“Every war is different. Every war is the same.”
Consisting of two central operations known as Desert Shield and Desert Strom, the Gulf War was a response to the invasion of Kuwait ordered by Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein. Led by the US, the coalition of forces against Iraq marked the largest military alliance since the Second World War. The war concluded in February 1991 following the liberation of Kuwait. It is estimated the Gulf War claimed between 20,000 to 35,000 Iraqi soldiers and 100,000 civilians lost their lives as a result of the conflict. The war also became infamous for some of the largest tank battles in American history, as well as the new ways in which the public received live broadcasts from the front lines. If you’re looking to learn more about this significant moment in Middle East history, join us at What We Reading for the best Gulf War books!
Jarhead: A Marine’s Chronicle Of The Gulf War And Other Battles – Anthony Swofford
First up on our list of Gulf War books is Anthony Swofford’s account of the conflict, Jarhead. When the marines – or ‘jarheads’ – were sent to Saudi Arabia to fight the Iraqis, Anthony Swofford was right there with them. What followed for him was six months of living in sand, his girlfriend at home betraying him, being shot at by both Americans and Iraqis, hiking miles through incinerated landscapes and nearly being killed by a booby-trapped bunker.
Swofford blends the experience of war with vivid accounts of boot camp, reflects on the mythos of the marines, and recounts battles with enemies, lovers and family. Unlike the real-time print and television that has come to symbolise the war, Jarhead offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be an American, a soldier and a man.
Crusade: The Untold Story Of The Persian Gulf War – Rick Atkinson
Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War is the 1993 definitive account of the Gulf War delivered by Pulitzer Prize correspondent Rick Atkinson.
Still one of the most comprehensive Gulf War books, Atkinson follows the forty-two-day conflict from the first night to the final day. Along the way, he guides readers through vivid accounts of bombing runs, White House strategy sessions, firefights and the divisive internal debates and discussions that would come to define the war.
War In The Gulf, 1990-91: The Iraq-Kuwait Conflict And It’s Implications – Majid Khadduri And Edmund Ghareeb
Another one of the best books on the Gulf War offering a more nuanced portrait of the conflict and its consequences, Majid Khadduri and Edmund Ghareeb offer a deep and revealing perspective in their work, War in the Gulf. Featuring background information not available before, the pair explore the differences between Iraq and Kuwait over frontiers, territory and sovereignty, how Saddam Hussein’s war with Iran exacerbated boundary tensions, and the diplomatic efforts to avert war were made by a number of international players in the build-up to the conflict. Finally, Khadduri and Ghareeb take readers through to the present, exploring the war and its aftermath, covering everything from defections within Hussein’s ranks to continued UN sanctions.
War in the Gulf is a balanced and eye-opening account of one of the most central events in the Middle East, illuminating a number of Western misconceptions many readers still have about the conflict.
Hogs In The Sand: A Gulf War A-10 Pilot’s Combat Journal – Buck Wyndham
Synonymous with the Gulf War is the revolutionary aviation technology and weaponry that was put on show for the first time on the world stage. The most famous example of this is the A-10 Warthog, first thrust into battle during Operation Desert Storm. The untested individuals who took to the skies in them had to battle through surface-to-air missiles and overcome the fourth-largest army in the world, often relying on their own determination and hardware available to defy incredible odds.
Buck Wyndham’s Hogs in the Sand is an epic and intimate year-long journey of one of these pilots as he fights an increasingly terrifying war, whilst also attempting to win over a woman and keep control of his inner demons. Not only one of the best Gulf War books, Hogs in the Sand is one of the definitive accounts for gaining an understanding and appreciation for the minds of modern combat pilots.
Moving Mountains: Lessons In Leadership And Logistics From The Gulf War – William G. Pagonis And Jeffrey L. Cruikshank
The Gulf War has often been described as the largest military logistics operation in history, featuring an unprecedented deployment of troops and supplies halfway around the world. Written by the general who spearheaded this remarkable operation, General William Pagonis recounts the mobilisation of 550,000 troops and the shipment of 700,000 tons of supplies that would lead to a swift and decisive Allied victory.
Not only one of the best Gulf War books but also an incredible lesson on leadership, Pagonis describes his battleground innovations as well as his inspirational style of command. Weaving his own tale with historical and current business practices, he makes a compelling case for better leadership and better logistics in both the private space and in the military. For a better understanding of how logistics and leadership combined in the Gulf, Moving Mountains needs to be on your reading list!
Fly Safe: Letters From The Gulf War And Reflections From Back Home – Vicki Cody
When Vicki Cody’s husband, the commander of an elite Apache helicopter battalion is deployed to Saudi Arabia, the pair are forced to rely on written letters over nine months to stay connected.
From Vicki’s narrative and journal entries, readers are given a deeply personal look at what life is like for the spouses and families back home during a war, particularly during an era that pre-dates phones, computers and the internet. Fly Safe lifts the lid on the stress, loneliness, sleepless nights, humour and resilience that soon become day-to-day existence. Meanwhile, her husband’s letters give readers a front-row seat to the Gulf War as it unfolded, capturing the adrenaline rush of flying helicopters into combat, each man’s commitment to their country as well as their unwavering devotion to their families back home.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
