Blackett's War: The Men Who Defeated the Nazi U-Boats and Brought Science to the Art of Warfare - Hardcover

Budiansky, Stephen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 030759596X ISBN 13: 9780307595966

Publisher: Alfred a Knopf Inc, 2013

Synopsis

The exciting history of a small group of British and American scientists who, during World War II, developed the new field of operational research to turn back the tide of German submarines—revolutionizing the way wars are waged and won.

In March 1941, after a year of unbroken and devastating U-boat onslaughts, the British War Cabinet decided to try a new strategy in the foundering naval campaign. To do so, they hired an intensely private, bohemian physicist who was also an ardent socialist. Patrick Blackett was a former navy officer and future winner of the Nobel Prize; he is little remembered today, but he and his fellow scientists did as much to win the war against Nazi Germany as almost anyone else. As director of the World War II antisubmarine effort, Blackett used little more than simple mathematics and probability theory—and a steadfast belief in the utility of science—to save the campaign against the U-boat. Employing these insights in unconventional ways, from the washing of mess hall dishes to the color of bomber wings, the Allies went on to win essential victories against Hitler’s Germany.

Here is the story of these civilian intellectuals who helped to change the nature of twentieth-century warfare. Throughout, Stephen Budiansky describes how scientists became intimately involved with what had once been the distinct province of military commanders—convincing disbelieving military brass to trust the solutions suggested by their analysis. Budiansky shows that these men above all retained the belief that operational research, and a scientific mentality, could change the world. It’s a belief that has come to fruition with the spread of their tenets to the business and military worlds, and it started in the Battle of the Atlantic, in an attempt to outfight the Germans, but most of all to outwit them.

About this title

Review:

"[A] terrific story, exciting, illuminating, well told. And what a movie it would make, especially in 3-D . . . [Budiansky] is a fine writer."
--David Walton", Dallas Morning News
"
"Lively and enlightening . . . Writing with an easy command of science and a sharp eye for fresh and telling detail, Budiansky knowingly and entertainingly re-creates the almost constant struggle between hidebound military traditionalists and the clever civilians who saved them."
--Evan Thomas, "The Washington Post"

"[E]ngaging . . . the more closely one looks at Patrick Blackett, the more impressive he appears . . . Far more than a scientific or military biography, "Blackett's War" is also a finely wrought and well-sourced social history of elite science's wartime mobilization . . . [A] wonderful revisionist history of how intelligence derived from Bletchley Park's breakthroughs combined with Blackett's operational research to bypass and destroy the Nazi Wolfpacks."
--Michael Schrage, "Fortune"

"A fascinating and skilful blend of naval warfare, science, and British social history with a richly diverse cast of characters."
--Alex Kershaw, "World War II Magazine"
" "
"Little-known story of the Allied scientists whose unconventional thinking helped thwart the Nazi U-boats in World War II . . . [A]n excellent, well-researched account . . . An engrossing work rich in insights and anecdotes.
--"Kirkus Reviews", starred review

Recommended reading, "Scientific American"

"[A] terrific story, exciting, illuminating, well told. And what a movie it would make, especially in 3-D . . . [Budiansky] is a fine writer."
--David Walton, " Dallas Morning News
"
"[T]horough and focused . . . [Budiansky's] lively writing style delivers a fascinating portrayal of how science contributed to winning the war in Europe."
--Marc Levinson, "The Wall Street Journal

"

"[A] terrific story, exciting, illuminating, well told. And what a movie it would make, especially in 3-D . . . [Budiansky] is a fine writer."
--David Walton," Dallas Morning News
"
"[T]horough and focused . . . [Budiansky's] lively writing style delivers a fascinating portrayal of how science contributed to winning the war in Europe."
--Marc Levinson, "The Wall Street Journal
"
"Lively and enlightening . . . Writing with an easy command of science and a sharp eye for fresh and telling detail, Budiansky knowingly and entertainingly re-creates the almost constant struggle between hidebound military traditionalists and the clever civilians who saved them."
--Evan Thomas, "The Washington Post"
"[E]ngaging . . . the more closely one looks at Patrick Blackett, the more impressive he appears . . . Far more than a scientific or military biography, "Blackett's War" is also a finely wrought and well-sourced social history of elite science's wartime mobilization . . . [A] wonderful revisionist history of how intelligence derived from Bletchley Park's breakthroughs combined with Blackett's operational research to bypass and destroy the Nazi Wolfpacks."
--Michael Schrage, "Fortune"
"A fascinating and skilful blend of naval warfare, science, and British social history with a richly diverse cast of characters."
--Alex Kershaw, "World War II Magazine"
" "
"Little-known story of the Allied scientists whose unconventional thinking helped thwart the Nazi U-boats in World War II . . . [A]n excellent, well-researched account . . . An engrossing work rich in insights and anecdotes.
--"Kirkus Reviews," starred review
Recommended reading, "Scientific American"
"A beautifully written history . . . Budiansky skillfully provides biographical sketches of the important contributors as well as the historical context of the issues they wrestled with."
--Colonel John J. Abbatiello, "Proceedings"
"[A] terrific stor

Praise for Stephen Budiansky's "Blackett's War
"
Recommended Reading, "Scientific American"
A fascinating portrayal of how science contributed to winning the war in Europe.
"The Wall Street Journal"
A terrific story, exciting, illuminating, well told.
"Dallas Morning News"
Lively and enlightening. . . . Budiansky knowingly and entertainingly re-creates the almost constant struggle between hidebound military traditionalists and the clever civilians who saved them.
"The Washington Post"
Engaging. . . . A finely wrought and well-sourced social history of elite science s wartime mobilization. . . . A wonderful revisionist history of how intelligence derived from Bletchley Park s breakthroughs combined with Blackett s operational research to bypass and destroy the Nazi Wolfpacks.
"Fortune"
Budiansky has mastered the difficulties of the story, making it very readable and compelling . . . an important work.
"New York Journal of Books"
A fascinating and skilful blend of naval warfare, science, and British social history with a richly diverse cast of characters.
"World War II Magazine"
Little-known story of the Allied scientists whose unconventional thinking helped thwart the Nazi U-boats in World War II . . . An excellent, well-researched account . . . an engrossing work rich in insights and anecdotes.
"Kirkus Reviews," starred review
The little known history of a linchpin in the Allies victory over the Nazis: Patrick Blackett.. . . For military history and science fans alike.
"Publishers Weekly""

Praise for Stephen Budiansky's Blackett's War

Recommended Reading, Scientific American

"A fascinating portrayal of how science contributed to winning the war in Europe."
--The Wall Street Journal

"A terrific story, exciting, illuminating, well told."
--Dallas Morning News

"Lively and enlightening. . . . Budiansky knowingly and entertainingly re-creates the almost constant struggle between hidebound military traditionalists and the clever civilians who saved them."
--The Washington Post

"Engaging. . . . A finely wrought and well-sourced social history of elite science's wartime mobilization. . . . A wonderful revisionist history of how intelligence derived from Bletchley Park's breakthroughs combined with Blackett's operational research to bypass and destroy the Nazi Wolfpacks."
--Fortune

"Budiansky has mastered the difficulties of the story, making it very readable and compelling . . . an important work."
--New York Journal of Books

"A fascinating and skilful blend of naval warfare, science, and British social history with a richly diverse cast of characters."
--World War II Magazine

"Little-known story of the Allied scientists whose unconventional thinking helped thwart the Nazi U-boats in World War II . . . An excellent, well-researched account . . . an engrossing work rich in insights and anecdotes."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The little known history of a linchpin in the Allies' victory over the Nazis: Patrick Blackett. . . . For military history and science fans alike."
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

Stephen Budiansky is a journalist and military historian. His previous books include Air Power, Battle of Wits, The Bloody Shirt, Her Majesty's Spymaster, and Perilous Fight.

About this edition

• Publisher: Alfred a Knopf Inc
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 030759596X
• ISBN 13: 9780307595966
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 306