Bomber Mafia

A Tale of Innovation and Obsession

By Malcolm Gladwell | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

About the book

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'A parable written for the age of technological disruption . . . brilliantly told'
Sunday Times

The international bestselling author returns with an exploration of one of the grandest obsessions of the twentieth century


'The Bomber Mafia is a case study in how dreams go awry. When some shiny new idea drops from the heavens, it does not land softly in our laps. It lands hard, on the ground, and shatters.'


In the years before the Second World War, in a sleepy air force base in central Alabama, a small group of renegade pilots put forth a radical idea. What if we made bombing so accurate that wars could be fought entirely from the air? What if we could make the brutal clashes between armies on the ground a thing of the past?

This book tells the story of what happened when that dream was put to the test. The Bomber Mafia follows the stories of a reclusive Dutch genius and his homemade computer, Winston Churchill's forbidding best friend, a team of pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard, a brilliant pilot who sang vaudeville tunes to his crew, and the bomber commander, Curtis Emerson LeMay, who would order the bloodiest attack of the Second World War.

In this tale of innovation and obsession, Gladwell asks: what happens when technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war? And what is the price of progress?

Editions of Bomber Mafia

Paperback
ISBN 9780141998404
Paperback
ISBN 9780141998374
EBook
ISBN 9780141998381

Read an Excerpt

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'A parable written for the age of technological disruption . . . brilliantly told'
Sunday Times

The international bestselling author returns with an exploration of one of the grandest obsessions of the twentieth century


'The Bomber Mafia is a case study in how dreams go awry. When some shiny new idea drops from the heavens, it does not land softly in our laps. It lands hard, on the ground, and shatters.'


In the years before the Second World War, in a sleepy air force base in central Alabama, a small group of renegade pilots put forth a radical idea. What if we made bombing so accurate that wars could be fought entirely from the air? What if we could make the brutal clashes between armies on the ground a thing of the past?

This book tells the story of what happened when that dream was put to the test. The Bomber Mafia follows the stories of a reclusive Dutch genius and his homemade computer, Winston Churchill's forbidding best friend, a team of pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard, a brilliant pilot who sang vaudeville tunes to his crew, and the bomber commander, Curtis Emerson LeMay, who would order the bloodiest attack of the Second World War.

In this tale of innovation and obsession, Gladwell asks: what happens when technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war? And what is the price of progress?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bomber Mafia about?

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'A parable written for the age of technological disruption . . . brilliantly told'
Sunday Times

The international bestselling author returns with an exploration of one of the grandest obsessions of the twentieth century


'The Bomber Mafia is a case study in how dreams go awry. When some shiny new idea drops from the heavens, it does not land softly in our laps. It lands hard, on the ground, and shatters.'


In the years before the Second World War, in a sleepy air force base in central Alabama, a small group of renegade pilots put forth a radical idea. What if we made bombing so accurate that wars could be fought entirely from the air? What if we could make the brutal clashes between armies on the ground a thing of the past?

This book tells the story of what happened when that dream was put to the test. The Bomber Mafia follows the stories of a reclusive Dutch genius and his homemade computer, Winston Churchill's forbidding best friend, a team of pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard, a brilliant pilot who sang vaudeville tunes to his crew, and the bomber commander, Curtis Emerson LeMay, who would order the bloodiest attack of the Second World War.

In this tale of innovation and obsession, Gladwell asks: what happens when technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war? And what is the price of progress?

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Bomber Mafia?

Health, Relationships and Personal development > Self-help, personal development and practical advice > Popular psychology

Where can I read a sample of Bomber Mafia?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780141998404

How long is Bomber Mafia and how many pages does it have?

Bomber Mafia has 256 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Bomber Mafia?

Malcolm Gladwell

Who is the Publisher of the book Bomber Mafia?

Penguin Books Ltd

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Bomber Mafia is available as paperback(ISBN 9780141998404) and paperback(ISBN 9780141998374) and ebook(ISBN 9780141998381)

Where can I buy Bomber Mafia online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Bomber Mafia from below

Where can I buy Bomber Mafia?