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Book Review: Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons
Wylie W. Johnson
Author: Sarah Scoles
Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010
Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons discusses the American nuclear weapons enterprise by analyzing arguments from the past and situations in the present. The author explains the field of nuclear anthropology and the effects of having a long-term nuclear stockpile, as well as how research of nuclear weapons has developed over time, computer modeling, and nuclear forensics. The reviewer considers it “a readable, thought-provoking book that makes this dense subject accessible.”
©2026 Wylie W. Johnson
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Book Review: Women in Intelligence: The Hidden History of Two World Wars
Wylie W. Johnson
Author: Helen Fry
Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010
Fry’s book, Women in Intelligence, uncovers stories of women working in intelligence and espionage during wartime. Using recently declassified files, she brings to light stories of individuals and the advances in women’s suffrage during the two World Wars. The reviewer sees this as an essential work that makes a significant contribution to the history of intelligence efforts and recommends it to practitioners of the military profession.
©2026 Wylie W. Johnson
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Book Review: The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’s Cold War Army
Jason A. Yanda
Author: Robert F. Williams
Reviewed by: Jason A. Yanda, assistant professor, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College
In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions.
©2026 Jason A. Yanda
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Book Review: The Ageless Call to Serve: Rethinking Military Service for A Changing World
Richard M. Yates
Author: Lieutenant Colonel Lanny Snodgrass, MD, PhD
Reviewed by: Commander Richard M. Yates, faculty instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College
At age 63, psychiatrist Lanny Snodgrass defied convention by joining the Army, challenging long-held beliefs about age and military readiness. Drawing on decades of clinical experience with veterans and young soldiers, he exposes the psychological toll of sending teenagers to war while advocating for the wisdom and resilience older recruits can bring. This provocative and inspiring book reimagines military service for a modern world, urging a shift from age-based limits to capability-based inclusion.
©2026 Richard M. Yates
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