnny7]

“Goodbye Darkness” ...by William Manchester

[Right Wing Assault]

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea.

The true story of the sinking of the SS Central America and the eventual recovery of her cargo of gold.

The first quarter or so of the book deals with the incredible, super-human efforts of many to save the passengers before she sank. The rest concerns the difficult salvage of the cargo over 130 years later.

[Alberta's Child]

You might be interested in a book I've read several times . . . it's called "North to the Pole" by Will Steger and Paul Schurke, and it's about the famous Steger expedition to the North Pole back in the 1980s. The expedition was sponsored by National Geographic magazine, and was done only using the types of equipment that would have been available to Robert Peary back in 1909. There was some dispute over the years about whether Peary really ever reached the North Pole, and National Geographic sponsored this expedition to determine if it was at least physically possible to accomplish what he had claimed.

[grame]

I love these threads. When I catch one I try to make a list for the next time I go to my used book store or the library. But when I’m stuck I always go back to my favs, The Curate’s Awakening by George MacDonald and a modern translation of Pilgrims Progress.

[CholeraJoe]

Anything by Stephen Ambrose. “Undaunted Courage” “Band of Brothers” and “Pegasus Bridge” are my favorites.

[fredhead]

I am currently reading (for the second time) the Mutiny on the Bounty trilogy. Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea, and Pitcairn’s Island. Historical novels dealing with the real lives of Captain Bligh, Fletcher Christian, and the men of the HMS Bounty.

[spiffy]

Endurance by Alfred Lansing, about the Ernest Shackleton expedition to Antarctica. I’ve read it several times, and I still can’t put it down. Lots of great pictures and so many cliffhangers that I wonder how much of it is true. Those guys were put to the limit of their endurance and all lived.

[Dumb_Ox]

Hmm... James Bowman wrote Honor: A History, could be what you’re looking for. Its references alone might lead you to some great books.