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How Can Man Die Better? By Col. Mike Snook
Space_Aristocrat


Joined: 31 Aug 2015
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I just recently ordered the book How Can Man Die Better? The Secrets of Isandlwana revealed. By Col. Mike Snook. Looking forward to a great read! How'd everybody else like this book? Heard it's interesting.

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Alan
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AMB


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
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An excellent book, written by a man with a professional soldier's eye for ground and a passion for his Regt.

(Mine was the BAR review)

AMB
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peterw


Joined: 30 Aug 2005
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Isandlwana is a complex battle and difficult to do justice in a single book. Mike's book is definitely worth reading as are those by Ian Knight. Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill provide a slightly alternative view. Enjoy.

Peter
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Space_Aristocrat


Joined: 31 Aug 2015
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Thank you for the good advice. I look forward to an excellent read.

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With the proper motivation, that is, a good reason for wanting to do it, your mind can overcome any sort of adversity. ~ Franz Stampfl
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The Scorer


Joined: 27 Nov 2006
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It's an excellent book, and you will enjoy it.

After you've finished it, get hold of Mike's second AZW book, which is called "Like Wolves on the Fold: The Defence of Rorke�s Drift". It is also excellent and well recommended.

Smile
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AMB


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
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I would concur with Peter in that whilst Mike's books are first class (incl those on Sudan), other authors provide alternative views and some different material that would enhance [broaden] your overall knowledge.

That said, if you read only one, then Mike's will most certainly do the job!

Enjoy!

AMB
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dwh999


Joined: 28 Jul 2017
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I am reading this at the moment and finding it fascinating- the only minor "niggle" is that there are very few footnotes to substantiate some of his factual statements .
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Colin
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It is an interesting read, as with Zulu Victory, Zulu Rising, etc., but my advice is to take on board the knowledge that Isandlwana has been studied for years by authors, walking the ground first-hand, seeking out accounts and so forth, but the concept of trying to put forward the more delicate issues of the men present, decisions and actions can be vague and possibly misguided, due to the fact years of studying a battlefield intimately, every nook, cranny, ridge, dead ground, doesn't really correspond with the actual time those in the fight had to get to know of the surrounding area, for various reasons, but mostly lack of scouting the immediate vicinity and a 360 degree 5+ miles or so around the camp. In other words, 10, 15 or more years studying the area, doesn't match the few hours the men present had to get a keen sense of the terrain, from their position in the camp nor a detailed survey map of what lay beyond their view. Therefore, they could only work with what they could see and hear, without the hindsight of knowing what the authors knew. An interesting approach for a book would have been some modern historian who knew absolutely nothing of the area or battle and was placed immediately in the camp area but no further, and then try to work out what was happening with updates of scout reports, orders, etc., all the time knowing nothing about the surrounding area, terrain or location of the Zulu Army
How Can Man Die Better? By Col. Mike Snook
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