THE BOMBER MAFIA A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War

The prolific author says that this is the first of his books "written to be heard rather than read." Gladwell himself delivers the compelling story of the renegade WWII soldiers who pioneered precision aerial bombing--a tactic that might have saved civilian lives had it been more widely accepted. He narrates with delightful spontaneity and engagement, and the production includes background music, recorded war sounds, and archival interviews. It sounds a lot like an early radio drama or perhaps a 1950s movie news short. While most listeners will find these innovations stimulating, some might wish for more Gladwell and fewer interview clips, which are less concise, sometimes tangential, and, overall, not as appealing as the author's seamless storytelling and considerable vocal panache. T.W. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2021]