[Top_Shot_31]

I know this isn't the perfect place for this post, but I trust the people that post in CT.

I'm looking for some good books to buy on modern LE and Military just for leisure reading. I have already looked at getting Bravo Two Zero and Black Hawk Down, but I would like some more insight, especially into material with more of a law enforcement viewpoint. Any of you guys have some favorite books that you can recommend to me?

[msu_grad_121]

I really enjoyed "NYPD: Stories of Survival from the World's Toughest Beat." It showed a lot of the history of the NYPD from the distant to very recent past.

On the military side, about 6 months ago I read "Sniper One," and thoroughly enjoyed it. Dan Mills is an excellent author, the book flows well, and you get to see the good and bad and funny of what they went through.

Right now I'm reading "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle. It's interesting to see how humble the deadliest sniper in American history is.

[kayl]

The Caliber Press Street Survival Trilogy is fantastic reading as is pretty much every book on Policeonebooks.com

[Toetag]

'What Cops Know" written by Connie Fletcher. It's available on Amazon in paperback.
One of the better reads about street cops and their experiences.

Particularly to a civilian such as myself.

[The Fist Of Goodness]

On the Mil side, read Kill Bin Laden, by John Weisman. It is fiction, but allegedly lays out the op from the White House down to the SEAL Team shooters. Weisman co-authored Rogue Warrior with Richard Marcinko and some of the fictional series that followed.

It ties together an shooting incident by a military contractor that happened in Pakistan (and made international news) that was apparently a distraction operation to keep Pakistani intelligence from locating a CIA listening station near the OBL compound.

[CAcop]

Randy Sutton has a pretty good book about his time with Vegas PD.

Lawrence Blum an Kevin Gilmartin have pretty good books on the psychological side of policing. Dave Grossman's On Killing and On Combat has tie to LE.

10-8 by Officer X has always been a favorite of mine. I pull that thing out every few years and read it.

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets is pretty good. I flip through that every decade or so.

10-8 amd Homicide are the ones I would recommend to anyone and they are really great reads. Grossman, Blum, and Gilmartin are good but they might be better read by people in the business. Sutton's is pretty much good for seeing behind the scenes of Vegas but it isn't spectacular. I would give it up if I needed more room in the book shelf. Gilmartin, 10-8 and Homicide would be some of the last books I would eve give up. I probably will read them long after I am retired.

[Hollywood D]

I read 'Lone Survivor' about a year ago. It's a military book written by a navy seal. It's a very good story about the survival attitude, and a good read in general.

[blueiron]

Operation Fast and Furious is a great read to learn about how the national political elite are screwing up Federal law enforcement. Once they were the Untouchables, now the honest Agents are the whistle-blowers against their political minders.

[Morris]

Fiction, non-fiction or biographies?

[GumbyDammit]

Last one I read was "Under and Alone" by William Queen. True story of an ATF agent that went inside the Mongols OMG. Pretty gripping story.

[Panzergrenadier1979]

"Blue Blood" by Det. Edward Conlon.

A very entertaining look at the inner-workings of the NYPD in the mid-90s leading up to 9/11. Very funny and sad at the same time. I highly recommend it.

[MeefZah]

Any fictional work by Joseph Wambaugh. His non fiction makes me want to kill myself with a spork, but his fiction is damn good; and his newer stuff (Hollywood Crows and similar) is top notch. He was LAPD for some time, so there is an authenticity to his stuff that some of these crime writers just don't get.

I also like Leonard Elmore, I just realized that the TV show Justified is based on his works. Because of that, I just read two of his books I hadn't yet read, Pronto and Riding the Rap. These are the novels that introduce the character of Raylan Givens. Good reads!

[CJStudent]

Originally Posted by Hollywood D

I read 'Lone Survivor' about a year ago. It's a military book written by a navy seal. It's a very good story about the survival attitude, and a good read in general.

A VERY good read! Also a good insight into the mindset and culture of that area of Afghanistan.

As far as fiction, some of it is a bit off, but I like W.E.B. Griffin's books. Some of it is kinda out there, but they're a good read regardless.

[Top_Shot_31]

Originally Posted by Morris

Fiction, non-fiction or biographies?

Definitely more partial to Biographies/Memoirs and non-fiction, but a well-written fiction book is always good.

Thanks for all the input, keep it coming guys.

[Agent6-3/8]

Another vote for "Lone Survivor". Great read about true warriors.

[Officer X]

Just for fun reading:

Anything by Vince Flynn or Brad Thor

I just got done reading Band of Brothers again and Major Richard Winters' autobigraphy back to back

Also read Jimmy Buffett's A Pirate Looks at 50 and A Salty Piece of Land recently

[series1811]

Originally Posted by CAcop

Randy Sutton has a pretty good book about his time with Vegas PD.

Lawrence Blum an Kevin Gilmartin have pretty good books on the psychological side of policing. Dave Grossman's On Killing and On Combat has tie to LE.

10-8 by Officer X has always been a favorite of mine. I pull that thing out every few years and read it.

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets is pretty good. I flip through that every decade or so.

10-8 amd Homicide are the ones I would recommend to anyone and they are really great reads. Grossman, Blum, and Gilmartin are good but they might be better read by people in the business. Sutton's is pretty much good for seeing behind the scenes of Vegas but it isn't spectacular. I would give it up if I needed more room in the book shelf. Gilmartin, 10-8 and Homicide would be some of the last books I would eve give up. I probably will read them long after I am retired.

Homicide is great. I actually was in a group with Tom Pellegrini when the new Chief had the brain fart that everybody needed to move, so he sends Pellegrini to a heroin street group. I had never read the book until after that.

Just talking to him was an education every single day, and he was about as humble as a person could be, considering he was already a celebrity.

Pelligrini went to Bosnia later, to work murder cases there. I talked to him between tours and that could have been another whole book.

[Patchman]

Instead of buying, start at the local library. Borrowing is a lot cheaper. Look at their 'Crime' section and 'American history' sections. Check out their on-line catalogue to see what's available in the entire library system.

You can always spend your own money later on.

[Top_Shot_31]

Originally Posted by Patchman

Instead of buying, start at the local library. Borrowing is a lot cheaper. Look at their 'Crime' section and 'American history' sections. Check out their on-line catalogue to see what's available in the entire library system.

You can always spend your own money later on.

I just got a Kindle Fire as an early birthday present, that's why I'm asking

[OXCOPS]

I like Vince Flynn. His stuff centers around a CIA operative and the roles he plays. Flynn has a lot of contacts in the intelligence sector and gets material from them. Most of his recent stuff has roots in some of the current events surrounding terrorism, etc.

He is (was?) a writer for the series "24".

His stuff is easy to read and well written.

[Dragoon44]

I liked the first "prey" novels by John Sanford until he turned Davenport into a soft headed Liberal later on in his books.

I like Stephen Hunters books as well featuring Bob Lee Swagger.

[Patchman]

Originally Posted by Patchman

Instead of buying, start at the local library. Borrowing is a lot cheaper. Look at their 'Crime' section and 'American history' sections. Check out their on-line catalogue to see what's available in the entire library system.

Originally Posted by Top_Shot_31

I just got a Kindle Fire as an early birthday present, that's why I'm asking

First, I had to make sure what a Kindle was.

Second, I'm guessing nobody really cares anymore about the Dewey Decimal System.

[lpo]

Originally Posted by Top_Shot_31

I just got a Kindle Fire as an early birthday present, that's why I'm asking

I read a couple weeks ago that you can borrow e-books from a library now. Don't know how widespread it is but you may want to look in to it.

I just started reading "Lone Survivor" and so far, I'm liking it.

Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

[freeride88]

I'm a Nook guy, myself, and we can borrow ebooks from our library here.

Night Dogs by Kent Anderson.

[maddog3241]

For Lone Survivor and American Sniper. Both are awesome reads. I couldn't put either one down until I was done.