Book Review: The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell

I am a long-time Gladwell fan. As soon as he announces a new book, I’m signing up. I really enjoy his writing style and the insights he brings to everyday life and experience. This newest book is very different from his previous ones – from the cover (blue instead of white) to the subject matter (more singularly-focused than usual) and the narrative style (focusing on one set of people/events rather than scattered examples across locations, time frames, and populations).

Yet it was a distinctly Gladwellian book for all those differences, and I enjoyed it every bit as much as his previous, more directly sociologically-focused, works. I don’t normally read “war books” – and make no mistake, this is a war book. But it’s also a study of sociology and people and personalities, and that’s where Gladwell shines to my mind. It’s a marvelous way to learn something about a new topic, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.