Mark Jones
@mark18681918.bsky.social
PhD student @cardiffuni.bsky.social/Prifysgol Caerdyd. Critical historian researching regimental identity, organisational culture & learning processes within the British Army during the Cold War.
https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/research-staff/jonesma19
https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/research-staff/jonesma19
Fini/ Finally two "PhD adjacent" books. A lovely copy of a regimental history and what promises to be an interesting account of tactical intelligence in the Cold War era.
Lots of reading to be getting on with!
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN #ColdWar
Lots of reading to be getting on with!
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN #ColdWar
November 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Fini/ Finally two "PhD adjacent" books. A lovely copy of a regimental history and what promises to be an interesting account of tactical intelligence in the Cold War era.
Lots of reading to be getting on with!
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN #ColdWar
Lots of reading to be getting on with!
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN #ColdWar
3/ By contrast both of these books have been on the radar for sometime.
I'm a big admirer of Hoffman's scholarship on Adaption, Innovation and Hybrid Warfare, and any book edited by Helen Parr, Frank Ledwidge and Aaron Edwards has got to be a 'must-read'.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
I'm a big admirer of Hoffman's scholarship on Adaption, Innovation and Hybrid Warfare, and any book edited by Helen Parr, Frank Ledwidge and Aaron Edwards has got to be a 'must-read'.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
November 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
3/ By contrast both of these books have been on the radar for sometime.
I'm a big admirer of Hoffman's scholarship on Adaption, Innovation and Hybrid Warfare, and any book edited by Helen Parr, Frank Ledwidge and Aaron Edwards has got to be a 'must-read'.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
I'm a big admirer of Hoffman's scholarship on Adaption, Innovation and Hybrid Warfare, and any book edited by Helen Parr, Frank Ledwidge and Aaron Edwards has got to be a 'must-read'.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
2/...the first books I read in the New Year.
Both @rorycormac.bsky.social and Mark McGovern's books come highly recommended and I'll be looking forward to getting stuck in to these ASAP.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
Both @rorycormac.bsky.social and Mark McGovern's books come highly recommended and I'll be looking forward to getting stuck in to these ASAP.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
November 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
2/...the first books I read in the New Year.
Both @rorycormac.bsky.social and Mark McGovern's books come highly recommended and I'll be looking forward to getting stuck in to these ASAP.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
Both @rorycormac.bsky.social and Mark McGovern's books come highly recommended and I'll be looking forward to getting stuck in to these ASAP.
#Skystorians #COIN #HistBookChat
Well, it's that time of year when book buying goes into overdrive! This year's theme is definitely PhD research related (and what's a PhD loan for anyway?)
Peter Taylor's trilogy is still essential reading for the conflict in Northern Ireland and will be amongst...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
Peter Taylor's trilogy is still essential reading for the conflict in Northern Ireland and will be amongst...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
November 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Well, it's that time of year when book buying goes into overdrive! This year's theme is definitely PhD research related (and what's a PhD loan for anyway?)
Peter Taylor's trilogy is still essential reading for the conflict in Northern Ireland and will be amongst...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
Peter Taylor's trilogy is still essential reading for the conflict in Northern Ireland and will be amongst...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
Early this week, I finished Christian Tripodi's "The Unknown Enemy".
It's a book that's been on the radar for some time and it was certainly worth the wait. Tripodi has skillfully critiqued the concept of 'political warfare' in counterinsurgency, utilising...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN
It's a book that's been on the radar for some time and it was certainly worth the wait. Tripodi has skillfully critiqued the concept of 'political warfare' in counterinsurgency, utilising...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Early this week, I finished Christian Tripodi's "The Unknown Enemy".
It's a book that's been on the radar for some time and it was certainly worth the wait. Tripodi has skillfully critiqued the concept of 'political warfare' in counterinsurgency, utilising...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN
It's a book that's been on the radar for some time and it was certainly worth the wait. Tripodi has skillfully critiqued the concept of 'political warfare' in counterinsurgency, utilising...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #COIN
2/ This book should absolutely be on the reading list for scholars of Counterinsurgency, Command & Leadership, or the Global War on Terror.
Grab a copy when you can!
#Skystorians #GWOT #COIN #USMC #HistBookChat
Grab a copy when you can!
#Skystorians #GWOT #COIN #USMC #HistBookChat
October 31, 2025 at 12:43 PM
2/ This book should absolutely be on the reading list for scholars of Counterinsurgency, Command & Leadership, or the Global War on Terror.
Grab a copy when you can!
#Skystorians #GWOT #COIN #USMC #HistBookChat
Grab a copy when you can!
#Skystorians #GWOT #COIN #USMC #HistBookChat
Bit late to the party, but very much enjoying these two.
@swbfolsom.bsky.social has written another insightful and engaging memoir (review to follow), whilst Tripodi's study is a genuine eye-opener and deftly pushes back on the primacy of 'political' action in contemporary COIN.
#HistBookChat
@swbfolsom.bsky.social has written another insightful and engaging memoir (review to follow), whilst Tripodi's study is a genuine eye-opener and deftly pushes back on the primacy of 'political' action in contemporary COIN.
#HistBookChat
October 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Bit late to the party, but very much enjoying these two.
@swbfolsom.bsky.social has written another insightful and engaging memoir (review to follow), whilst Tripodi's study is a genuine eye-opener and deftly pushes back on the primacy of 'political' action in contemporary COIN.
#HistBookChat
@swbfolsom.bsky.social has written another insightful and engaging memoir (review to follow), whilst Tripodi's study is a genuine eye-opener and deftly pushes back on the primacy of 'political' action in contemporary COIN.
#HistBookChat
It was also fantastic to meet @bennetthuw.bsky.social and @thomasdmleahy.bsky.social in person and have a brilliant chat about #PhD life and the next five(ish) years @cardiffuni.bsky.social
(Photo of Cardiff Bay at night as I completely forgot to take a photograph at the Uni!)
#Skystorians
(Photo of Cardiff Bay at night as I completely forgot to take a photograph at the Uni!)
#Skystorians
October 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
It was also fantastic to meet @bennetthuw.bsky.social and @thomasdmleahy.bsky.social in person and have a brilliant chat about #PhD life and the next five(ish) years @cardiffuni.bsky.social
(Photo of Cardiff Bay at night as I completely forgot to take a photograph at the Uni!)
#Skystorians
(Photo of Cardiff Bay at night as I completely forgot to take a photograph at the Uni!)
#Skystorians
Have spent a lovely couple of days in Cardiff! Thanks so much to @ckhillebrand.bsky.social and her colleagues (including the team @cardiffunilib.bsky.social) for pulling together a great PGR event for new Law, Politics and International Relations PhD candidates.
#Skystorians #IR #PhD
#Skystorians #IR #PhD
October 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Have spent a lovely couple of days in Cardiff! Thanks so much to @ckhillebrand.bsky.social and her colleagues (including the team @cardiffunilib.bsky.social) for pulling together a great PGR event for new Law, Politics and International Relations PhD candidates.
#Skystorians #IR #PhD
#Skystorians #IR #PhD
3/...in Ramadi focuses on a series of extended vignettes, rather than a more traditional chronology. Even so, the book is engaging, well written, and offers a crucial perspective on this critical period of the #GWOT.
A quick review, but a book certainly worth your time 🙂
#HistBookChat #GWOT #USMC
A quick review, but a book certainly worth your time 🙂
#HistBookChat #GWOT #USMC
October 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
3/...in Ramadi focuses on a series of extended vignettes, rather than a more traditional chronology. Even so, the book is engaging, well written, and offers a crucial perspective on this critical period of the #GWOT.
A quick review, but a book certainly worth your time 🙂
#HistBookChat #GWOT #USMC
A quick review, but a book certainly worth your time 🙂
#HistBookChat #GWOT #USMC
2/...during 2004, a critical period that laid the foundations of the Civil War that would torment Iraq for the next decade.
Like his previous book on the 503rd Airborne in the Korengal Valley of Eastern Afghanistan, Zorroya's retelling of 2/4's experiences...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
Like his previous book on the 503rd Airborne in the Korengal Valley of Eastern Afghanistan, Zorroya's retelling of 2/4's experiences...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
October 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
2/...during 2004, a critical period that laid the foundations of the Civil War that would torment Iraq for the next decade.
Like his previous book on the 503rd Airborne in the Korengal Valley of Eastern Afghanistan, Zorroya's retelling of 2/4's experiences...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
Like his previous book on the 503rd Airborne in the Korengal Valley of Eastern Afghanistan, Zorroya's retelling of 2/4's experiences...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
Happy #HistBookChat day folks. A quick review of Gregg Zoroya's new(ish) book "Unremitting".
Covering an understudied aspect of the Iraq War's historiography, the book recounts the experience of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment ('The Magnificent Bastards') in Ramadi...
#Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
Covering an understudied aspect of the Iraq War's historiography, the book recounts the experience of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment ('The Magnificent Bastards') in Ramadi...
#Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
October 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Happy #HistBookChat day folks. A quick review of Gregg Zoroya's new(ish) book "Unremitting".
Covering an understudied aspect of the Iraq War's historiography, the book recounts the experience of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment ('The Magnificent Bastards') in Ramadi...
#Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
Covering an understudied aspect of the Iraq War's historiography, the book recounts the experience of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment ('The Magnificent Bastards') in Ramadi...
#Skystorians #GWOT #USMC
A quick review for #HistBookChat
"Squaddies" has proven to be a really interesting sociological study of the British Army of the early 1980s. I'm certainly intrigued to compare its findings with those of Helen Parr's outstanding "Our Boys".
Certainly worth your time (and money!)
#Skystorians
"Squaddies" has proven to be a really interesting sociological study of the British Army of the early 1980s. I'm certainly intrigued to compare its findings with those of Helen Parr's outstanding "Our Boys".
Certainly worth your time (and money!)
#Skystorians
October 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A quick review for #HistBookChat
"Squaddies" has proven to be a really interesting sociological study of the British Army of the early 1980s. I'm certainly intrigued to compare its findings with those of Helen Parr's outstanding "Our Boys".
Certainly worth your time (and money!)
#Skystorians
"Squaddies" has proven to be a really interesting sociological study of the British Army of the early 1980s. I'm certainly intrigued to compare its findings with those of Helen Parr's outstanding "Our Boys".
Certainly worth your time (and money!)
#Skystorians
One for the Bluesky #submarine hive mind - any idea why the Italian Todaro submarines have a single star on their sails?
Is it an Italian submarine service tradition or representative of something else?
@covertshores.bsky.social @saturnax1.bsky.social @axe99.bsky.social
Is it an Italian submarine service tradition or representative of something else?
@covertshores.bsky.social @saturnax1.bsky.social @axe99.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
One for the Bluesky #submarine hive mind - any idea why the Italian Todaro submarines have a single star on their sails?
Is it an Italian submarine service tradition or representative of something else?
@covertshores.bsky.social @saturnax1.bsky.social @axe99.bsky.social
Is it an Italian submarine service tradition or representative of something else?
@covertshores.bsky.social @saturnax1.bsky.social @axe99.bsky.social
Bit late to the party, but The Horrors new album - 'Night Life' - is an absolute Darkwave banger.
Highly recommended for doleful, shoe-gazy introverts out there (like me!)
Highly recommended for doleful, shoe-gazy introverts out there (like me!)
September 21, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Bit late to the party, but The Horrors new album - 'Night Life' - is an absolute Darkwave banger.
Highly recommended for doleful, shoe-gazy introverts out there (like me!)
Highly recommended for doleful, shoe-gazy introverts out there (like me!)
Also this from @swbfolsom.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Also this from @swbfolsom.bsky.social
May I humbly suggest these two from @bennetthuw.bsky.social and @thomasdmleahy.bsky.social - both are excellent
September 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
May I humbly suggest these two from @bennetthuw.bsky.social and @thomasdmleahy.bsky.social - both are excellent
Have been really enjoying reading these two books this week. Some really interesting insights on unit culture - reviews to follow in due course
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
September 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Have been really enjoying reading these two books this week. Some really interesting insights on unit culture - reviews to follow in due course
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
Fini/...case.
Putting these flaws aside, this is a book that should make you angry. It is also a book that highlights the legal, ethical, and moral challenges of COIN. From my own own perspective, this is a book that is very much worth your time reading.
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT
Putting these flaws aside, this is a book that should make you angry. It is also a book that highlights the legal, ethical, and moral challenges of COIN. From my own own perspective, this is a book that is very much worth your time reading.
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT
September 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Fini/...case.
Putting these flaws aside, this is a book that should make you angry. It is also a book that highlights the legal, ethical, and moral challenges of COIN. From my own own perspective, this is a book that is very much worth your time reading.
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT
Putting these flaws aside, this is a book that should make you angry. It is also a book that highlights the legal, ethical, and moral challenges of COIN. From my own own perspective, this is a book that is very much worth your time reading.
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT
6/...on occassion leads to sarcastic asides that do little to improve his analysis. Additionally, and in common with other studies of this era, there's also an unwillingness to engage with or understand regimental culture, a crucial, but sadly missing, factor in this...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
September 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
6/...on occassion leads to sarcastic asides that do little to improve his analysis. Additionally, and in common with other studies of this era, there's also an unwillingness to engage with or understand regimental culture, a crucial, but sadly missing, factor in this...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
5/...failings, as highlighted in Gage's report.
This book has its flaws. Williams lauditory references to the (now disgraced) solicitor Phil Shiner make for uncomfortable reading (even if Shiner's convictions did not relate to the Baha Mousa case). Williams' biases....
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
This book has its flaws. Williams lauditory references to the (now disgraced) solicitor Phil Shiner make for uncomfortable reading (even if Shiner's convictions did not relate to the Baha Mousa case). Williams' biases....
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
September 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
5/...failings, as highlighted in Gage's report.
This book has its flaws. Williams lauditory references to the (now disgraced) solicitor Phil Shiner make for uncomfortable reading (even if Shiner's convictions did not relate to the Baha Mousa case). Williams' biases....
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
This book has its flaws. Williams lauditory references to the (now disgraced) solicitor Phil Shiner make for uncomfortable reading (even if Shiner's convictions did not relate to the Baha Mousa case). Williams' biases....
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
4/...perspective one of the most fascinating, and troubling, aspects of this study is the role of institutional wilfulness, and the ability of key personnel to throughly abdicate their legal and moral responsibilities. The book forensically details these investigatory...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
September 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
4/...perspective one of the most fascinating, and troubling, aspects of this study is the role of institutional wilfulness, and the ability of key personnel to throughly abdicate their legal and moral responsibilities. The book forensically details these investigatory...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
3/...for a wider audience. Williams, a Professor of Law at the University of Warwick, has deftly undertaken this task which has resulted in an engaging, if difficult, read.
From my own...
(Photo description and credits for this and following images in Alt Text)
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
From my own...
(Photo description and credits for this and following images in Alt Text)
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
September 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
3/...for a wider audience. Williams, a Professor of Law at the University of Warwick, has deftly undertaken this task which has resulted in an engaging, if difficult, read.
From my own...
(Photo description and credits for this and following images in Alt Text)
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
From my own...
(Photo description and credits for this and following images in Alt Text)
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
2/...unpopular war. Those of you who have read the Gage Report or any other associated publications will not find anything 'new' to read here. However, this book's great strength is to take a large, complicated, legal document and translate it into a narrative suitable...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
September 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
2/...unpopular war. Those of you who have read the Gage Report or any other associated publications will not find anything 'new' to read here. However, this book's great strength is to take a large, complicated, legal document and translate it into a narrative suitable...
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
#HistBookChat #Skystorians
A second book review this lunchtime on what is a challenging and uncomfortable subject - "A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa" by AT Williams.
Scholars of the Iraq War will undoubtedly remember this case which shook public opinion in an already deeply..
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT
Scholars of the Iraq War will undoubtedly remember this case which shook public opinion in an already deeply..
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT
September 5, 2025 at 11:43 AM
A second book review this lunchtime on what is a challenging and uncomfortable subject - "A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa" by AT Williams.
Scholars of the Iraq War will undoubtedly remember this case which shook public opinion in an already deeply..
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT
Scholars of the Iraq War will undoubtedly remember this case which shook public opinion in an already deeply..
#HistBookChat #Skystorians #GWOT