Best WW1 / WW2 books?

WWII RAF "Reach for the Sky" Story of Douglas Badger.

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If you have any interest in Winston Churchill the series he wrote called “The Second World War” is a pretty great look into things behind the scenes during wartime. My grandfather left me his set when he died but I was only a kid, it’s only now I’ve really picked them up and appreciate the story.
 
War As I Knew It - Patton

Echoing Esvagt's suggestion, my favorite of the series; Closing The Ring - Winston Churchill

Stella - Peter Wyden

Agent Zigzag - Ben Macintyre

Agent 146 - Erich Gimpel

Vimy - Pierre Burton

The Canadians At War 1939-1945 - Readers Digest
 
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Tim Cooks' two volumes on the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War are pretty good from the bits I've read and provide a well-researched and good written narrative of the ordeals faced by the Canadian Corps.

1. At the Sharp End: Canadians Fighting the Great War 1914-1916
2. Shock Troops: Canadians Fighting the Great War 1917-1918
 
.22LRGUY said:
As an aside, my great uncle Leo was a MUAG (Mid upper Air gunner) in a Lancaster during WW2, and while I'm not drawn to aviation stuff...I'd sincerely like to read some accounts of what that experience was like. I remember meeting him a number of times, a sweet...quiet, small-statured man. I only learned about his service after he passed. (I was young at the time)
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Try 'Tail-end Charlie: On Man's Journey Through a War' by John William Wainwright, it's in my opinion a good account of being a Lancaster gunner and interesting enough to get through the entire book.

Regards,
Steve
 
.22LRGUY said:
As an aside, my great uncle Leo was a MUAG (Mid upper Air gunner) in a Lancaster during WW2, and while I'm not drawn to aviation stuff...I'd sincerely like to read some accounts of what that experience was like. I remember meeting him a number of times, a sweet...quiet, small-statured man. I only learned about his service after he passed. (I was young at the time)
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For the Bomber war,,,,

Non-fiction: "A Thousand Shall Fall" by Murray Peden (Cdn pilot with the RAF 214 Sqn who flew Stirlings and then the Flying Fortress). An amazing and easy read.
Fiction: "Bomber" by Len Deighton. All about the Lancaster and its crew, and how it was fought, including from the German side with their night fighter force.
Actually, anything by Deighton on WWII (his fiction or non-fiction) are great reads.

Edited: I see Bart Bandy alread mentioned the Murray Peden book,, and I second his recommendation.
 
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