Tod Strickland
@todstrick.bsky.social
Husband, father, grandfather, lover of new and interesting ideas, history, the occasional scotch, a good cigar, a good book, and good pavement with lots of turns. Posts are my own, and a repost is not an endorsement.
6/2026 - The Divided Ground - A play on Richard White’s title (The Middle Ground), the book uses Joseph Brant and Samuel Kirkland to explore colonization in the period around the American Revolution, and what it meant for the land, people, and governments. No one comes out of this very well. Solid.
January 17, 2026 at 1:43 PM
6/2026 - The Divided Ground - A play on Richard White’s title (The Middle Ground), the book uses Joseph Brant and Samuel Kirkland to explore colonization in the period around the American Revolution, and what it meant for the land, people, and governments. No one comes out of this very well. Solid.
5/2026 - The Regiment - one of the outstanding accounts of life in the infantry, and the centrality of the regiment (or battalion) to the soldier. Absolutely first rate prose, with a combination of wit, emotion, and clear writing that bring moments alive. Should be mandatory reading for any officer.
January 12, 2026 at 9:33 PM
5/2026 - The Regiment - one of the outstanding accounts of life in the infantry, and the centrality of the regiment (or battalion) to the soldier. Absolutely first rate prose, with a combination of wit, emotion, and clear writing that bring moments alive. Should be mandatory reading for any officer.
4/2024 - North of America - Really solid scholarship examining colonial British North America and its role in shaping the initial decades of the American experiment. Well crafted and sourced, it is a dense read but offers a lot in return. Leaves me wondering about the creation of national identity.
January 11, 2026 at 5:29 PM
4/2024 - North of America - Really solid scholarship examining colonial British North America and its role in shaping the initial decades of the American experiment. Well crafted and sourced, it is a dense read but offers a lot in return. Leaves me wondering about the creation of national identity.
3/2026 - Punching Above Our Weight - Seems there are two versions of this title. A comprehensive examination of Canadian military history since 1867, that seeks to supplant Desmond Morton’s work. It does a decent job, though heavily reliant on secondary sources. Bias does show through. Worth a look.
January 9, 2026 at 7:15 PM
3/2026 - Punching Above Our Weight - Seems there are two versions of this title. A comprehensive examination of Canadian military history since 1867, that seeks to supplant Desmond Morton’s work. It does a decent job, though heavily reliant on secondary sources. Bias does show through. Worth a look.
2/2026 - World War II: A New History - A solid entry university level text that covers the breadth of the war in decent detail while maintaining a broad approach. Worth it just for the bibliographic details at the end. Shows some of the contemporary debates over this pivotal period in our history.
January 7, 2026 at 10:59 PM
2/2026 - World War II: A New History - A solid entry university level text that covers the breadth of the war in decent detail while maintaining a broad approach. Worth it just for the bibliographic details at the end. Shows some of the contemporary debates over this pivotal period in our history.
1/2026 - Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction - One of the longer ones in the VSI series, this was a good start to the year. Traces the ebb and flow of Britain’s population, its governance structure, and the relative power of its kings, aristocracy, and its people, and religion. Interesting.
January 4, 2026 at 6:38 PM
1/2026 - Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction - One of the longer ones in the VSI series, this was a good start to the year. Traces the ebb and flow of Britain’s population, its governance structure, and the relative power of its kings, aristocracy, and its people, and religion. Interesting.
79/2025 - Introduction to Global Military History - A solid example of a global history that seeks to do more than just provide a chronology of events. Still very western focused, but makes an effort in every chapter to get beyond Europe and the US. Some good points for historians in general.
December 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
79/2025 - Introduction to Global Military History - A solid example of a global history that seeks to do more than just provide a chronology of events. Still very western focused, but makes an effort in every chapter to get beyond Europe and the US. Some good points for historians in general.
78/2025 - Myths of Modern History - A revisionist history written from a marxist interpretation, by an author with a pro-revolutionary bias and a love for the Soviet Union. He is long on opinion and short on sources, although he cites a lot of his previous work. Do not add this to your library.
December 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
78/2025 - Myths of Modern History - A revisionist history written from a marxist interpretation, by an author with a pro-revolutionary bias and a love for the Soviet Union. He is long on opinion and short on sources, although he cites a lot of his previous work. Do not add this to your library.
77/2025 - Dead Certainties - History as fiction, beautifully weaving together the death of General Wolfe, historian Francis Parkman, and the murder of his brother George by John Webster. It is an intriguing account of multiple events, calling for blending of sources and imagination. Wonderful prose
December 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
77/2025 - Dead Certainties - History as fiction, beautifully weaving together the death of General Wolfe, historian Francis Parkman, and the murder of his brother George by John Webster. It is an intriguing account of multiple events, calling for blending of sources and imagination. Wonderful prose
76/2025 - A Guide to British Military History - A series of historiographic essays tracing the writing done on British military history. Also includes details on archives, journals, and some electronic sources. An indispensable resource. Also includes a little info on the Dominions…
December 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
76/2025 - A Guide to British Military History - A series of historiographic essays tracing the writing done on British military history. Also includes details on archives, journals, and some electronic sources. An indispensable resource. Also includes a little info on the Dominions…
75/2025 - A Global History of War - Author tried to do too much in not enough space. Book cries for either a case study approach or one based on continuities and changes across cultures. Sporadic footnotes and multipage quotations do not work for me. This is not the global history I was looking for.
December 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM
75/2025 - A Global History of War - Author tried to do too much in not enough space. Book cries for either a case study approach or one based on continuities and changes across cultures. Sporadic footnotes and multipage quotations do not work for me. This is not the global history I was looking for.
74/2025 - Nobility Lost - A fascinating cultural history showing the interplay of martial cultures during the Seven Years’ War. Focuses primarily on clashes within the French forces, but also on the differing world views between them and their indigenous counterparts. Offers some great insights.
December 4, 2025 at 5:49 PM
74/2025 - Nobility Lost - A fascinating cultural history showing the interplay of martial cultures during the Seven Years’ War. Focuses primarily on clashes within the French forces, but also on the differing world views between them and their indigenous counterparts. Offers some great insights.
73/2025 - Crucible of War - A sweeping and detailed synthesis of the Seven Years’ War that combines myriad secondary and occasional primary sources. Aimed at a general readership, this is popular history done in academic style. Great maps, solid prose, and well sourced this is well worth the time.
November 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
73/2025 - Crucible of War - A sweeping and detailed synthesis of the Seven Years’ War that combines myriad secondary and occasional primary sources. Aimed at a general readership, this is popular history done in academic style. Great maps, solid prose, and well sourced this is well worth the time.
72/2025 - Drone Warfare - as a history it has some questionable elements, like including the V1. Published ten years ago, it has not aged well and missed the turn UAVs took. Focussed on air forces and their use, with some mention of navies. Did not anticipate the role of micros on ground combat.
November 29, 2025 at 7:39 PM
72/2025 - Drone Warfare - as a history it has some questionable elements, like including the V1. Published ten years ago, it has not aged well and missed the turn UAVs took. Focussed on air forces and their use, with some mention of navies. Did not anticipate the role of micros on ground combat.
71/2025 - Wisdom Takes Work - I have been a fan of Holiday’s since being exposed to the Daily Stoic. This, a worthy addition to his stoic virtues series, speaks to the need to be a lifelong, reflective learner. Great stories about Lincoln, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius and others. Elon will not enjoy.
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
71/2025 - Wisdom Takes Work - I have been a fan of Holiday’s since being exposed to the Daily Stoic. This, a worthy addition to his stoic virtues series, speaks to the need to be a lifelong, reflective learner. Great stories about Lincoln, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius and others. Elon will not enjoy.
70/2025 - Indigenous Continent - An epic book, immense in scope, yet balancing detail with ideas incredibly well. Tracing the period from pre-contact to 1876, showing Dutch, English, French, Spanish and American modes of colonization and the multiple ways indigenous nations combatted them. Wow!
November 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
70/2025 - Indigenous Continent - An epic book, immense in scope, yet balancing detail with ideas incredibly well. Tracing the period from pre-contact to 1876, showing Dutch, English, French, Spanish and American modes of colonization and the multiple ways indigenous nations combatted them. Wow!
69/2025 -The Slow Rush of Colonization - This book explores how colonization was carried out in Canada’s Maritime provinces by the French and British. It maps out the various approaches to diplomacy and military power, as well as the dominant role played by massive inflows of British settlers. Solid
November 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
69/2025 -The Slow Rush of Colonization - This book explores how colonization was carried out in Canada’s Maritime provinces by the French and British. It maps out the various approaches to diplomacy and military power, as well as the dominant role played by massive inflows of British settlers. Solid
68/2025 - The Canadian Iroquois and the Seven Years’ War - Part indigenous history and part military history, this is a notable book. Written from a native centric perspective, the author provides a rich tapestry of detail that far surpasses other accounts. Shows their form of parallel warfare well.
November 15, 2025 at 8:52 PM
68/2025 - The Canadian Iroquois and the Seven Years’ War - Part indigenous history and part military history, this is a notable book. Written from a native centric perspective, the author provides a rich tapestry of detail that far surpasses other accounts. Shows their form of parallel warfare well.
67/2025 - 21 Things You Might Not Know About the Indian Act - This is a concise treatment of a topic more of us should know about. If you want to understand why the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was required and why native peoples are upset, read this. Also includes the 94 calls to action…
November 13, 2025 at 12:06 AM
67/2025 - 21 Things You Might Not Know About the Indian Act - This is a concise treatment of a topic more of us should know about. If you want to understand why the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was required and why native peoples are upset, read this. Also includes the 94 calls to action…
66/2025 - Countercurrents - This is an interesting academic history of black, white, Haitian, indigenous, and Italian immigrant women’s movements in Quebec between 1960s and 1980s. Ties in with the concept of “mother work” from an earlier reading. Cross cultural case studies are enlightening.
November 12, 2025 at 11:56 PM
66/2025 - Countercurrents - This is an interesting academic history of black, white, Haitian, indigenous, and Italian immigrant women’s movements in Quebec between 1960s and 1980s. Ties in with the concept of “mother work” from an earlier reading. Cross cultural case studies are enlightening.
65/2025 - Covered With Night - Won the Pulitzer and with good reason. This is a complex history wrapped in a wonderful narrative. Covers so much more than the title suggests, weaving in slavery, cultural norms, actions in contact zones, gender roles, and conflicting worldviews. Best of year so far.
November 8, 2025 at 9:47 PM
65/2025 - Covered With Night - Won the Pulitzer and with good reason. This is a complex history wrapped in a wonderful narrative. Covers so much more than the title suggests, weaving in slavery, cultural norms, actions in contact zones, gender roles, and conflicting worldviews. Best of year so far.
64/2025 - Who Will Defend Europe? - This is telling commentary on military and political weakness in dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and our overall state of unpreparedness for future aggression. Critical but fair in its treatment of Canada, praising our efforts in the Baltics.
November 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
64/2025 - Who Will Defend Europe? - This is telling commentary on military and political weakness in dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and our overall state of unpreparedness for future aggression. Critical but fair in its treatment of Canada, praising our efforts in the Baltics.
63/2025 - What is Military History? - A concise, yet detailed, explanation of the field/subfield. Traces its evolution from ancient times to the contemporary age. Highlights some of the ongoing debates and the question of broader relevance. Recommended for any student starting off within the field.
November 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
63/2025 - What is Military History? - A concise, yet detailed, explanation of the field/subfield. Traces its evolution from ancient times to the contemporary age. Highlights some of the ongoing debates and the question of broader relevance. Recommended for any student starting off within the field.
62/2025 - Worlds of Unfreedom - My understanding of the trans-Atlantic slave trade has been significantly enriched by this volume. Focussed on how there was more to the abolition movement than British banning of the trade, it explores the multifaceted nature by showing how Africans were involved.
November 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
62/2025 - Worlds of Unfreedom - My understanding of the trans-Atlantic slave trade has been significantly enriched by this volume. Focussed on how there was more to the abolition movement than British banning of the trade, it explores the multifaceted nature by showing how Africans were involved.
61/2025 - Daughters of Aataentsic - Combination indigenous and women’s history that uses seven case studies/biographical sketches to show the central role of Wendat/Wandat women in preserving and sustaining their society. The concept of motherwork and its evolution is central to this understanding.
November 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
61/2025 - Daughters of Aataentsic - Combination indigenous and women’s history that uses seven case studies/biographical sketches to show the central role of Wendat/Wandat women in preserving and sustaining their society. The concept of motherwork and its evolution is central to this understanding.