Books like Japanese Destroyer Captain — picked by fans

I loved Sledge's humility. Precious few human beings have endured extraordinary experiences like his as a Marine in the Pacific during World War II. Yet he channels the reader's admiration away from himself and toward the Marines he served alongside. It's impossible not to admire Sledge even though he tells his story in a way that never seeks our praise.

Too many people take too much pleasure in talking about themselves, but Sledge—a model Marine, a model American, and a model human being—is a welcome contrast to such people.

A historical narrative in the usual nonfiction manner, but also including many transcripts of interviews with the men who lived and made the history, and profusely illustrated. In general, the book charts the American hatting industry from the industrial revolution through the rise and fall of hats to the early 2000s. The stories told by the primary sources are fascinating, and the detail on different types of hats and the industry in general is really informative.