D-Day

Tomorrow is the 68th anniversary. I imagine we all have our favorite book on Normandy... Longest Day et al. I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the battlefields twice, once with my father in law, a WWII vet. Looking over the beaches it's amazing to think what the combatants went through. If you're considering a visit, I recommend Major and Mrs Holt's guide-quite good. Anyone else have a favorite recommendation.

We're coming up on the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. Besides the longest day what is the best single volume history in your opinion? I am curious if there is a new history out there incorporating. The latest research etc.
Thanks!

I recently ran across a new title by Craig Symonds:

Neptune: The Allied Invasion of Europe and the D-Day Landings.

Symonds is a prolific author and has written an acclaimed book on the Battle of Midway, The Battle of Midway.

We're coming up on the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.

Crazy. The passage of time is just strange. Pretty soon WWII is going to be like WWI…

Bizarre isn't it? Growing up we often used to see Spitfires flying about - sometimes several at a time - and family members had all been at Dunkirk, North Africa, in Burma or Hiroshima. They all had uniforms in the attic, medals in the drawers, old bayonets in the closet and bits of Lee Enfields in the garage. Mess and ammo tins and first aid kits were used to store all kinds of things in garden sheds. It's a rarity to come across anyone or anything from that period now. Even the classic WWII films are now almost as old as the war itself...

On topic, the only book I've read recently has been Beevor's D-Day: The Battle for Normandy. It was OK, but nothing special.

In addition to The Longest Day I would recommend D-Day: 6 June 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II by Ambrose. I think the books compliment each other. Ryan's book, while providing its share of personal stories takes a step back and gives the reader a good overview of the planning and the general strategy. The Ambrose book, on the other hand, is almost all about being down in the trenches and the experiences of the people in the air, on the land, and on the sea.

Re: 6

If you like Ambrose's D-Day book, you should also consider Pegasus Bridge by the same author.

6 and 7; thanks, I'm really asking if there are relatively new single volume treatments folks like.
I concur on both Ambrose books as highly readable.

While covering only one division's operations, I'm enjoying The Dead and Those About to Die: D-Day: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach (2014)....still amazed that anyone survivied Omaha.

Rereading Decision in Normandy (once again).

10, As I am, to celebrate the anniversary (and because D'Este is such a great author).

It's D-Day 2015, so I'm rereading Ambrose's D-Day: June 6, 1944 -- The Climactic Battle of WWII. Later I'll be reading Joseph Balkoski's Omaha Beach: D-Day, June 6, 1944 and Utah Beach: The Amphibious Landing and Airborne Operations on D-Day, June 6, 1944. I expect to also reread Decision in Normandy once again.