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The Bomber Mafia

A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War

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The Bomber Mafia

By: Malcolm Gladwell
Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
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About this listen

In The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War, Malcolm Gladwell, author of New York Times best sellers including Talking to Strangers and host of the podcast Revisionist History, uses original interviews, archival footage, and his trademark insight to weave 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. As listeners hear these stories unfurl, Gladwell examines 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 had a different view. This “Bomber Mafia” asked: What if precision bombing could, just by taking out critical choke points - industrial or transportation hubs - cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal?

In Revisionist History, Gladwell reexamines moments from the past and asks whether we got it right the first time. In The Bomber Mafia, he employs all the production techniques that make Revisionist History so engaging, stepping back from the bombing of Tokyo, the deadliest night of the war, and asking, “Was it worth it?” The attack 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 more by averting a planned US invasion.

Things might have gone differently had LeMay’s predecessor, General Haywood Hansell, remained in charge. As a key member of the Bomber Mafia, Hansell’s theories of precision bombing had been foiled by bad weather and human error. 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.

©2021 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2021 Malcolm Gladwell
Aeronautics & Astronautics Air Forces Armed Forces Astronomy & Space Science Military Science War Thought-Provoking Aviation History Naval Warfare

Critic Reviews

The Bomber Mafia is a parable written for the age of technological disruption.” (The Times, London)

"Gladwell is a wonderful storyteller. When he is introducing characters and showing them in conflict, The Bomber Mafia is gripping. I enjoyed this short book thoroughly, and would have been happy if it had been twice as long." (The New York Times)

“An innovative audio book with music, sound effects and archival clips. Gladwell’s easy conversational style works well, and his admiration for the Bomber Mafia shines through.” (The Washington Post)

All stars
Most relevant  
Goes into amazing detail on the personalities of the US airforce and their differing personalities and beliefs.

Worth every cent for history fans

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Das is gut. If you like books you sure to explode with like for this one

Malcolm Glad(very)well

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One of my favourite authors and this book is a great read/listen. I was skeptical but I really enjoyed it

Great

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I came for the planes and the authors revisionist brain and I left pondering the grace that we place on the finest who were responsible for terrible acts.

Intriguing and morally challenging, but brilliant!

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This was a great listen/read. As I said in the title 100% made for audiobook with the real interview audio layered into the the book which made it more immersive and real.
Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the narration.
Highly recommend.

Made for audiobook

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Absolutely entralling and thought provoking audio book. The audio clips gave life and credibility to the book and I love Malcolm Gladwells narration. Thank you

Highly recommended listening

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Amazing story, some glitches in the audio but other than that I give it 10/10

Great story

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A really engaging and compelling story telling, collaged together with recorded retelling. I was fascinated by the failures and egos involved and a unlikeable to some but I would say inspirational hero who took on a seeming impossible task. A savage war, more brutal than I could of imagined. And perhaps some silver lining from a dark war.

Revealing the often obscured story of US bombing wwII and origin

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Absolutely brilliant. more like a radio documentary or a podcast than an audio book and the production is fantastic.

excellent

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Extremely Interesting....History of What Happened...very well presented....like all of Malcolm Gladwell Audio Books....and enjoy listening to his voice.

History I Didn't Know

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