After loads of reading on the bus to work every day, here follows my reading list for military aviation:

Modern

• Viper Pilot - memoir of an F-16 Wild Weasel pilot who flew in both Iraq Wars
  
• A Nightmare's Prayer - memoir of a Marine Harrier Pilot flying out of Bagram.
  
• Warthog - Story of the A-10C pilots and their many varied missions in Desert Storm
  
• Hornets over Kuwait - Memoir of a Marine F/A-18 pilot during Desert Storm
  
• Strike Eagle - Story of the brand new F-15C Strike Eagle pilots and their time in Desert Storm
  
  

  Vietnam
  

• The Hunter Killers - look at the very first Wild Weasels, their inception, early development, successes, and failures
  
• Low Level Hell - memoir of an OH-6 Air Cav pilot
  
  

  WWII
  

• Unsung Eagles - various snapshots of the less well-known but arguably more impactful pilots and their missions during WWII (pilot who flew channel rescue in a P-47, morale demonstration pilot, etc.)
  
• Stuka Pilot - memoir of the most prolific aviator of Nazi Germany (and an unapologetic Nazi) who killed hundreds of tanks with his cannon-armed Stuka
  
• The First Team - more academic historical look at the first US Naval Aviators in WWII
  
  
  

  Overall/Other
  

• Skunk Works - memoir of Ben Rich, head of Lockeed's top secret internal firm and his time working on the U-2, SR-71, and F-117 including anecdotes from pilots of all 3 and accounts of these remarkable planes' exploits.
  
• Lords of the Sky - ambitious attempt to chronicle the rise and evolution of the "fighter pilot" from WWI to the modern day
  
• Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs - the story of the long-top secret group of pilots who evaluated and flew captured Soviet aircraft against US pilots to train them against these unknown foes.
  
• Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage - story of the US submarine fleet starting at the outbreak of the Cold War and their exploits
  
  
  
  

  Bonus non-military aviation
  

  I highly second the recommendations of Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and Diamond Age. I would also recommend:
  
  

• Neuromancer - defined the cyberpunk genre
  
• Ghost in the Wires - memoir of prolific hacker Kevin Mitnick
  
• Starship Troopers - nothing like the movie
  
• The Martian - fantastic read
  
• Heir to the Empire - first of the Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy and the book that arguably sparked the growth of the Extended Universe of Star Wars
  
• Devil in the White City - semi-fictional (mostly non-fiction) account of a serial killer who created an entire palace to capture and kill his prey during the Chicago World's Fair
  
• Good Omens - dark comedy story of a demon and an angel trying to stop the end of the world because they like us too much
  
• American Gods - fantastic story about how the old gods still walk among us
  
• Dune - just read it
  

Two favourite books,

Lord of the Rings, J.R.R Tolkien: Link First real book I ever read. It was a huge world that was mine alone to be in. Incredibly deep and engaging, knocks the shit out of the films. 10/10


1984, George Orwell: Link Another one that I read a fair few years ago now, it completely changed the way I looked at the world. It's a bit of a downer, so maybe don't read it if you're feeling low but it's important to be reminded every once in a while that 2+2 really can equal 5 in this life.

Honorable mentions, too many to list but here's some:

Brave New World, Aldous Huxley: Link Excellent book in a similar vein to 1984. It's set in 2540, but it was written between the Great War and world war 2. Brilliant, immersive book.

Red Storm Rising, Tom Clancy: [Link] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Storm-Rising-Tom-Clancy/dp/0006173624/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467190783&sr=1-1&keywords=Red+Storm+Rising) Cold war gone hot, WW3, standard stuff. Clancy was in the USN during the cold war which lends it a grittier, more believable edge. One for those who are into military hardware and strategy.

Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare: Link Needs no introduction. It's a panty-dropper guys, trust me. That aside, excellent story about centered around conflict and tragedy. Not quite as focused on love as most people think.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson: [Link] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Millennium/dp/0857054031/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467190947&sr=1-1&keywords=girl+with+the+dragon+tattoo) Brutally graphic crime novel brought to life by the central character. You're so involved in her problems that it's a struggle to put down.