Editorial Review

Written in China over two thousand years ago, Sun Tzu's The Art of War provides the first known attempt to formulate a rational basis for the planning and conduct of military operations. These wise, aphoristic essays contain principles acted upon by such twentieth-century Chinese generals as Mao Tse Tung. Samuel Griffith offers a much-needed translation of this classic which makes it even more relevant to the modern world. Including an explanatory introduction and selected commentaries on the work, this edition makes Sun Tzu's timeless classic extremely accessible to students of Chinese history and culture, as well as to anyone interested in the highly volatile military and political issues in present-day China. ... Read more

Reviews

Whose book are we reading, December 5, 2000
I must admit that there are pearls of wisdom scattered throughout this book, it seems that you must wade through depths of Samuel Griffiths' editorial comments to reach them. While Griffith seems very knowledgable, I had a hard time sorting out Sun Tzu's views and Griffith' opinions on them. Much time was spent on how Tzu's works affected other military and cultural leaders of history. While this was interesting reading, I thought I was buying The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, whan actually, I was buying a book written about the book.

Whatever you were looking for, you've found it here., March 13, 1999
In ART OF WAR, there is a rare thing in books in which all of it or most of it can relate to many things. If the reader uses some of these war tactics and strategies in the modern world, they may find it easy to relate. Business is war, but in a different scenario than actual battles. Thus it is easy to relate to this book. Even rivals in sports and entertainment can be outwitted by the wisdom in this book. It also adds examples of some actions, which show how these sayings and writings apply to the real world.

So no matter what you were looking for in this book, whether it be business, entertainment, sports, war games, actual wars, or even travel, you can be sure to learn more on how ot attack life here.

The book's age is hard and easy to see at the same time. You can tell that it was written thousands of years ago by what Sun Tzu tells of. (Chariots, gold pieces are currency, etc...), but some of the grammar and language are shown well in the translation in the book, making it easy to read in English as well as other languages you would be able to find the book in.

The only weakness of this book would have to be its accented topic towards foriegn countries, and much older devices. The way to break through this is for the reader to be able to translate it into his/her life.

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A clear and useful translation, January 4, 2003
The Art of War is a military classic, written around 400 BC. However, because the maxims contained in the book are so succinct and universal, this is still a useful book for understanding and waging war today. The central themes are to attack where the enemy is weak, deceive the enemy into attacking you on your terms (not his), and the use of espionage to confuse the enemy while gathering information for your own use.

This book is a classical, scholarly translation. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the translation, as I do not read Chinese. However, the translator sprinkles the text with footnotes to explain why he has chosen certain phrases that do not directly translate, and offers alternative explanations from other translators. Therefore, you get a good feel for what Sun Tzu originally meant, especially through the critical inclusion of selected commentaries. In addition, there is an introduction by the author on the history and background of the text, which are useful. There are also some comments on the influence the text has had, especially on Mao Tse-tung and on the Imperial Japanese forces through World War II.

Therefore, I certainly recommend this translation for a first-time reader such as myself.

Broadening Your Perspective, September 21, 2001
War is not really based on honor... or glory, or even whose right. It's all about conditions, who has the advantage and how to dishearten your opponents while making sure your own resources are protected. It tells you what to look for through hundreds of various quotes and snippets of advice. This book was not entirely by Sun Tzu, but a collection of famous tacticians through-out history. Each seem to add another element to the concept of how to win in conflict.

In life, you can see a little of this in each day... but just remember not too get too carried away. After all, even Sun Tzu himself said 'A battle not fought, is a battle won.' For broadening your perspective, I'd suggest adding this book to your collection as well as 'Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Little Book of Eastern Wisdom' by Taro Gold.

AP World History Review, August 21, 2001
I read the book entitled, The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I feel that Sun Tzus purpose of writing this book is that of teaching war strategies. His emphasis was on not killing people, rather that of emerging victorious in the least amount of time. He was much more interested in confusion rather than massacre. Sun Tzu stresses that the war needs to be quickly won, he has been quoted to say, There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited. I believe that even today, these strategies that Sun Tzu came up with, prove to be effective. Deception, not necessarily deceit, is one of the principal concepts in this novel. Sun Tzu had first hand experience in The Art of War; therefore his essays are provoking and believable. Sun Tzus theories on war can be applied to a great many things, such as business and sports. Sun Tzu accomplished his goal, that being to teach people his theories on war. He was, during his time, a very unique man, and during our time, he still is a very unique man. The original novel was written by Sun Tzu in about 400 B.C. There has been much deliberation about when Sun Tzu existed, or even if he existed. It is only an approximation to say he was around in 400 B.C. Due to the words he uses and his descriptions of the time period, scholars have reach an approximate time in which he lived. The translator of Sun Tzus essays makes this information readily available and understandable. It has then been translated many times. I read the version translated by, Samuel B. Griffith. Samuel B. Griffith did an obscene amount of research on this project. He includes an extensive bibliography as well as a recognition page. Some of his sources include; The Taiheiki. A Chronicle of Medieval Japan by Helen Craig, The Analects of Confucius by Arthur Waley, and The Development of Iron and Steel Technology in China by J. Needham. He also included an introduction to make the fourth century B.C. more understandable. Griffith explained to the unknowing person why Sun Tzus essays were written. That was extremely helpful due to the fact I had little knowledge of that time period. There were also numerous other things that helped to make the novel clearer such as; maps to show monopolies, paintings of Sun Tzu himself, and various Chinese symbols. One such painting was entitled Sun Tzu Drilling the Concubines of King Ho-Lu. This picture shows Sun Tzu trying to confuse his enemies through training women. I believe that this man was enthralled with this translation. You can feel that from his writing. His writing, though overwhelming at first, is easily understandable and rather entertaining. He provides many different views on the some subject. I really enjoyed reading this book. All of Griffiths enthusiasm poured into his writing made it a quick, entertaining read. I must admit, during the first part of the book, I was rather bored. There was so much history that was going on while reading, I saw no point to the book being written. As I got farther into The Art of War I began to see things in a different light. The words began to mean something to me. I was able to relate some of the phrases into my own life. That changed everything for me. In my mind, and hopefully in everyone elses mind that has read this book, this was indeed a book that needed to be written. I think that it should be required reading to all those studying business. It may seem weird that a book written about war pertains to business; however, many strategies taken metaphorically can help a great many people. People in the navy, military, or the army should read this book as well. I think it is rather obvious why they should read it though. If you do not fit into any of these categories, you should still read the essays. If not for anything else it can teach you quite a bit about early Chinese culture. I think any person can take away something from this book. Whether it is to not be so blunt, not let others control you, or something simpler like having a plan and accomplishing it in the shortest amount of time. I advise everyone to at least attempt to read these essays by Sun Tzu. You will not regret it.

The Timeless Beauty of War, May 11, 2002
War is ugly, dirty, brutal, wasteful and expensive. That is the reality of it. Let's not pretend otherwise.

Having said that, the ancient Chinese master strips away all the familiar trappings of war - the warriors, weapons, forts and tactics - to reveal the essence of conflict and how to win.

His lessons are as valid here and now as they were in an empire a long time ago and far, far away. It simply does not matter how you are fighting, what you are fighting over nor even why you are fighting. If you are forced into conflict with another, the lessons in this book will guarantee victory.

Brute strength, overwhelming force, super weapons, holding the high ground, none of these are required for victory. All that is needed is a leader who can understand and apply the principles of warfare.

Essentially it boils down to three ideas.
1. Know yourself.
2. Know your enemy.
3. Only fight when you can win.

Do this, and you will win competitions, elections, games. Anything that involves conflict. Even wars.

Sun Tzu's elegant language lays bare the principles of warfare, illustrating his lessons with examples from Ancient China. It is a thought-provoking, colourful and valuable book.

Great book on war, February 22, 2002
Sun Tzu's essays on war make up the first known book on the subject. The translator has done a good job translating the original text and providing commentary. The writing is clear, however the order is somewhat confusing, which is probably due to the translation (it might have sounded more orderly in the original text). Also, you can tell by looking at a lot of what is written that the author assumes that the reader has knowledge of many of the circumstances and events in ancient China. The translator largley solves the problem through the use of footnotes, although the constant skipping between the footnotes and the original text becomes frustrating at times.
While many maintain that the content of the book can be applied to business or life or whatever, I believe that putting it that crudely is quite misleading. The book was originally written for the purpose of war and combat, and that is what most of the book deals with. However, one will occasionally pass through important wisdoms that one can apply in many fields of life, such as the importance of knowing one's adversary.
Overall this is a good read. Get it if you have the time to read it (which shouldnt be more than a couple of hours a day for a week max).

Missing the boat to China?, August 10, 2000
Its infuriating to read so many people praise a book they clearly do not understand when they think its a bunch of flowery Chinese words that can apply to anything and any situation. This is a sign that these folks do not understand THE most important book ever written about warfare. Because of this Western mindset failing, I have to place B.H. Liddell-Hart's Strategy as the FIRST and most important military book ever written--read this first THEN tackle Sun Tzu's Art of War. Together these are THE two most important military books ever written and for the impatient I will explain why.

Hart explains through military history how warfare is a mental battle that is executed in the physical plane for a tangible result. Sun Tzu's thrust is the same--and its not just a gimmick or a ploy one uses by tacking onto a Western mindset of materialism or the like. The Eastern mind which Sun Tzu articulates does not see war or conflict as "good" or as a means to an end. Its in a fascinating way, a view that is more Judeo-Christian than the so-called Protestant reformation-based West's concepts of positional warfare and a climactic battle as a form of a nation-state duel that justifies their existence (raison d-etre) in that Sun Tzu sees the highest form of warfare is AVOIDING IT by deception and psychological ploys that result in the enemy becoming your friend because war is a waste for everyone that practices it. Those that see Sun Tzu as an after-school karate class one takes to be a nice-to-have adjunct to an ends-justifies-the-means run-over-people-to-get-what-you-want Western mindset are "missing the boat" and reading the book at a very shallow, selfish level. These folks are really wannabe Samarai reading a book for quiet ninjas.

Sun Tzu also goes on to show that the epitome of warfighting is NOT "prolonged operations, however brilliantly executed" but the General who can avoid war and ironically by so doing receives no glory or acclaim yet is the true hero of the people and the state. What this means is that today--in the 21st Century with the information warfare means available to us, we can for the first time execute Sun Tzu's vision better than ever before because we can bypass armies and bloody fights and reach the hearts/minds of the people themselves--if we are clever and moral enough to do so. If we think of Sun Tzu as a parlor trick, we will not have the morality to persuade the other person to join our side and the trickery of physical fighting will only yield a temporary victory as the enemy rebounds at a later date. Sun Tzu looks deep into the human condition, to understand him you have to do the same; the way of a ninja is more closely related to this kind of thinking than a samurai looking for public acclaim/attention. A true ninja today would use Sun Tzu to make the militaries of the free world more effective in 4th Generation War (See Van Crevald's The Transformation of War) and use all the customary battlefield tricks of indirectness and deception he talks about if these primary efforts fail. If you want to truly understand Sun Tzu, get your mind on the right boat to China and look deep into your condition as a human and put aside what he says as gimmicks.

"Greed is good..." -0Gordon Gecko on Competition, July 10, 2000
I originally bought my first copy of this book, when I was a teenager, after I viewed the movie "Wall Street." In the movie, Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas) tells Charlie Sheen's character to read the book and learn from it. Now that I'm older I understand what he meant. The battlefield lessons provided by Sun Tzu - can be used in today's business empires.

Many have called `The Art of War' a Chinese version of Machievalli's `The Prince." Both books provide a warrior/prince/manager/CEO with a way to think about problems and come up with dynamic solutions. This translation provides the work of Sun Tzu in a good translation, not great, but only good.

Another positive aspect of this book is that it doesn't define what each passage means. It lets the reader determine the meaning and personally apply it to their life and situation.

Give it a read, Sun Tzu does not disappoint and decide for yourself - what Sun Tzu wanted the reader to understand - don't be forced, as some books do, to allow them to tell you what Sun Tzu meant.

Manuals don't expand your thinking... This is not a Manual, May 13, 2001
The reason those in the field of Business should read this book is NOT because it is a manual of sorts for strategies and tactics relating to 'Business'. To make that assumption is erroneous, and to dismiss the book because that assumption does not hold is an even bigger mistake.

As a manual for whatever conflict you are applying the book to, the most good it will do for you is to remind you of something you may have overlooked, or some better alternative solution that you may not have thought of.

The book's true value lies in its ability to inspire elegant, simple, and practical solutions to a problem that may seem complex. Through reading Sun Tzu's solutions to the problem of war, your way of thinking about problems (hopefully) will naturally become more enlightened by example. In 500 BC, Sun Tzu was already thinking the nowadays cliche - 'out of the box'. His final and utmost tactic to war was to avoid it.

Is the Art of War applicable to modern warfare as a manual of tactics? Sure, if only minimally. Is the Art of War applicable as rare literature that embodies problem solving, practicality, and contextual thinking? Amen.

So to those seeking a good manual, go elsewhere. But to those who are able to gain intellectually from such readings: Don't miss out. ... Read more

Editorial Review

On Combat looks at what happens to the human body under the stresses of deadly battle the impact on the nervous system, heart, breathing, visual and auditory perception, memory - then discusses new research findings as to what measures warriors can take to prevent such debilitations so they can stay in the fight, survive, and win.A brief, but insightful look at history shows the evolution of combat, the development of the physical and psychological leverage that enables humans to kill other humans, followed by an objective examination of domestic violence in America. The authors reveal the nature of the warrior, brave men and women who train their minds and bodies to go to that place from which others flee. After examining the incredible impact of a few true warriors in battle, On Combat presents new and exciting research as to how to train the mind to become inoculated to stress, fear and even pain.Expanding on Lt. Col. Grossman s popular "Bulletproof mind" presentation, the book explores what really happens to the warrior after the battle, and shows how emotions, such as relief and self-blame, are natural and healthy ways to feel about having survived combat. A fresh and highly informative look at post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) details how to prevent it, how to survive it should it happen, how to come out of it stronger, and how to help others who are experiencing it.On Combat looks at the critical importance of the debriefing, when warriors gather after the battle to share what happened, critique, learn from each other and, for some, begin to heal from the horror. The reader will learn a highly effective breathing technique that not only steadies the warrior s mind and body before and during the battle, but can also be used afterwards as a powerful healing device to help separate the emotion from the memory.Concluding chapters discuss the Christian/Judeo view of killing in combat and offers powerful insight that Lt. Col. Grossman has imparted over the years to help thousands of warriors understand and come to terms with their actions in battle. A final chapter encourages warriors to always fight for justice, not vengeance, so that their remaining days will be healthy ones filled with pride for having performed their duty morally and ethically.This information-packed book ploughs new ground in its vision, in its extensive new research and startling findings, and in its powerful, revealing quotes and anecdotes from top people in the warrior community, people who have faced the toxic environment of deadly combat and now share their wisdom to help others. On Combat is easy to read and powerful in scope. It is a true classic that will be read by new and veteran warriors for years to come. ... Read more

Reviews

Wow!, November 8, 2004
Advertising for this marvelous work states, "a ground-breaking examination of what it takes to perform, cope and survive in the toxicity of deadly combat as a soldier in a foreign land and a police officer in the mean streets of urban America." It really is all that, and more... Outstanding isn't a strong enough word to describe it.

If you are a soldier, a police officer, a martial artist, the holder of a concealed weapons permit, or just live in a bad neighborhood you really ought to read this book. Both authors really know what they're talking about, clearly able to articulate hard won wisdom in this well-written and comprehensive tome. Their thought-provoking, insightful work definitively examines every aspect of the psychology and physiology of deadly conflict.

The book begins by describing what happens to a person anatomically during a battle then covers the perceptual distortions that take place in combat. Having done college studies on eyewitness testimony and psychology and the law I recognize and agree with many of their points. The second half of the book covers why people put themselves in harms way and what happens to them after the smoke clears. It talks about post traumatic stress disorder, survivor's guilt, and a host of related subjects. I particularly liked the section on the Judeo/Christian views of killing which really help warriors understand and come to grips with their actions in battle - be it on the field of war, a city street, or even in their own back yard.

The research is great. The various vignettes and quotes are quite interesting. Even if you are never involved in a deadly encounter it really helps you understand and have a new appreciation for those who are. I have several friends and relatives in the military as well as a few in law enforcement. This book is going to be one of their holiday presents. This compelling study isn't just for professional warriors, however. Anyone with an affinity for martial arts like myself will find it an excellent read as well.

Lt. Col. Grossman is a retired U.S. Army Ranger, scholar, and the Pulitzer nominated author of On Killing, another great book. Loren Christensen is one of my favorite martial arts authors. A retired police officer, Vietnam veteran, and 8th dan black belt he really knows his stuff. Gavin DeBecker who writes the foreword is an expert on preventing violence and author of The Gift of Fear, the definitive work on that subject.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction; co-author of The Way of Kata, The Way to Black Belt, and The Little Black Book of Violence

A MUST read for all "warriors"., March 26, 2005
This book explores in detail what physically and mentally happens to most people when confronted with a deadly threat. Both authors have written previous books dealing with this subject. This collaboration brings together the best both have to offer.

Col. Grossman has an extensive military background as a member of the Army Rangers. His book, On Killing, was written over a decade ago and is still one of the definitive words on the subject. Through research and interviews, Col. Grossman was able to open a window into the soul of a "warrior" and explain why even when directly threatened, it is not a simple thing to take another human beings life.

Loren Christensen is a former police office and co-author of another excellent use of force book, Deadly Force Encounters. That book focused on law enforcement experiences with lethal force. Again through interviews and research, Christensen, and his co-author Dr. Alexis Artwohl, gave a human face to the peace officer forced to kill.

On Combat combines the world of the military combat veteran with that of the police officer. The authors contention is that both are worthy of the term "warrior". The "warrior" is the 1% who protects the 98% from the remaining 1% who would do them harm.

The book is divided into four sections. Each section deals with a different aspect of combat but always from the perspective of how a human deals with combat.

The first section is titled, "The Physiology of Combat: The Anatomy of the Human Body in Battle". The authors describe a basic element of combat as the "Universal Human Phobia". That phobia is the innate human aversion to killing one of their own. With only a small percentage of the population as an exception, human beings will find it difficult to take another human's life in a face to face confrontation.

Equally as important to understand is the body's reactions to being attacked. Interpersonal human aggression creates a "toxic and corrosive" atmosphere in the daily work of warriors everywhere. Our bodies will respond in ways that we may not be able to control but must understand nonetheless if we are to competently handle a lethal threat. Automatic systems designed for thoughtless survival kick into gear. Adrenaline is released, digestive processes cease and even bladder and sphincter control is lost. These are things to prepare for and not be surprised should they happen.




The automatic systems in place are the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) nervous systems. The SNS arouses use to action when necessary and the PNS works to regain control and establish a balance in your body. The snapping back of your body from the arousal to an attempt at normalcy can be a dangerous condition. Napoleon said, "The moment of greatest vulnerability is the instant immediately after victory." It may not only be a physical collapse but also a dangerous mental collapse as well.

Maintaining good sleep habits, which would include a minimum of 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, is very important to aid in the bodies' maintenance. Less than that places unneeded stress on the body. There is an amount of stress is actually beneficial, however, that is caused by increasing your heart rate. The increase must be caused by SNS arousal. Heart rate increases caused by exercise will not have the same effect. The authors emphasize that the numbers are not precise and different people will have different experiences depending on factors such as training and physical fitness levels.
Of particular interest is the fact that it appears that an hormonal induced heart rate of 115-145 bpm produces an optimal level of performance in those skills most necessary for combat and survival. Complex motor skills, visual reaction time and cognitive reaction time are all at their peak.

The reason for bringing this information to the reader's attention is to emphasize the importance of realistic and stressful training which can create almost an "autopilot" response to a deadly threat. It is also important not to allow your heart rate to climb too much higher than 145 bpm. Generally, your skill level and reaction times begin to deteriorate when heart rates go beyond 145 bpm.

One major way to combat stress and its negative effects is through tactical breathing. The authors describe that there are only two autonomic nervous system actions you can consciously control; breathing and blinking. Of the two, controlling your breathing will be of great benefit during a stressful situation. You can decrease your heart rate by practicing tactical breathing. The breaths should be deep `belly breaths', that is, during inhaling, your stomach expands like a balloon. Each step is done while mentally counting to four. The four simple steps to this breathing are:
In through the nose, two, three, four.
Hold two, three, four.
Out through the lips two, three, four.
Hold two, three, four.

This tactical breathing sequence is most effective when repeated at least four times.

Section two of the book discusses the possible perceptual distortions that may occur during a lethal force encounter. The authors use information collected by Dr. Alexis Artwohl and Loren Christensen in preparation for the writing of their book, Deadly Force Encounters. The findings were based on a survey of 141 officers. These findings described the most common distortions that occurred.

Perceptual Distortions in Combat
85% Diminished sound (auditory exclusion)
16% Intensified sounds
80% Tunnel vision
4% Automatic pilot ("scared speechless")
72% Heightened visual clarity
65% Slow motion time
16% Fast motion time
7% Temporary paralysis
51% Memory loss for parts of the event
47% Memory loss for some of the subject's actions
40% Dissociation (detachment)
26% Intrusive distracting thoughts
22% Memory distortions


It is important to note that some people may have experienced more than one type of distortion while others experience none at all. Again, having knowledge of a possible experiential distortion will prepare an officer for its occurrence, thereby providing an `inoculation' against its effects.

Section three describes the mental attitude necessary to be a warrior. The book goes into greater detail about stress inoculation and its importance to effective, realistic training. There are also some important training principles outlined.

Principle 1: Never "Kill" a Warrior in Training. Learners are expected to complete a scenario even if hit, stabbed or shot. As a trainer, tell them, "You're not dead until I tell you you're dead!" Don't give up, always win.

Principle 2: Try to Never Send a Loser off Your Training Site. Have your participants go through a scenario as many times as necessary in order to have them succeed. Scenarios designed to make the trainee look foolish or fail just prove that the training designers are jerks.

Principle 3: As a Trainer, Never Talk Trash about Your Students. Don't ridicule or try to tell funny stories about the last trainee who tried to complete your scenario. Your role as a trainer/leader is not only to pass along knowledge but also to inspire. You cannot do this when you are not respected. If criticism is to be given, give it in private. If praise is warranted, do so publicly.

Encourage your learners not to worry over a `bad' day of training. Fix the problem, correct the deficiency, strive to improve and move on.

The will to do the job (kill if necessary) is sometimes enough to change a situation from one of having to use lethal force to something less. The determination to perform the ultimate act may be perceived by the intended recipient of your force and in itself be enough to deter their actions. If you've got that steel-eyed certainty in your eyes, the bad guy may not wish to actually test your resolve. You are the weapon; everything else is just a tool.

Your resolve to succeed must include the possibility of losing some blood. You can loose a half-gallon of blood and your body will continue to mechanically function. Ceasing to fight before that much blood is lost is due to a lack of will, not lack of hydraulics.

You need three very simple things in order to survive a lethal encounter; the right weapon, the skill to use that weapon, and the mental decision to use that weapon, even if it means that someone may die. This decision must be made well in advance of a time during the confrontation with the deadly threat. At the time you are confronted with violence is not the time to wonder whether or not you can respond with deadly force if necessary.

The remaining chapters in this section discuss the history of weaponry (and its effect on combat), and some superior reasoning for the increase in school violence. Although both subjects were interesting, I chose not to include them in this review since my emphasis was on the mental and emotional preparation for deadly force use.

The fourth and last section of the book deals with the aftermath; what does a person feel like after they have taken a life. One of the most common reactions expressed is relief, "Better him than me". This feeling can often lead to guilt of sorts, "Why did he make me kill him". Although the feeling of relief is perfectly natural, allowing that to progress into guilt is not. After all, winning a deadly force encounter is certainly cause to feel happy about being alive.

The authors contend that there are ways of handling an emotional upheaval such as having to kill someone. First, you cannot act like it did not happen. You should talk about it, preferably with a mental health professional. Second, after a year or so has passed, you should not be unduly affected emotionally by remembering the event. As the authors put it, "The memory must be separated from the emotion." If the fear of the repeat of such an event has a significant negative impact on your day to day life you should seek the help of a mental health professional. Examples of this could include; not being able to go near the area an event occurred without feeling anxiety or having nightmares about the event.
The critical incident debrief is also an excellent way to assist personnel in getting through what can be an emotionally tough time. By debriefing we can reconstruct the event in hopes of finding out what worked and what didn't. We can also fill in the holes (if any exist) by bringing all involved parties together and thereby get a much better overall view of the incident. A positive emotional side-effect of this is that pain shared with others is divided amongst the group and not the sole burden of any one person. Additionally, joy shared is multiplied and everyone can feel better at another person's accomplishment and success.

Another important way to assist is simply by letting your friend or loved one know that you are glad they are O.K. It is not necessary to try and approve or justify their actions but just let them know that you are happy that they're O.K. An offer of your personal time to listen or help with anything else they might need would go far in letting them know how important that they are.

One of the last points to be made in this book is the idea of justice not vengeance. Although not considered to be a major problem in law enforcement, it is nonetheless important to emphasize that killing, when justified and necessary, is not something to be glorified or celebrated. It is just something that is. When forced to kill another human being is not something we do with a hatred of the crook or glee at their demise. We just do it. We must strive to dispassionately but effectively protect others as well as ourselves.

Steve Winchell is a 27 year veteran of southern California law enforcement. He has been a firearms instructor for the past 9 years. For the past 3 years he has been a full time member of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Weapons Training Unit.

A Must Read For All Cops & Soldiers, May 27, 2005
After reading "ON COMBAT", I bought 2 more copies for relatives in law enforcement and another 8 copies for the Sheriff's Office I work for. As a person with over 25 years in law enforcement and a tour in Vietnam, I highly recommend this book for anyone in law enforcement, the military, and their families.

It not only provides a wealth of information on surviving deadly force encounters, both physically and mentally, but it does so in a very easy to read format. Everyone I loan my copy to says they hate to put it down once they start it.

The book contains many insightful first-hand accounts from people who have been in deadly force encounters.

I was so impressed with the book, I added a 1 hour segment to my law enforcement 1st Aid /CPR courses to share highlights from "On Combat" with my fellow officers because it offers much that can enhance their safety and their well being.

The section dealing with the influence of violent video games on our children and their desensitization to violent behavior is something every parent should know.

If you are a cop, a soldier, or a trainer of either, this book should be required reading!

Understanding combat - mental preparation & fear signals, October 17, 2005
Overall a very good book which breaks down the effects of combat into detail. The book is divided in to four chapters:

1: The Physiology of Combat:The anatomy of the Human body in Battle.
This section gives a great insight into rationalising combat (those working with the law e.g. police, army etc.) the effects of experiencing a tramatic situation and analysing different levels of fear.

2: Perceptual distortions in combat: An Altered State of consciousness.
Very interesting section of the book, examines some of the reactions a person may experience during combat such as slow motion time. This part of the book is most appealing as anyone can read and take on board the various effects and be better prepared if they are ever in a violent/fearful situation.

3: The call to combat: Where do we get such men?
This section gives an insight into army/police training how to overcome stress and fear. It can also be applied by the average reader if they engage in any martial arts or other contact sport. Throw's light on the strength and will to live in near death situations and how mental attitude can carry you to surviving a dangerous situation.
4: The price of combat: After the smoke clears
This section examines the after effects of combat and is mainly applicable to those returning from war or were in the army. Some still carry the burden of what they saw, did or didnt do etc and gives tips on how to help them re-integrate in 'normal' society.

Overall, the book was an interesting read, a lot of examples used are American (as is the book) and would be great for anyone working in law enforcement/ the army.
For the average person reading this book most of it is interesting. You can apply the some of the learning and perhaps handle an unexpected situation much better. However, some of the information can sound like Americans blowing there own horn as they are fine examples of warriers and they are principled people (shame about those abusing their authority as seen on the news).
This book is quite easy to read, last chapter not very relevant if your not in the army but well written and makes you much more aware and sympathetic to understanding combat.

Survival Training: Mind and Body, February 23, 2005
Lt.Col. Grossman has written an exemplary work on the realities of combat. This is another must read for those who go " . . . willingly into the heart of darkness, into the toxic, corrosive, destructive realm of combat." Lt. Col. Grossman incorporates many of the old studies with new research to give us a better understanding of what to expect, and what to do, during combat. He presents it in a manner which is easy to comprehend, yet interesting to read.

For more than 25 years I've worked in and studied this field, and reading Lt. Col. Grossman's book has helped to put all those years of experience and training into a better perspective. All new "warriors" should read this book before picking up a weapon and heading out onto the streets or into the bush. They must be prepared mentally, as well as physically, and must ask themselves if they can do this. Only then would they be ready for what they will experience.

A Non Warrior's Review, May 7, 2007
Many of the prior reviews were from those who go into danger to protect our nation and our neighborhoods. Their universal acclaim speaks volumes about the quality and integrity of Grossman's work in providing the tools to perform, sruvive and return.

On another level the book provides the average citizen the start of an understanding of how much different combat ( in Iraq and the liquor store holdup gone wrong) is different from what we see on TV, read in the papers and hear from those "professionals" who regularly review the performance of those who were engaged in combat. The book is a true eyeopener. On a personal level the book helped me understand what happened, how through chance I survived an armed robbery /kidnaping gone wrong.

For the concerned citizen the book serves another purpose and that is to validate Grossman's credentials to have written Stop Teaching Our Children To Kill. Sadly Grossman was not called upon to appear on TV during the non-stop coverage of the Virginia Tech killings. Perhaps the reason the book does not get the coverage it deserves is the direct and indirect threat it poses to much of the media.

Both On Combat and Stop Killing Our Children are great contributions and highly recommended.

BINGO, March 8, 2007
This book was recommended to me by a fellow police officer after I was involved in a shooting. I did not read it until a month after my incident. Everything in the book seem to relate to what I was going through. I then realized what I was going through was normal, and that I was going to be alright. This book truely helped me get over a difficult time in my life.

A10A, September 30, 2006
I am a Sniper in a special STRIKE team in the British Army on my second tour of Iraq. This book is one of the best books I have had the privilege to read. It gave me the tools I needed to go from shooting at great distances under pressure and then picking up my hart-rate to go into a hostile house to arrest the target. It has done more than just that, it has helped me understand who I am and why I am.

A Warrior's Almanac, July 7, 2008
All the information police, soldiers and other warriors have been missing for over fifty years is right here in this solid volume.

Lt Col Grossman and Loren Christensen put it all together. They've created terms we did not know we needed, for things we didn't even know occurred. Grossman has a cute but very apt description of the function of the midbrain, fulfilled by 'the puppy,' as he calls it. He calls fear of human violence the 'universal phobia,' and tells you why it's universal. He gives a brief overview of what happens to your body when 'fight-or-flight' kicks in, then delves deeply into sensory distortions experienced in life-or-death situations. This is only the beginning.

The authors divulge the training a person needs to enter the 'toxic, corrosive realm of combat,' and why we need those who are willing to do so. Stress and fear innoculation, dealing with killing, being wounded, and cultural issues are dealt with in section three.

Sometimes the aftermath is far more traumatic to a person than the 5 minute episode of all hell breaking loose. The authors use almost 100 pages to discuss what happens after the smoke clears: PTSD, debriefings, a full explanation of tactical breathing, guilt, and communicating with those who've been 'there.' Along with the guilt issue, the author also addresses the conflicts that can develop from within because of a person's religious beliefs after killing.

I believe this book to be of immense value to all emergency responders, police, and military personnel. After borrowing it and reading it, I've ordered it and recommended it to just about everyone I know in those communities.

I would have a hard time recommending this book to anyone on the outside, which is part of why I rated it a four. There is a large amount of insider jargon, and a cultural bias, in the warrior community. This will not translate well for those Lt Col Grossman refers to as 'the herd.'

The second reason I gave it a four is the physical quality of the book. The binding seperated from the spine almost immediately, and I can see the cover coming off within a few readings.

Outstanding book to prepare combatants for reality, March 22, 2005
"On Combat" is the much anticipated follow up to "On Killing", also by Dave Grossman. This book is an absolute must for any warrior working in the law enforcement or military communities. Grossman destroys the myths commonly associated with the effects of combat and the related stressors. This book should help you mentally prepare yourself to survive, both physically and psychologically, should you be involved in a deadly force encounter involving the loss of life. It should be required reading for all law enforement & military trainers. Anyone in a combatant support group designed to provide mental health assistant to warriors should also read it (several times). It is an outstanding read and extremely interesting throughout. It could very well give the reader a mental edge in combat that could determine who lives and who dies.

I gave a copy of this book to a friend at work whose son was returning from a combat tour in Iraq with the Marine Corps. He and his wife both read it and found it to be extremely helpful. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The bestselling author of The Limits of Power critically examines the Washington consensus on national security and why it must change

For the last half century, as administrations have come and gone, the fundamental assumptions about America's military policy have remained unchanged: American security requires the United States (and us alone) to maintain a permanent armed presence around the globe, to prepare our forces for military operations in far-flung regions, and to be ready to intervene anywhere at any time. In the Obama era, just as in the Bush years, these beliefs remain unquestioned gospel.

In a vivid, incisive analysis, Andrew J. Bacevich succinctly presents the origins of this consensus, forged at a moment when American power was at its height. He exposes the preconceptions, biases, and habits that underlie our pervasive faith in military might, especially the notion that overwhelming superiority will oblige others to accommodate America's needs and desires—whether for cheap oil, cheap credit, or cheap consumer goods. And he challenges the usefulness of our militarism as it has become both unaffordable and increasingly dangerous.

Though our politicians deny it, American global might is faltering. This is the moment, Bacevich argues, to reconsider the principles which shape American policy in the world—to acknowledge that fixing Afghanistan should not take precedence over fixing Detroit. Replacing this Washington consensus is crucial to America's future, and may yet offer the key to the country's salvation.

Reviews

AN OUTSTANDING ASSESSMENT OF THE "WASHINGTON RULES": USA WARTIME POLICIES & ACTIONS, August 5, 2010
Five ENGROSSING Stars!! This is Andrew J Bacevich's outstanding, deeply researched, hard-hitting work of scholarship, assessing America's national and foreign policies as well as the personalities and groups that have led us into the business of confrontation, power projection, and war, time and time again. Essentially this book is the outgrowth of Mr. Bacevich's 20 year self-education, which began at the age of 41 as a military officer who began to see the international world in a new light based on an epiphany at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. Looking at well over six decades of wartime policy and actions in the "American Century", Mr Bacevich discloses the "Washington Rules" and the credo wherein the USA has assumed the mantle of attempting to "lead, save, liberate, and transform" the world to assure international order and peace. He takes us from the Truman-era administrations to the Obama administration, detailing how the "sacred trinity" of global military presence, global power projection, global interventionism is used to achieve those ends, using his "Washington Rules" as the template. The Jimmy Carter segment was particularly eye-opening. Mr Bacevich shows that regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats are in power, the US has had an attitude that we are uniquely qualified to take on the worldwide foes of peace and democracy, forgetting, revising, or ignoring the painful lessons of World War II, Vietnam, and beyond that might have taken the USA into periods of unprecedented peace, instead of numerous conflicts. Lessons that the author shows President Obama is clearly in the midst of learning, using a modified sacred trinity. Written in engaging prose, this is a very absorbing work of research with sections that some may find very troubling based on the decisions of our leaders. If I could recommend one book that President Obama and the Congress should read, this is it. But it should also be read by those who were and were not alive during our 20th Century to 21st Century wars and military encounters. My Highest Recommendation! Five ABSORBING Stars!! (This review is based on a Kindle download in iPhone mode and Kindle text-to-speech mode.)

Bacevich Connects the Dots, August 6, 2010
Andrew Bacevich offers an explanation of what is putting our way of life at risk. If he is correct, the Afghan War has no end in sight as did the Iraq War (see Charles Ferguson's book: No End in Sight: Iraq's Descent into Chaos). In fact, the Afghan War is now the longest war in U.S. history.

Retired U.S. military and intelligence personnel have written prolifically about the current wars and what they mean for the U.S. They educate the public about connecting foreign policy to war strategy to what our young enlisted men and women do in the wars. Examples include books by Wesley Clark (A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country), Michael Scheuer (Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq) and David Bellavia (HOUSE TO HOUSE: A TALE OF MODERN WAR). In the history of warfare, there has probably never been a population with as much access to information about their wars.

Washington Rules provides analysis of the considerations that President Obama faced when he made the decision to expand the military effort in Afghanistan. Whereas the consensus holds that this president grasps issues and is not primarily informed by ideology, there may have been a dominant domestic political calculation to this war decision. Bacevich identifies pressures imposed on our president by the "military industrial complex" and the "national security apparatus." These loaded terms summarize privileged powers within the U.S. that seek global military engagement in part to maintain the status quo within. This is the Status Quo argument that has been used to explain some U.S. motives in the wars.

Andrew Bacevich has patriotic credentials to state the Status Quo argument. He has been doing this for some time. (See his previous book: The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism (American Empire Project)). His son was killed in Iraq while serving as a 1st Lt. in the Army. Andrew Bacevich is a veteran of the Vietnam War, a graduate of West Point and he taught at both West Point and Johns Hopkins. He earned his Ph.D. in history from Princeton University. He is a retired Army Colonel.

Bacevich is critical of George W. Bush and Barack Obama but for completely different reasons. Bacevich addresses the question debated from California to the New York Island, from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters: which is worse, the president who sends young people into harm's way due to misguided notions or the president who sends young people into harm's way because of political calculation? Of course, this question is framed in a simple way in order to introduce debate. Bacevich is more appalled by the latter, however.

Washington Rules traces America's overreliance on military power from the administration of Woodrow Wilson right up to that of Barack Obama. Over time the U.S. presidency morphed into an imperial presidency with a self-imposed mission to intervene in problems throughout the world irrespective of long-term U.S. interests. An exaggerated sense of what the military can accomplish went unquestioned until recently. Bacevich makes history come alive with applications of the lessons of the Vietnam War along with several other wars.

Washington Rules addresses the following questions. What did we get out of Desert Storm? What should our role be with regard to the Islamic World? What happens if we back down in Afghanistan? Bacevich asks tough questions and that's healthy. It's taking me time to digest his solutions to these issues although I'm excited about changes to the status quo. With regard to the Middle East, Bacevich says our role should be to demonstrate that liberalism can coexist with religion.

Finally, Washington Rules is entertaining because it's almost a horror story in real time. These issues affect our way of life right now. Teachers across the country are being laid off as the States struggle with their budgets, and I wonder how that might be related to federal debt accumulated to finance the wars. Bacevich is a Declinist in that he flatly states that the American Century is over and we have reached certain limits.

True, but Undersold -, August 6, 2010
Time has expired on the 'American Century,' says retired Col. Bacevich, and this is the time to reject militarism and recognize that fixing Detroit takes precedence over Afghanistan. Bacevich's aim is to re-examine assumptions, habits, and precepts that have defined our foreign/military policy since the end of WWII. All well and good, but Bacevich devotes too many pages to recounting how we got to this point post-WWII, mostly focused on individuals such as Curtis LeMay, Allen Dulles, Maxwell Taylor, etc. Almost no attention is given to how support for Israel, Iraq War I and the subsequent stationing of troops in Saudi Arabia, etc. brought us 9/11, a never-ending state of War on Terrorism, and the organizational monstrosity known as the Dept. of Homeland Security with its 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies consuming unknown billions of dollars.

Our self-appointed role of leading, liberating, and saving the world through activism, hard power, and negotiating from strength continues today - DOD has become the Department of Global Policing, and President Obama finds himself continuing the model laid down since 1945. The author also skims over too quickly how we have exhausted the authority and goodwill acquired immediately after WWII - via the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, Iraq I and II, Afghanistan I and II, the 2007 Recession, going from the world's largest creditor to debtor nation, decades of trade and government deficits, energy profligacy, decaying cities, manufacturing, and infrastructure, Katrina, supporting dictators and human rights abusers, etc.

DOD consumes $700 billion/year (I'm assuming that includes Iraq and Afghanistan), while stationing 300,000 troops abroad in 761 sites in 39 nations, plus 90,000 sailors and marines at sea. Our expenditures approximate those of the rest of the world combined. and are propelling us towards insolvency and perpetual war.

An excellent example of how we are digging ourselves into a hole occurred just this week when the U.S. announced the State Department is in advanced discussions with Vietnam to share nuclear fuels and technologies in a deal that would preserve Hanoi's right to enrich uranium indigenously. This obviously undermines our containment stance vs. North Korea and Iran, and is intended to somehow intimidate China. Similarly, the U.S. is also supporting India's enrichment and military-fuel capability efforts - again to somehow intimidate China. Meanwhile, we also parade a flotilla of ships nearby off South Korea to intimidate North Korea, and further irritate China.(They now have, or soon will have, supersonic missiles capable of raining down on our aircraft carrier task forces - a great example of asymmetric warfare that makes our Navy look obsolete and a near total waste.) And then we wonder why China is modernizing its military.

Col. Bacevich's conclusion - "It's time (for America) to choose."

History defines our lives and beliefs, August 6, 2010
Bacevich is a genius in his own right. He see's though the night like an infrared scope. I am going to read his book a second time to pick up what I missed. Bacevich takes us down the memory hole of the past and reminds us what was said as if all of it forgotten.

I think the most salient point he makes is that of the domino effect in reverse. He explains how we entered the Vietnam war at that time on this propaganda and how we fell for the reverse propaganda that we could create a new new domino effect of "democracy" by preemptive war, and most all of us fell for it, including me.

I however want to do this cursory review upon my first reading, but may edit it on the second as there is so much that he says that is not only prudent and relevant to our time, while simultaneously exposes the misjudgment, however one may see it.

Edit: It takes a while to fully Grok Bacevich, who tells us it is not Washington that makes us what we are it is us. And until we decide to stop the madness, the madness will not stop. Bacevich ends his book with these four words. "We too, must choose" And we must, shall we continue down this line and break ourselves or shall we become a great and prosperous country once again? It is up to us not Washington, it is up to me an you. A prophet is without honor in his own land. We can wish all we want, but practical realities define our position.

The brilliance of this piece is that it is not judgmental nor partisan, it is just the truth. He lays out the facts in such a succinct way that it mesmerized me. Bacevich will be remembered as a patriot and a true military man in search of truth, not unlike Smedley Butler.

The Way America Was Meant to Be?, August 10, 2010
When you spend the better part of a balmy Sunday indoors engrossed in the fascination of wanting to find out what is on the next page, page after page, you know you have a great book that opens your eyes and your mind to fresh ideas, a book that makes you question your most basic assumptions of how you see things as an American and beckons you to look at yourself in a different light. Andrew Bacevich achieves this in just 250 pages.

His real education began where no NATO soldier had been previously free to roam. The place was East Germany and the time was after the Berlin Wall came down. It continued as he earned a Ph.D. at Princeton and with a professorship at Boston College where he teaches and writes today. From that education, Professor Bacevich made some startling discoveries.

He defines this discovery as the credo and the trinity. "The credo summons the United States--and the United States alone--to lead, save, liberate, and ultimately transform the world." The sacred trinity requires the United States to "maintain a global presence, to configure its forces for global projection, and to anticipate threats with a policy of global interventionism." This relationship is symbiotic, according to Bacevich. "The trinity adds plausibility to the credo, and the credo justifies the trinity's... exertions." Implicit in both is the government's and people's tacit acceptance that the U.S. is called upon to do this, is the only nation capable of doing this, and that other nations really want the United States to do it. This is how Washington rules and this is America's path to permanent war.

Such interventionism began with possessions obtained from the Spanish-American War and Theodore Roosevelt's corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. Following World War II, this became the American way of thinking, that protection of America's vital interests meant we had the right to interfere in the political or economic direction of other countries, and most importantly, that the United States "exempts itself from the norms with which it expects others to comply."

It also meant that the best way to protect America was to establish bases in far off lands where we could strike an enemy before it struck us. This also meant ratcheting up the fear. First it was the fear of communism, then the fear of nuclear annihilation, then it was the domino theory that would eventually reach our border, and finally, the war on terrorism, which like all the others, has become a drain of human and economic resources, and an abject failure.

Andrew Bacevich achieves something few other authors do. He speaks from his heart and his mind. From both you get a glimpse of the man's soul. I could almost sense an anger from trying to convince the deaf to listen and make the blind see. (He has spoken in front of Congress more than once). He recognizes what few Americans do, that we are not a nation of unlimited manpower and economic resources that can sustain a permanent state of war, that costs so much to so many, and benefits so few--politicians and profiteers. He is a man engaged who wishes that Americans would become engaged by not thinking about what they want, but how they can serve, by not just paying lip service to our servicemen, but making their own sacrifices, as he and his son did. Bacevich wants a fiscally responsible America that finds its spirit in renewing itself and revitalizing its own democratic ideals rather than imposing them on others.

That is the way America was meant to be.



"Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?"

George Washington in his Farewell Address.





Also Recommended:

Bacevich, Andrew, "The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism," Metropolitan Books, 2008.

Fullbright, William, J., "The Arrogance of Power." Random House, New York, NY 1966.

Gore, Al, "The Assault on Reason." Penguin Books, 2008.

Moyers, Bill, "Moyers on America: A Journalist and his Times," Anchor Books, 2005.

Part 3 of a Trilogy, September 16, 2010
First off, I agree with most of Bacevich's points. However, if you have read two of his previous books, "The New American Militarism" and "The Limits of Power," you'll notice something...that all three of his books basically say the SAME THING. Also, he doesn't really provide too many answers on how to fix the problem, other than to say that Americans need to consume less (good luck with that). Taken in isolation, this book would be 5 stars, but when you read his prior books, this current offering lacks enough originality to get more than 3 stars.

Approaching Collapse of an Ideology, August 29, 2010
Professor Andrew Bacevich's latest book describes the nature of the US national security elite as he sees it. Washington rules are the list of assumptions necessary to gain admittance to the leadership cadre of the US, that is "rules" functions as both a noun and verb. The rules are based on what Bacevich describes as the credo - essentially that the US alone among nations has the responsibility, morality, wisdom and power to not only lead, but change the world. This credo pertains to purpose, while the other componet of the rules, the "sacred trinity", pertains to the means. The trinity consists of "global military presence, global power projection and global interventionism". Together the credo and trinity provide the intellectual grounding of the Washington rules.

So far so good, but the problem arose with the Vietnam war which showed the rules - both purpose and means - to be highly questionable and even self-defeating, according to Bacevich, and in need of revision or even replacement. Instead of a national debate to decide how to go forward, our elite, which had nothing to gain by replacing the rules and much to gain with their retention, reduced the defeat in Vietnam to one of "tactics" and found a few scapegoats to take the blame. By 1982, the US was back on the same track it had been in 1965, as if Vietnam had never happened.

In all this book is an attempt by Bacevich to educate the American public as to the actual nature of what US national security/foreign policy has steadily become since its beginning in 1945. At this point in time the Washington rules drive not only these areas, but domestic US policy as well.

The time has come for the public to demand an actual accounting of the results of Washington rules, including especially the senseless wars since 2001. Whether that does in fact occur will define the future of this country. The book is well worth the cost and hopefully will achieve something along the lines that the author hopes.

A forensic takedown, August 25, 2010
I've just finished this holiday reading while cycling up the eastern seaboard of the United States. Having started my journey eight weeks ago in Washington DC, I picked up this book in an independent book shop in Brookline, near Boston, Mass. It seemed to stand out.

It is an incredibly well written, fluid and perceptive review of post WWII foreign policy escalation from the dropping of "Little Boy" on Hiroshima through to the current state of never-ending war that the US occupies itself with.

The author is a very good story teller. His narrative starts from the first page and does not stop or delay in delivering an insightful and meaningful history and commentary on what is fundamentally wrong with foreign policies pursued by the US.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in just over 100 miles on a bike, or about four days. I'd happily recommend this book. Indeed, because I only have space for one book on my bicycle, I gave this book to a teacher I met in Biddeford, MA on his way to Acadia National Park on holidays.

He said he had nothing to read and was looking for a decent book. I gave it to him and told him if he liked politics (he did), he would love this book.

I hope he reads it and I'm sure he will love it if he does. You will too.

Post-WWII U.S. Military Credo., August 14, 2010
Andrew Bacevich has authored another excellent book on American foreign policy that effectively explains the thinking that led us since World War II.

There is a lot of history involving the CIA and SAC.

Some of the topics Mr. Bacevich covers are:

*The definition of semiwarriors.
*How Obama has conformed on military global leadership.
*How Viet Nam became irrelevant in foreign policy decisions due to revision.
*Explains who benefits from the perpetuation of Washington Rules.

On the Viet Nam war the author states that the war was fought to "sustain the Washington consensus".

He's correct also in his view that fixing Afghanistan and Iraq has taken priority over domestic problems.

On page 237 Mr. Bacevich writes "The proper aim of American statecraft, therefore, is not to redeem humankind or to prescribe some specific world order, nor to police the planet by force of arms."
Our government has returned to a failed ideology that we can make other nations in our image by force.

He cautions that the Washington Rules rather than delivering on promises of peace and prosperity, will ruin the United States economically and give us never ending wars.
Another great foreign policy book from one of the best authors on the subject!

Other books that I recommend on the subject of American foreign policy are:

American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of U.S. Diplomacy
The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic (The American Empire Project)
Blowback, Second Edition: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire (American Empire Project)

Bacevich is the Top Voice, September 6, 2010
Andrew Bacevich returns with "Washington Rules: America's Path to Permanent War," when his message is needed more than ever. Extensive research with mature and articulate writing, an Army career and academic credentials, Bacevich focuses on what most are not even aware of. He is one of the chief voices that should be heard on the topic of US foreign policy. The author focuses on the all-important question of which we know the answer: who benefits?

"Washington Rules" examines our current concept of continuous (perpetual) war against abstract nouns to promote....abstract nouns. It began after WWII: the era of perpetual war. Lemay, Dulles, and Maxwell Taylor are some of the many semi-warriors engaging in and promoting semi-war by the complex, powerful, and pervasive military-industrial complex (MIC). Too powerful for Commander-in-Chiefs to attempt to reduce or challenge, regardless of political party or personality. President Obama increased "Defense" spending by 9% from the previous year. The POTUS must be "tough" and "strong," and this is expressed in sustaining the Credo of world enforcer and policeman to promote economic interests, the military welfare machine, in all corners of the world. Much of the voting (and non-voting) public incorrectly believe in the illusion of choice by two parties th Credo.

Obama, is merely a continuation. Perpetuating the same foreign-military policies that came into existence in 1946.

Funneling hundreds of billions from the US taxpayer to the corporations of Northrup Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, United Technologies, L-3 and others. The foundation of the MIC functions in a permanent state. It will only erode and collapse when the funding is no longer possible. When this will be, is hard to gauge. But there will be a time when it ceases. It will cease when the US hits a certain financially point where it can no longer keep funding.

In addition to the military-industrial complex corporations, former Strategic Air Command (SAC) and CIA, is the Pentagon/DoD (military) itself: 700 billion dollars of taxpayer money per year. Three hundred thousands soldiers overseas, 90,000 sailors abroad in what is termed an "empire of bases." The recent addition to the MIC is the newest bureaucracy: Department of Homeland Security. 1,271 government agencies and 1,931 private companies.

There were times when the US policy makers, military leaders and public could have learned from errors and ignorance (South East Asia, 1960s & 70s) but did not gain any insight after the debacle was over. Instead, history was re-written for the masses and the politicians of today, and public school books almost entirely ommit American actions and policies in South East Asia during this era.

The power and benefit of this book by Bacevich is that citizens (readers) will become more aware of what is happening and where the US is headed historically. Although Bacevich notes that America can choose, the military-industrial complex is supported by the mainstream media, which influences the public. It is too powerful to be stopped until it implodes simultaneously with America's financial tipping point.

The only question, is "when."

In addition to "Washinton Rules," Andrew Bacevich's other books are highly recommended. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The good news is that most soldiers are loath to kill. But armies have developed sophisticated ways of overcoming this instinctive aversion. And contemporary civilian society, particularly the media, replicates the army's conditioning techniques, and, according to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's thesis, is responsible for our rising rate of murder among the young.

Upon its initial publication, ON KILLING was hailed as a landmark study of the techniques the military uses to overcome the powerful reluctance to kill, of how killing affects soldiers, and of the societal implications of escalating violence. Now, Grossman has updated this classic work to include information on 21st-century military conflicts, recent trends in crime, suicide bombings, school shootings, and more. The result is a work certain to be relevant and important for decades to come. ... Read more

Reviews

A fascinating study, January 23, 2004
ON KILLING is the study of what author Lt. Col. Dave Grossman has termed "killology". This odd term describes, not killing between nations, but the exact circumstances involved when one individual ends the life of another individual, with the primary focus being on combat situations. I've sometimes wondered how I (someone who has never been anywhere near armed conflict) would fare on the frontlines, as killing another human being seems like an almost impossible psychological task. As Grossman casts an eye over historical reports of combat, he found that, apparently, I wasn't alone in thinking that. During the First and Second World Wars, officers estimated that only 15-20 percent of their frontline soldiers actually fired their weapons, and there is evidence to suggest that most of those who did fire aimed their rifles harmless above the heads of their enemy.

Grossman's argument is carefully researched and methodically laid out. He begins by filling in some historical details, discussing the statistics for shots fired per soldier killed for the World Wars and the American Civil War. It's a refreshing and enlightening look at war that dispels a lot of misconceptions. An average solder in those wars was extremely reluctant to take arms against fellow humans, even in cases where his own life (or the lives of his companions) was threatened. Not to say that any of these people are cowards; in fact, many would engage in brave acts such as rescuing their comrades from behind enemy lines or standing in harm's way while helping a fellow to reload. But the ability to stare down the length of a gun barrel and make a conscious effort to end a life is a quality that is happily rare.

The book continues on then, detailing what steps the US Army took to increase the percentage that they could get to actually fire upon their enemy. By studying precisely what the soldier's ordinary reactions were, the officers were able to change the scenario of war in order to avoid the most stressful of situations. The soldier found up-close killing to be abhorrent, so the emphasis was countered by inserting machinery (preferably one manned by multiple soldiers) between the killer and the enemy to increase the physical and emotional distance. Every effort is made to dehumanize the act of killing.

Grossman spends a great deal of time discussing the trauma that the solder who kills faces when he returns to civilian life. Nowhere is this more apparent than in those veterans who returned from Vietnam. Those soldiers had been psychologically trained to kill in a way that no previous army had gone through, and there was no counteragent working to heal their psychological wounds. Grossman takes great pains to discuss how horrifying the act of killing is, and points out how detrimental it is to one's mental health. When the Vietnam veterans returned home to no counseling and the spit and bile of anti-war protestors, the emotional effect was astounding. Most of Grossman's thesis is supported by in-depth interviews and psychological profiles, but it is the story of the Vietnam veterans that comes across as the most disturbing.

Much of the chatter about this book seems to revolve around the final section, the discussion about our own civilian society. While this is understandable, I actually preferred reading the earlier portions, simply because they opened my eyes to a lot about the military that I had been previously ignorant of. I think it would be a mistake to concentrate solely on the argument's conclusion as it rests heavily on the case that has been building. In any event, the book eventually develops its final conclusion: the methods that the military uses to desensitize its soldiers to killing are also being used in our media, but without the proper command structure that keeps people from killing indiscriminately. In a military situation, firing a weapon without proper authorization or instruction is a very serious offense, and this is drilled into the mind at the same time as the desensitization. Without this safety, there is nothing to hold back the killing instinct, and this is one of the main reasons why the homicide rate has increased so dramatically.

Now, I'll say right off the bat that I was partial to this line of argument before I read the book; I think that children repeatedly exposed to such images would almost certainly become blas� towards extreme violence. But Grossman's book gave me so much more to think about. It isn't just a Pavlovian force at work here; Grossman points out many reasons (both stemming from society and the changing family structure) for why young people of today seem much more able to kill than their parents and grandparents were.

I was honestly surprised at how strong of a writer Grossman is. He manages to put forth his argument without boring the reader. By its very nature, a lot of what he discusses is repetitive and disturbing, but the subject matter is so compelling that I didn't mind. Grossman is very logical in his approach and his argument is a powerful one. I highly recommend this book, especially for people like myself who have never experienced war at close quarters. The summary I (and others here) have given is simply not nearly adequate to capture all of Grossman's thorough contentions. ON KILLING made me think harder about a subject that I hadn't given a lot of thought too before. The information and research here is invaluable.

Fantastic book, November 9, 2006
As a police officer we spend many hours in various forms of training. Some of this training is dedicated to the rules surrounding the use of our department issued firearms. Some of this training is dedicated to the physical skill of firing this weapon. None of the training is dedicated to what you go through after having actualy used this weapon against another human being in self defense. The extent of my departments response was...absolutely no critical incident debriefing and my appointment with the department phycologist occured 9 days after the shooting. The evaluation by the physcologist last 23 minutes total. At that point I knew that my well being was up to me to provide for. After some research I located this series of books by Dave Grossman. Purchasing these books was the best thing I could have done for myself. The information within these pages helped me understand all the stages of emotion that I was, and still am, going through. I would recommend these books to anyone in the military or in lawenforcement (or any family memeber there-of). They may very well have saved my sanity.

An insightful, ground-breaking study on why man kills man, May 20, 1999
Dave Grossman has written perhaps one of the most insightful books on what motivates men in combat since S.LA. Marshall's "Men Against Fire". Grossman combines the thoroughness of an learned psychologist with the practical viewpoint of a lifetime dedicated to military service. He provides us with a unique and truly fascinating look into the dark and often terribly painful mental process that brings a man to pull the trigger and kill his fellow man. As an officer in the Army, I consider this book an essential read for anyone who may someday bear the burden of leading men in combat. We often get such a distorted view of remorseless killing from the popular media that most of us are shocked to discover that the act of killing a man at close range is something that very few soldiers are capable of. In a similar fashion to S.L.A. Marshall, Grossman demonstrates with overwhelming evidence how the vast majority of soldiers are tremendously reluctant to kill, frequently prefering to risk their own death instead. The book offers such a profound and important perspective on the nature of warfare at the human level that I suspect it will some day be part a curriculum for training officers and non-commissioned officers on combat leadership. Although the book's primary focus is on the nature of killing in warfare, his conclusions have relevance for anyone concerned with the problem of violence in society. One of Grossman's most useful conclusions is the suggestion that virtual reality video games allow their users to overcome the natural reluctance to kill by gradually desensitizing the mind to violence. This erosion then makes it easier for those who are pre-disposed to aggressive violence to act on their desires in a violent way. With the recent string of high school shootings, Grossman's hypothesis has immediate relevance to current social issues. In fact, he has been a frequent commentator on these tragedies with several national news networks. In summary, Grossman's book peers cautiously into the darker side of man's nature to understand what drives him to kill in combat. What he finds there is vastly different from what we are taught to expect- simply that the vast majority of people are unable to look a fellow man in the eye and kill him even if his own life may be at stake. The forces that allow him to overcome that reluctance in the heat of battle include peer pressure, leadership, training, and physical distance and are examined in great detail.

A Powerful Refutation of the Soldier's Bloodlust, February 10, 2000
Those who have never had the privilege of serving in America's armed forces invariably believe the Hollywood depiction of the modern soldier as a soulless killing machine. As Lt. Col. Dave Grossman shows in his groundbreaking study of killing in war, nothing could be further from the truth.

Remember the steely-eyed warriors who descended on Normandy, Anzio, Guadalcanal, and a host of other blood-soaked battlegrounds during World War II? Only one in five of these combat infantrymen were willing to fire their rifles.

Shocking? Surely, given the popular depiction of our fighting men. But military training has never been able to fully eradicate the innate resistance of killing one's fellow man amongst the common soldiery.

Yet we're getting better at it, with disturbing implications for our society. Grossman's data shows that the current crop of soldiers, raised on graphic violence in movies and video games, is much more willing to slay the enemy. This is undoubtedly a good thing from a purely military point of view. However, the cost is a consequent desensitization to the suffering of friend and foe alike, and psychological trauma which lasts long after the firing stops.

The introduction of women into combat situations has not slowed the inexorable trend toward a more savage soldier. During training to endure potential captivity as prisoners of war, male soldiers are taught to conquer their natural tendencies to protect females through an active desensitization process (a soldier is a soldier, whether male or female; we all signed up for this, etc.) What impact this has once these brave men return to society is uncertain, but you can bet that one cannot turn their humanity on and off like a light switch.

A profound and disturbing study which belongs in every library.

LTC Grossman was my favorite Commander., March 8, 2003
I just wanted to write a quick note and review about LTC Grossman's book and his character. I read a review which stated that, "His only vaguely denounced and hidden desire to change the US Constitution make me want to examine Mr. Grossman's education and military record in depth."

Let me say, I served briefly under LTC Grossman, then Major Grossman as a new Second Lieutenant in the US Army. He was, in my opinion, one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, and studied officers I ever had the privilege of serving with. It was LTC Grossman, that first instilled in me how a professional soldier acts, thinks, commands, and motivates. LTC Grossman used to give a speech to ROTC Cadets during summer training at Ft. Lewis, WA that was so motivational, by the end the cadets would literally stand up and scream for more. The Army videotaped the presentation and often tried (unsuccessfully) to duplicate it. LTC Grossman used to lead philosophical discussions about the "warrior spirit" that would engage even the least interested. He first enlightened me to think about the mind of our enemy ("One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter") and has helped me understand the minds and motivation of those that attacked the U.S. on 9/11 (I served under LTC Grossman in 1996). You will not defeat an enemy until you understand and address the root cause of their grievances.

For those interested in LTC Grossman's thoughts, I can recommend taking a look at several of Robert Heinlein's books, which LTC Grossman recommended to me. Specifically, "Starship Troopers", the book bastardised by Hollywood in the movie under the same name.

Many of LTC Grossman's teachings remain with me today, and he is one person that will impart knowledge that stays with you for a lifetime. While studying for my MBA, I wrote my business plans in accordance with the 5 paragraph OPORD, or Operations Order, and as a result I had more than one professor ask me to review independent grant, business, and research proposals.

I read LTC Grossman's book as a Cadet, and while I have to admit, much of it made me feel intellectually humble, his overarching hypothesis has passed the litmus test of time. After the Columbine shootings in Colorado, I saw LTC Grossman on a morning talkshow addressing many of the concerns premised in his book "On Killing" which was several years old by then. The events of 9/11 make me believe that we can all learn a little from LTC Grossman that will help this nation understand who, what, why, and how this nation will fight and win the war against terror.

Alters opinions, March 13, 2000
I am a reporter. Most people would expect me to deny Lt. Col. Grossman's findings, pertaining to violence in the media, as sensationalist and misleading since I should know where my bread is buttered.

I admit, I was skeptical, but during research for an article on violence in the schools, I came across the colonel's book, "On Killing". After reading it, I became a convert.

The comparison of the military's usage of operant and classical conditioning techniques with the psychological effects experienced by juveniles when they observe violence - or participate in it, in the case of interactive shoot-'em-up video games - was quite enlightening. Col. Grossman brought a fresh perspective to the debate and convinced me to rethink my original opinion.

Of course, his theory wouldn't hold unless he could prove that humans, by nature, are unable to kill other human beings unless trained and psychologically conditioned to do so. I believe he did prove this point.

Simplistic solutions such as instituting media criticism courses, turning off the TV or banning guns won't stop the killing because they don't get at the core psychological problems and they don't address the enabling factors that are co-conspirators in juvenile violence.

Listen to this man.

Intriguing, yet fraught with problems, August 6, 2000
Grossman presents interesting and worth-while reading when dealing with the psychological workings of what it takes (soldiers) to kill. His hypothesis adding two additional phases to the typcal fight-or-flight response was new, at least to me, and makes sense. And his examination of ritual and rite involved with war, in particular the importance of ritual after war, and his coorelation between the lack of ritual and the high precentage of Vietnam vets who suffe(ed) from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was intriguing and even insightful.

Yet the book has significant short-comings. First is Grossman's lack of proper citation, footnotes, and supporting evidence. Time and again Grossman quotes experts or refers to people and studies but never gives the source. Grossman makes the error of assuming that his audience is as familar with this topic as he is. At one point, Grossman tells of a meeting with a mysterious Dr. Narut who reveals assassin training techniques taken right out of A Clockwork Orange, yet Grossman gives no other evidence to support this. These are elemental flaws in scholarship and rhetoric, and are the kinds of things that would not be tolerated in college research writing.

The Korean War (or Conflict if you want o be politically correct) is another problem. Grossman explains that during WW II only 15 to 20 percent of soldiers actually fired. By Korea this percentage was 50 to 55 percent, and by Vietnam it was 90 to 95 percent. My dispute is not with Grossman's numbers, but with the fact that aside from this statistic, the Korean War is barely mentioned, and its soldiers are never associated with the problem of PTSD.

The other, and most important, problem with the book is Grossman's reasoning behind the increase in violence in today's world, America in particular. Essentially, Grossman blames the media, television violence, Hollywood, and video games. His reasoning is akin to that against violent comic books in the 1950's when they were seen as being responsible for the rise in teenage crime. Grossman argues against the anti-hero of today's movies and against violent monster movies such as Friday the Thirteenth. He argues that violent video games condition teenagers just as military training conditions soldiers. Yet he gives no evidence to support his point of view. He cites not one study or even a magazine article to help him (oddly enough, if he had read King's The Danse Macabre, King's textbook on horror from 1950 to 1980, he would have found at least anticdotal evidence). And while he is trying to make this part of the book the crux of his entire argument, he fails miserably because he displays no knowledge or understanding of contemporary American culture or film history/theory and where such characters as the anti-hero derive from. In effect, Grossman comes off as a Nancy Reagan clone, with a "Just say no!" attitude that offers no real insight into why violence has increased, or how to deal with it. Where Grossman wants to hit the target the most, he misses far wide of the mark.

A Highly Flawed Work on an Important Topic, May 9, 2009
LTC Grossman's book is highly overrated by far too many readers. His book does offer some valuable information on the combat efficiency of people over time on the modern battlefield. There is also some excellent insight into post-traumatic stress disorder. He suggests that in the past soldiers had more time to reflect and examine their experiences before returning to peaceful lives back home. Either armies had to march home, which could take days if not weeks, or they had to take a ship, which could take a similar amount of time. Our current policy of rapid reintroduction of soldiers just out of a combat zone as a cause of problems today is an important one.

The rest of his book, however, is flawed and should be taken with a grain of salt. To begin with, he takes modern assumptions and assigns them to all eras and epochs of the past, as if people of the past all have the same outlooks and reactions that we do today - they just wore different clothes. His assumption that people are somehow inherently predisposed not to kill each other and only do so with great mental conditioning leading to psychological harm flies in the face of the obvious lessons of history. A reading of history suggests our ancestors often waged aggressive and enthusiastic war with little trouble. Even more importantly, they did not need video games or death metal to encourage them to do it. The society and its views of war, I think, has more to do with reactions of soldiers than any innate mental disposition.
Some items he mentions show a poor understanding of practical matters. He suggests that centurions simply stood around encouraging their soldiers to fight, while a student of Roman warfare would recognize that the centurions were often in the thick of the fighting and doing so by fighting. They often led just as much by example as by shouting orders. The author also asserts that the reason thrusts with a sword are not used much is related to some psycho-sexual mental block. This only proves he has little concept of weapons through the ages, not to say the fact that he has never seriously used one. He also fails to comment on the development of specialized thrusting weapons in the late middle ages or the development of rapiers. That these weapons were used for several hundred years and thrusting the accepted technique for inflicting damage shows a poor understanding of swords, not to say weapons of the past in general. I wonder how he addresses the spear, the most common weapon for thousands of years?

Even more troubling is his use of SLA Marshall's work Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command to justify many of his positions. He quotes Marshall's famous firing rate: less than twenty-five percent of a unit would engage in combat with the enemy. The first problem is: He ignores Marshall's reason for this occurring. Marshall felt a lot of this had to do with the way soldiers were trained - only to fire their weapon if they could see a target. In modern war, a target is not always visible, hence the soldiers did not shoot when shot at. The soldiers who did shoot often were armed with BARS, machine guns, flame-throwers, etc. That is weapons that are meant to be used against an area as much as against individual targets. The second problem is that recent research has suggested that it is very likely Marshall simply made up this figure. His methodology was more focused on recreating the battle experience, not obtaining specific pieces of information for statistical purposes. With doubt cast on Marshall's firing rate, doubt has to be cast on LTC Grossman's conclusions and arguments which stem from it.

Another problem with LTC Grossman's book is that despite saying he conducted over four hundred interviews, he quotes from these very little. In fact, he tends to quote from the same couple of works, Soldiers: A history of men in battle by John Keegan and Richard Holmes and Acts of War: Behavior of Men in Battle by Richard Holmes, over and over again. Because of the repetition and limited sources, many of his assertions seem poorly supported and to rely entirely on the works of other people. If he conducted all these interviews, why does he not reference them more? Also to consider, just because modern people have certain reactions in battle, it does not mean that this is how it has been through time immemorial. This reviewer highly recommends the works of Richard Holmes and John Keegan as an alternative to this poor work.

Finally, when he is given information that runs contrary to his views, he glosses over it or attempts to make it fit his conclusions. The most prominent example regards the guilt officers feel when men under their command die following that officer's orders. Essentially, he says none of the officers he interviewed expressed any guilt. Rather than concluding that maybe they really do not feel guilt, he concludes they must all be suppressing it. This is just absurd - a blatant attempt to make the facts fit a preconceived notion that the author has.

It is unfortunate that this book is accepted so uncritically. His work has affected the work of others in a detrimental manner. The subject is an interesting one, but unfortunately poorly researched. Grossman did do a service in pointing out the importance of the topic. His arguments and conclusion, however, are flawed and poorly thought out. Despite his claim to a history degree, he seems to have a poor grasp of the subject and its study. And in the end his book becomes a screed against violent video games, movies, and music, as if this is to blame for all our problems. My advice is to avoid this book if at all possible.

Off Target, January 7, 2009
Amidst the smoke and karaoke crooning of New Year's Eve, a friend and I got to talking about trauma. I'm a US Navy veteran; I never killed, but I served in hazard zones and as a police officer. She recommended a book--*On Killing*.

Written by Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman, US Army retired, the book describes itself as the founding study on killing. To my surprise, I found it to be a pseudo-scientific screed against media.

--On Insults--

Right off the bat, the paperback takes a swing at skeptics. It compares us morally and scientifically to tobacco lobbyists. It also plays the race card, accusing people who oppose censorship of being racist. The book dismisses personal freedom itself, declaring:

"I think most individuals would agree that the `just turn it off' solution probably rates right up there with `let them eat cake' and `I was just following orders' as all-time offensive statements."

I'm offended by populist statements accusing critics of racist tyranny! Yet I read the whole book.

--On Media--

Far from a study of killing, the central thesis states: "Finally, *and perhaps most important*, I believe that this study will provide insight into the way that rifts in our society combine with violence in media and in interactive video games to indiscriminately condition our nation's children to kill." (emphasis Grossman's).

To this conclusion, the book follows a chain of hypotheses:

1) People are pacifists.
2) Atrocities and social conditions push people to kill.
3) The military exploits conditioning to push kill rates higher.
4) Media adopts military conditioning to program civilian children to kill.
5) First Amendment and market controls are required.

--On Veneer--

Unbefitting these controversial claims, the content is superficial.

*On Killing* examines American infantry during modern wars. Yet it generalizes that all humans throughout history are innately opposed to homicide. The text doesn't try to consider nurture instead of nature, failing to explore killing across different cultures, demographics, or periods. Nor does Grossman offer a mechanism for aversion, preferring to prattle poetically about people.

Repeatedly, the author claims original research. In practice, his study is a pile of cherry-picked quotes strung together with personal opinions, urban legends, and movie references. Credible citation is also absent; I would expect APA format at least. The book finally admits to reliance on pop literature for most of its testimonials--not exactly sound science.

Indeed, whole chapters babble with romantic commentary. Vietnam studies stray into denial that we lost the war, egotistical assertions of American prowess, and diatribes on the treatment of veterans. I often felt like I was reading a talk-show transcript.

--On Histrionics--

Frequent hysterics reinforce this tabloid quality. It announces, "After nuclear holocaust, the next major threat to our existence is the violent decay of our civilization due to violence-enabling in the electronic media." Pardon me while my eyes roll right out of their sockets!

The tone also raised my eyebrows. It sticks to the page with sexual and slaughterhouse metaphors. Yet obscenities are scoured, notably "f---" and "s---". I suspect any book that compares itself to a sex manual, but strikes out the language. I also mistrust loaded phrasing: specifically the repetitious use of "the egalitarian United States", "violence-enabling media", "brainwashing", and "conspiracies".

The author uses those last two terms a lot, as *On Killing* slips into conspiracy theories. From the start, it declares media violence to be a genocidal plot against black people. The Vietnam chapters suggest an illuminati-like anti-war movement. The final sections build off fantastic *Clockwork Orange* CIA scenarios.

These creepy assertions bubble out of otherwise sedate passages, until less-discerning readers float atop without any idea that their feet have left the ground.

--On Manipulation--

*On Killing* really sails into space when it applies fallacy to American society. The central thesis states that humans are inherently adverse to killing, but modern electronic media reproduces combat conditioning without safeguards. Now I don't doubt media influences human behavior. I do doubt *On Killing* for drawing far-fetched conclusions from dubious methodology:

>Reliance on Arguments from Authority,
>Argument from Repetition,
>Band Wagon Appeals,
>and Inappropriate Analogies.

The book also suffers pervasive cognitive bias:

>Fallacy of correlation versus causation.
>Omitting reasonable alternatives.
>Reinforcing bias through false dilemma.

Example: The book claims graphic media is the only increasing factor in violent crime. This ignores the history of economic conditions, hard drugs, and firearms, or criminal immigration. The book further fails to account for pitfalls of statistical reporting. It reinforces bias by denying the potency of firearms and drugs. Grossman's false dilemma claims that science cannot safely prove a link between media and violence, so we should assume it on his authority.

--On Conclusion--

After 300-pages of war stories, *On Killing* asserts that Dirty Harry turned our children into murderers. It coyly advocates government censorship and public censure to control our expression.

This has nothing to do with a study of killing. This *is* another fallacy, related to the "irrelevant conclusion": the author presents an attractive set of arguments--those sympathetic soldiers-- then switches to a disconnected thesis. Overall, the book calls itself into question with what amounts to a 30-page non-sequitur.

To paraphrase the text itself, *On Killing* stakes out the same moral and scientific ground as the tobacco industry. It insults readers and their beliefs. Arguments are trite and sag with fallacy. And the histrionics--the melodramatic declarations, the conspiracy theories, and the twisted morality--makes this sham of psychology as crazy as the patient.

A different view of the Vietnam war., October 11, 2004
Grossman, D. (1996). On killing. NY: Back Bay Books.

To read Grossman's gripping study of killing in a military environment requires a degree of courage from the readers. In fact, those Vietnam colleagues who are not travelling well may be better off not reading this book for it peels back the psychological layers of training to kill, and then the guilt that has been generated from being part of the harvesting of the body count. Importantly, the author recognises that Vietnam was different, for a variety of reasons, to any other war that we have fought.

Grossman has impeccable credentials. He rose from the rank of private to lieutenant colonel and served in the 82nd Airborne, 7th Infantry Division and the U.S. Rangers and as a psychology professor at West Point.

After the Second World War, the British and Americans studied the phenomenon of non-firers. American studies confirmed that in battles only 15-20% of the troops shot to kill. In some situations where several riflemen were together firing at the enemy, others in the group would take on supporting roles (getting ammunition, tending the wounded etc.). There was a conspiracy of silence over the non-firers and those involved in a conspiracy to miss, even when their lives were endangered. The British confirmed that among the Argentinean troops in the Falklands, there was a similar rate of non-firers.

However, by the time of the Vietnam War, training techniques had been changed and the firing rates were around 95%. Herein lies the root of the problems faced by Vietnam veterans. As a result of the non-firing data, training methods were re-designed to remove the moral dilemma of taking human lives. Recruits were trained to shoot body shaped targets, not bullseyes and recruits were rewarded for "kills". At Puckapunyal (Recruit Training), recruits for Vietnam were instructed to aim for the chest, so if the enemy doesn't die they become a burden for their medical support teams. Bayonet training, which had probably remained unchanged for over 100 years, was designed to massively damage the enemy soldier's abdominal-thoracic region with a steel instrument possessing two specifically designed blood grooves. And, as the RDI said, "If you are unlucky enough to bayonet the enemy in the head and can't get your bayonet out, discharge a round and it should split the head open."
In, out, on guard! Kill, kill!
The NCOs' and officers' jobs in combat remain to get the troops to kill. I cannot agree with Grossman's observation that British officers do their jobs better because of the class distinction between themselves and their men, which allowed them to make more objective decisions (p. 168). The "fragging" phenomenon in Vietnam occurred because of this perceived officer indifference to the suffering of the troops.

Killing another human being is not a natural act, contrary to what the movies would have us believe. Grossman argued that only 2% of the troops are natural killers (psychopaths/sociopaths), the others need a variety of support strategies to overcome the feeling of guilt that eventually emerge. Perhaps a strongpoint of this book is the excellent diagrams, which capture the essence of key points in this treatise. The diagram showing the predisposition to kill (p.188) is a good example of Grossman's clarity of thought. He shows that the demands of authority, training and conditioning, experience, target attractiveness and group support all come into play before the trigger is pulled.

So, what made Vietnam different to previous and subsequent wars? Firstly, the training was different and the re-socialisation of recruits, particularly those conscripted into the military, was designed to make certain that the troops would kill. The troop rotations generally had new members of units arriving and leaving as individuals, thus denying them the support and absolutions for what they had taken part in. Thirdly, there was no safe rear area and troops had to be battle ready, always. The Swank and Marchand research of 1946 showed that after 25 days in combat troops suffered combat exhaustion, with a reduction in their effectiveness and ending after 50 days in a vegetative phase. Fourthly, the lack of support from the home communities turned many Vietnam veterans into pariahs and it took over a decade to begin to remedy this dreadful, politically driven alienation. As a result, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) manifested itself in many returning troops, who often left Vietnam and were expected to be civilians again within 12 hours. It was interesting that the British sent troops home from the Falklands by boat to overcome this specific problem of the lack of group absolution.

For me, this book was an interesting read, but importantly it made me understand myself and my veteran colleagues a little better.

[...]

Neil MacNeill, 31 Charlie.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Setting down his thoughts on swordplay, on winning, and on spirituality, legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi intended this modest work as a guide for his immediate disciples and future generations of samurai. He had little idea he was penning a masterpiece that would be eagerly devoured by people in all walks of life centuries after his death.

Along with The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Book of Five Rings has long been regarded as an invaluable treatise on the strategy of winning. Musashi's timeless advice on defeating an adversary, throwing an opponent off-guard, creating confusion, and other techniques for overpowering an assailant was addressed to the readers of earlier times on the battlefield, and now serves the modern reader in the battle of life.

In this new rendering by the translator of Hagakure and The Unfettered Mind, William Scott Wilson adheres rigorously to the seventeenth-century Japanese text and clarifies points of ambiguity in earlier translations. In addition, he offers an extensive introduction and a translation of Musashi's rarely published The Way of Walking Alone. This gift-book edition also features original art by Musashi himself as well as new calligraphy by Japanese artist Shiro Tsujimura. ... Read more

Reviews

Best translation available, August 25, 2005
I have studied this book for years, and have read five different translations. The William Scott Wilson translation is by far the best. I always get the feeling that other translators are putting too much of themselves or their ideas about what Musashi is saying into the translations. Wilson's translation is clear and concise and yet does not feel filtered.

Here is a passage from the Thomas Cleary translation "Upset happens in all sorts of things. One way it happens is through a feeling of being under acute pressure. Another is through a feeling of unreasonable strain. A third is through a feeling of surprise at the unexpected."
Here is the same passage translated by Wilson "There are many kinds of agitation. One is a feeling of danger, a second is a feeling that something is beyond your capability and a third is a feeling of the unexpected. This should be investigated thoroughly."

They say the same thing, but Wilson is clearer.

As for the book itself, it is a classic masterpiece that describes not only a style of swordsmanship, but a way of living.

Some comments on the philosophy, June 21, 2003
As others have already written very complete reviews, I just had a few miscellaneous comments, mostly on how to understand Musashi's seemingly paradoxical ideas about technique.

This has become a legendary book. Written by the famous swordsman, sometimes referred to in the west as "The Lone Ranger of Japan," Musashi claimed to have been in over 60 sword battles, triumphing each time, so it's no wonder Musashi's name has become legendary in both Japan and the west.

The book sets out Musashi's philosophy and correct Way of the Sword. But the principles Musashi espouses are bound to sound perplexing to many people. Musashi says that the best stance is no stance, that too much strength is bad (your sword may shatter when clashing swords), and that even too much speed is bad (it may upset your balance), and that none of these are the true Way of the Sword. The best technique is, in fact, no technique.

This sort of philosophy is bound to be more than a little confusing, so I'll see if I can clarify it a little. I'm not sure I understand Musashi either, although I've studied martial arts for many years and have read my share of eastern philosophy, but I'll give you my ideas on how I relate to them just in case you find them useful.

Basically what Musashi is saying is that once you've learned a technique and committed it to memory and especially "muscle memory," it becomes fixed and is no longer adaptive. Your body becomes channalized into this form or technique, which then becomes limiting, preventing you from achieving true mastery, which is the ability to adapt and flow with any of the infinite number of situations you may encounter. Fixity is therefore dysfunctional and is not the true Way of the Sword. This might be what Musashi means when he speaks of the Way of Emptiness being his way and the true Way of the Sword. In other words, his technique is no technique because it is empty of all fixed, unchangeable, and unadaptive aspects.

There is an analogous principle in Zen. In Zen, the highest level of technique is called "the technique that can't be seen." This doesn't mean that the technique is so fast it's invisible. It's that the technique is so advanced and subtle that its principles aren't obvious and easily seen. Musashi's ideas seem to reflect this Zen Buddhist principle also.

Interestingly enough, this idea has some support from western research into learning and the brain. In learning theory, there is the idea of "stereotyping," (which has nothing to do with social or racial stereotypes), where motor movements that have been learned become fixed into a certain sequence or pattern, but which is not necessarily the most efficient or effective. My learning theory instructor used the example of shaving strokes. He realized after some years that he always did his shaving strokes in the same way, after having learned how to do them, but that they weren't necessarily the best way to shave, anymore. Now that he'd been shaving for years, he "re-engineered" his shaving strokes so that they were more efficient.

This may apply to the martial arts too. After we've learned a certain movement and achieved a certain level of skill with it, we may become complacent and never go back and question the movement again. All because we believe we've achieved a level of "skill." I notice Paul Vunak, an important martial artist in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino martial arts, also emphasizes the learning of principles rather than "technique," and specifically mentions this in his seminars. The idea is that once one has learned the principle behind the technique, one can do an infinite number of those techniques, depending on the situation.

Another interesting physiological principle that is almost as paradoxical as Musashi's ideas has been found by western science. There is a phenomenon in neuromuscular physiology known as reciprocal inhibition of flexor-extensor pairs. This means that during muscle activity the opposing muscle tension is inhibited to reduce effort on the flexing muscle. So if you're trying to do a straight punch, the tricep tenses and the bicep relaxes, thus reducing resistance. The paradoxical aspect arises from the fact that by performing a small jerk backwards in the opposite direction to the punch the outward extensor motion can be speeded up. In kinesiology they refer to this as a "pliometric jerk," and is how basketball players jump higher. But it also has equal application to the martial arts, and I've had good results using this to get more speed and snap in my own techniques and for my students.

Anyway, I just thought I'd offer a few suggestions from my own experience on Musashi's book, although I can't say I fully understand it either. But I hope you find them helpful in some small way in your own understanding and training.

The Best Translation Ever!, November 25, 2002
William Scott Wilson is one of the best translators I have ever read. I think this version is the best of the ones that I have read. I love the book and the binding. The book is a wonderful presentation.

A fair translation, well presented, November 1, 2003
Having read and annotated this book, I must admit that this book has confirmed what I always knew about martial arts. It is a value system and not a believe system, it is strongly based on self discipline and requires you not to lie about just reading books, but to actually go out there and practise over and over.

The translation itself is decent, without overemphasis in any one area (military, religous etc.) and the book presentation itself is admittedly good.

Master, July 5, 2005
There is only one reason to fight an apponent and that is to cut him down and win. The "Way" is the only way to assure victory in any engagement, at anytime, anywhere, with anyone. One must dedicate and commit all one has to living the "Way" and then one can reach the level of complete mastery over oneself. Nothing else matters. Not fighting stances, thoughts, beliefs, but only the single determintion to cut down your opponent and win. Nothing can come between your goal and the outcome you desire. If you think about doing anything, you have lost before you have started. While the other person is thinking about how to strike, or how to stand, or where to look, you have already cut him down. He's dead or close to it.

There is a similarity in Bruce Lee's "Dao of Jeet Ken Do" where there is no "style", only response to action. One must be water. Musashi flows like water. To do so one must practice and attain spirit, awareness, and discipline.

Being self-taught, Musashi wasn't bound by the rigid formality that binds all minds (and it is the mind that wins) in any endeavor. He was free of form and could respond accordingly to any situation. You should investigate this and also read this book.

This guy knows Japanese, March 15, 2006
I've read several versions of this book and William Scott Wilson seems to have the best understanding of the Japanese language and desire to keep it as "word for word" as he can keep it without making the text obscure. I highly recommend this translation. Oh yeah, and this book is highly valuable for philosophers and martial artists alike. Musashi was a genius of both martial arts and life.

The Black Fleet, February 25, 2003
This book is incredible. Musashi, however, assumes you are decently trained in the martial arts. He describes his art as a sure way of always being victorious, so whoever can master it is probably near impossible to defeat. This book, though, does not offer easy learning. It provides basic ideas that must be meditated upon to sort of understand what's being said. Great skill and power in the martial arts is the crystal produced from years and years of training, it's not so cheap it can be gained merely by willpower. Musashi mentions the importance of training repeatedly. "You should investigate this" is mentioned after almost each lesson. This book is one of the few that need to be in every true martial artist's library.

WARRIORS BIBLE, April 29, 2008
Musashi, like every great warrior, knew that strategy was as important as tactics and techniques in combat. This book will teach you things that were learned in combat and will enhance your survival potential on the battlefield, street and life.

It is not the easiest book to interpret and understand, but that hardly matters, as for the information in this book is worth your time and effort. One good book is worth a hundred crummy ones, and this book is one outstanding book. This book is divided into various distinct sections, and the serious and professional warrior should extract as much information as possible from each section. Every time I pick this book up I learn something new. This is the warrior's bible.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.

An interesting read for sure, May 3, 2009
Most books I read to gain an advantage in business, sales or negotiating skills. This book was written hundreds of years ago but is relevant for business or personal life. I have not read any other versions of this book nor will I. This is a amazing read and you will find out more about yourself than you would know if you take the time to study this book. I came out with more questions about myself after reading the book and reflecting about the future.
Studying the great leaders and warriors throughout history has many advantages so you can help beat the odds against you.

Business and Martial Arts, January 30, 2008

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet.

A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

... Read more

Editorial Review

Strategies for winning the subtle social game of everyday life-from the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction

Robert Greene's first two groundbreaking guides, The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction, espouse profound, timeless lessons from events in history to help readers vanquish an enemy or ensnare an unsuspecting victim. Now, with The 33 Strategies of War, Greene has crafted an important new addition to this ruthlessly unique series. Structured in Greene's trademark style, The 33 Strategies of War is a brilliant distillation of the strategies of battle that can help us gain mastery in the modern world. It is the I Ching of conflict, the contemporary companion to Sun-tzu's Art of War. ... Read more

Reviews

Stragtegies of War that Apply to Business and Life, January 30, 2006
Robert Greene is a prolific research and thinker who has made a habit out of writing masterpieces that explore all nuances of human behavior. In his latest tome he follows the same approach as in his previous bestsellers by leading off each chapter with a quick and easy to read summary that gives you the essence of the strategy and the stories that follow. Then he leads you on one fascinating historical excursion after another that brings each strategy to life through the exploits of some of histories most famous and notorious characters.
The beauty of his approach is that there is something for everyone in this book. You may read about a tactic that is highly amusing, but that you say to yourself, "I could never do that." Then in the next chapter you may say, "That's fits in with my personality. I can do that." That's how I felt about his strategies for laying back and appearing to not care, and about his strategy for taking an unassailable position.
A brief story in chapter 4 on developing a sense of extreme urgency was well worth the cost of the book to me. It talks about Fyodor Dostoevsky and how a change in his perspective on the value of life lead to a greater appreciation for every moment, and to an era of rampant productivity that continued until his death. Because I'm an author I spend a good part of every day writing and thinking about my work. After reading about Dostoevsky I immediately felt an even higher sense of purpose and motivation.
You really can't go wrong with this book. It is very entertaining and educational. Beyond that, you could pick up some sage, time-tested advice for improving both your business and your life. Bravo!

Phil Capelle

More than just how to wage war, June 25, 2006
Among the other reviews here, there have been some comparisons between this book and the Art of War by Sun Tzu. I'd agree. Both are elegant and detailed instruction manuals on how to prepare yourself for conflict.

Once again, Green brings a tremendous body of research and historical insight to his writing, demonstrating the key points of each chapter through some of the greatest successes and mistakes from history.

But this isn't just a book about war. Greene repeatedly states that many of the strategies and tactics used to harden an individual for conflict (or conflict avoidance) apply equally well to business, politics and negotiation, and the examples come from everywhere from Hollywood to Ancient Rome.

The advantage this book has over the previous two is that his clarification of his strategies is more balanced and consistent. He goes vague less often here.

This book completes nicely Greene's cycle of historical self-improvement books: the first in how to woo others to your way of thinking, the second to deal with power structures, and the third for self-discipline and conflict resolution.

The Best And Most Current Book On Strategy For Your Business Or Your Life Available, February 9, 2006
Robert Greene's books are deep and they are for thinkers. If you want a breezy beach read or airplane read, this is not that book.

You'll read this book once, get to the last page and go back to page 1 and start reading again. There are literally hundreds of ideas in this book.

I especially like the way the author has made the book applicable to your life, the business or the battlefield.

As a former soldier, I deeply appreciate the detailed review of war strategies and found the book so compelling, I'm buying copies for all of my friends who are in the military and currently deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

If you only read one business or self improvement book this year, read this one. If you read three, read the author's other two books, The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction.

Robert Greene's art of War for the general population!, July 2, 2006
Having been a previous owner of "48 Laws of Power" and the "Art of Seduction" I was awaiting this foray into the art of warfare... and I have not been disappointed! After receiving this book as a birthday gift, I have not put it down in the last 10 days; managing it a piece at a time, and adding some highlighting to key phrases...

While some may consider the art of war (or even seduction or manipulation of power) to be an evil thing, Mr. Greene's take on the subject seems to be "its out there: learn about it to either use it or defend against it." How true this is. The anectdotes in this book are not just coverage of battlefields and generals - varying in scope from Alfred Hitchcock to Joan Crawford, to Cortez - this book has one for (almost) everyone. And while this may seem like Sun Tzu for the Jet Set, "33 Strategies of War" would find a welcome home on the bookshelf of a four-star general preparing for battle or a stay-at-home mom wanting to match wits with her unruly children...

Excellent Book -, February 9, 2006
As "an older professional" I am usually a bit cynical about books of this sort -- usually pretty superficial stuff. Not so with this book. Very well done, few errors, well written and thought provoking. I highly recommend it.

Highly Enjoyable, March 24, 2006
I was intrigued by this book. I already own a concise version of the 48 Laws of Power, written by the same author.
However, for some reason I never really got too taken with his previous book, which I shall revisit.
I had a strong suspicion that this book would be essentially a rehash of the aforementioned 48 Laws, but the militaristic subject matter appealed.
Well, I can confirm that this book definitely stands on it's own as an individual work.
In appearance, it is very inviting, beautifully designed with a great cover design and highlighted extracts of text on the borders of most pages drawn largely from classic military writings throughout the ages.
This book has a sinfully charismatic quality about it, like a rich slice of chocolate cake that beckons in the most tempting manner.
However, beyond the design and look of the book, it definitely has meat on the bones.
The mainstream subject matter is how someone could draw on lessons from military history and strategy to employ in everyday life.
There are finely researched stories from throughout the ages that cite various approaches, ploys, plots, victories, defeats, as well as some non-military examples, such as Alfred Hitchcock.
Now I am not entirely sure that this is a self-improvement book as such. It is not exactly the same type of work as Covey's 7 Habits of Effective People, but I find it so much more enjoyable.
I have plenty of time for those who do not push the warm and fluffy approach to life that demands we smile at people in the elevator to spread our positive energy.
Now I'm not advocating an opposite approach or use of the strategies outlined in this book, but my point is that the perspective is ironically refreshing.
The author obviously draws strongly on a familiarity with classical studies to summarise stories of ancient battles and conflicts, as well as such influential figures as Clausewitz, through to more recent conflicts.
Again, I am not quite sure what kind of book this is, as it could not be looked on as a pure work of military history, either.
However, whatever kind of strange animal it is, it is stylish, darkly charismatic and cynical.
If the 48 Laws of Power was a book made to sit on the bookshelves of our wealthy businessman uncle, then the 33 Strategies of War is the kind of book that would be found in the reading room of our Brigadier grandfather, albeit with a modern-day feel to it.
I certainly enjoyed this book and it added to my perspectives on military strategy.
For example, Sun Tzu advocates an approach of always allowing a desperate enemy force a route to escape - or they will fight to the death.
This book spun that perspective, advocating that to create a sense of desperation, urgency and drive in ourselves, that sometimes we should put ourselves on the "death ground", with no exits so that we are forced to rise up and overcome the challenge. Highly motivational.

very useful !!! in work and life.., January 31, 2006
After reading some first chapters of the book, i really can't put it down. There are soooooo many things to learn from this book. As a young professional, i now have an idea on how to run an organization or a group, that is, you can hone you leadership skill. The book (chapter 2) teaches you how to act, what things to do, avoid to make your group high-spirited, competent, and winner. The price i paid for the book is really worth the lessons you'll gonna learn on leadership. There are so many books out there that are really crap books. They don't present the reality and doesn't expose the true human nature in their books. This book really slammed me on the face on things i did wrong on directing on my subordinates. In addition, if you can interpret Sun-Tzu's art of war correctly, then don't buy this book. Personally, i think it's very dangerous to interpret Sun tzu on your own words. We need guidance to interpret it. For me, this book is the most detailed book to explain sun tzu since there soo-oo many illustrations and interpretations on each principle of war. Buy this and you'll not regret every penny you've paid.

Why spend the money on an MBA or a business degree, when you can get this book, October 19, 2006
I got a top tier MBA, spent tens of thousands of dollars and two years, but didn't learn the important stuff. (And I was the valedictorian, and got some really great jobs). I really enjoyed Greene's book 42 laws of power (I can't remember if it's 42 or some other number), but this book is a great reminder and educator of the way things work behind the scenes, in people's minds, and at the macro level of every business and political dealing. I'm convinced that there is either a conspiracy in our educational system to make us dumb workerbees, 99% of our teachers just don't get it, or our measurement system for the quality and effectiveness of our eductional system is severely broken. (Or all the above!)

Much of the book rings a bell with my intuition, but there is a great deal which is so inciteful and informative. I would say I couldn't put the book down, but that's not true, I needed to take a rest every chapter or so. I love his mixing of explaning the principals then giving historical examples. The war stories have direct analogies to the business world.

I have also read Greene's "Art of Seduction", which I think is absolutely vile and disgusting. I don't think the book is vile and distigusting, I think the book simply tells the truth. Greene doesn't make the rules, he's just telling how many "successfull" people play the game, which is really just a clear illustration of the part of human nature which is cloaked behind good manners and grooming, and how people take advantage of our good nature, weaknesses, and need for connection and love--all of which applies to both our personal and business world. Better to know it than not know it, and know when to fight fire with fire if you think you can stay true to your principles. Maybe there should be a followup something like "Buddah's dance with Devil"

This book is going on my top shelf.

There is nothing less than 5 stars for this book, March 27, 2009
If you are looking for a comprehensive strategy guidebook for war in the field, at work, in the political realm, and everywhere else, this is it. Do not believe the words of those who have ranked this book low, it is deeper and more flushed out than you can imagine. I own at least 3 copies because i wear it out ;)

It's a great read, but put it in context., September 21, 2007
Being a lover of history I think this is a great read. I enjoyed Greene's 48 Laws of power mainly because of all the historical examples he used. This one was no different in that regard.

However, I would caution anyone who considers this some kind of manual for competition and conflict. When reading some of the illustrations I often got the feeling the people involved were more lucky than calculated.

Also, there are so many things that can not be controlled by one person. It would be foolish to think a person could refer to this book and get detailed direction on what to do in a situation. First off, the person would have to correctly diagnose their situation and know which `law' to apply. Knowing which 'law' to apply in a given situation is not automatic.

For me, it is a great read that provides some mental stimulation. If you love history like I do then check this out. If you are looking for some kind of blueprint to wage 'war' on others you probably have already lost and do not know it.
... Read more

Editorial Review

This fascinating collection explores the unusual and often bizarre persons,attitudes, and events of the Civil War. Illustrated and indexed.

Reviews

Many cool facts, but a little slow reading at times, July 30, 2004
One of the previous reviewers best described this book as a niche in the vast sea of Civil War literature available. This book is unique in that rather than focusing on the entire war, or a specific aspect of the war, this book floods the reader with a myriad of little known facts from numerous facets of the war.

The book is divided into 27 chapters. One of the nice aspects of the book is that each chapter is short enough so that they can be read in 15 minutes or under, thus giving the reader many opportunities to stop reading without stopping in the middle of the story. The chapters cover a plethora of topics including critters of the Civil War, the role of horses, stories of people before they were famous, the view of both sides regarding the use of Negro soldiers, and an amusing chapter on military officer appraisals. Some chapters I enjoyed immensely such as the chapters on new and outmoded weapons, how the abolition of slavery was not the North's goal initially, and the chapter on fate/chance. However, as with any book with this many subjects in it, there are chapters that an individual will not be as interested in. For this reason, occasionally the book seemed to drag on.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for non-conventional stories on the Civil War or anyone who is interested in American history in general. This book would be an excellent academic reference for a paper; however, I would think finding specific information might be difficult without reading the entire book. The book has a thorough index, but the chapters are organized in such a way that they do not have a specific timeline or geographical location, just information about the general subject described by the chapter's title.

Curiosity Abounds!, March 5, 2000
This work was fascinating to read and was neither over dramatic or under written. The stories were lively and interesting and the additon of old photos and draqwings helped fill out the book.

This book won't bog you down in heavy reading, but it will liven your interest in the odd coincidences of the Civil War!

Interesting and Captivating, June 3, 1999
I have three of Garrison's books: The Amazing Civil War, Civil War Curiosities, and More Civil War Curiosities. I would recommend each and every book to anyone! The facts that Garrison writes about are both interesting and captivating and being a high school American History teacher, I plan on using the facts that I have found no where else to captivate my students and give them a perspective on the war that they may have never found otherwise

Just the facts, ma'am, May 30, 2006
Webb Garrison's CIVIL WAR CURIOSITIES, subtitled "Strange Stories, Oddities, Events, and Coincidences", is his attempt to provide a compendium of such judged by brevity, interest, and novelty. The author pretty much succeeds at the first but, for the casual reader, more or less flops on the last two. However, Sgt. Joe Friday of the old TV cop series DRAGNET, wanting just the facts, would be pleased.

In twenty-seven chapters grouped under five parts, Garrison belabors such topics as soldiers' wives following their husbands into battle, the enlistment of Black soldiers, hostages, soldiers' pets, atrocities, gaudy uniforms, battle flags and their bearers, warships, Lincoln's appearance, outmoded and new weapons, the sounds of combat, and leaders' opinions of their contemporaries. Rather than pen a coherent and learned book on, say, the role of the fighting clergy, the author makes his point on the cheap with disconnected paragraphs and clusters of paragraphs about individuals. Taking as one of the shortest examples - Garrison does achieve brevity, if not particular interest - we read:

"A report published in the Memphis 'Bulletin' said that notorious Tennessee guerrilla leader Richardson had as his chief aide the Rev. Captain Burrow, an ordained minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church."

And, if novelty was a criterion for inclusion, then how can there be so many entries of a type? In the chapter about officers continuing or returning to fight while severely ill or after being crippled, one reads of at least sixty-six such Tough Guys. The entire chapter is a litany of factoids of which the following is representative:

"When Edward A. Wild's left arm was hit at Shiloh, he used his training as a physician to direct the amputation. As a brigadier, he later led black troops on raids and against guerrillas in North Carolina."

Mind you, there are occasional gems of interesting novelty, this one concerning the Rebel capture of the coal brig "J.P. Ellicott" by the "Retribution":

"When crew members of the captured vessel were replaced by Confederates, the wife of the Ellicott's mate was left aboard. As soon as the Retribution was out of sight, she broke out a store of rum and the captors became thoroughly drunk. Then the wife ... put irons on Confederates and sailed the bark into St. Thomas, where she delivered it and her captives to the U.S. consul." You go, girl!

Or, this one:

"According to the New York 'World' of September 12, 1861, any man near St. Louis in a Federal uniform was in mortal danger. 'Mrs. Willow and a free colored woman named Hanna Courtena were arrested yesterday for selling poisoned pies to the soldiers at Camp Benton'." Hmm, I may have had one of those once at a dysfunctional family Thanksgiving dinner.

And this:

"Lincoln's private secretary, John Hay, refused to deliver papers to (Secretary of War) Stanton unless ordered to do so by the president. 'I would rather make a tour of a smallpox hospital' than ask him for a courtesy, he said."

Though I'm not a serious student of the Civil War, I've read more tomes about it than any other conflict. For me, CIVIL WAR CURIOSITIES was nothing more than a collection of uncurious scraps brought together in a single binding to justify a book sale. If you're a Civil War fanatic looking for fodder for a trivia game among the like-minded, then this volume may be of some use. Otherwise, it isn't worth the effort in a lifetime challenged by too many books and too little time.

Civil War Curiosities, December 4, 2005
For this being the first book I have ever read on the Civil War, it wasn't that bad. I was expecting to be bored out of my mine while reading it and that it would be a struggle for me to get through the whole thing. It wasn't about the battles and how and why they happened. It was more about the interesting and unusual things that happened during these battles. So even if you wish to learn nothing about the Civil War you will be entertained with the peculiar and fascinating stories that are told.

The book is divided up into several areas of the war. Some areas are much more interesting than others. For me personally, I enjoyed reading about the women's effort to help in the war. The things that they would do, like dressing up like a man to be able to fight or going along with the troops to help those who were injured in fighting, showed their love for their country and for their husbands. However, I had a hard time getting through the section about the new weapons that came about during the war, because I know nothing about weapons so I couldn't really relate to it. If I read this book again I would not read the book from front to back but, rather, read the sections I was interested in because I feel that way I could get more out of the book if I was interested in what I was reading.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Civil War because they will be entertained with new stories and happenings that they have not heard of before.

Civil War Curiosities by Webb Garrison, September 29, 2005
Civil War Curiosities uncovers those unusual persons, attitudes, and events that take you beyond a textbook understanding of the Civil War. A collection of fascinating anecdotes and colorful stories, this book covers a wide variety of subjects, including "newfangled' weapons that changed the nature of war, the press' outrageous inaccuracy in covering the conflict, the phenomenon of `silent battles, ` and various disguises, atrocities, and mix-ups.

Just one of the accounts which I loved told of when Sam and Keith Blalock joined the Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment, they claimed to be old friends who were distantly related. It was months before anyone discovered "Sam's" real name was Melinda. When Keith signed up to fight the Yankees, his wife put on a man's attire and went with him to war. I found this book to be very interesting reading.

Good "lite" read for Civil War buffs, August 14, 1999
This book made for interesting reading, and was just scholarly enough to convince, without being loaded with footnotes and references. I recommend it.

It was very good!!!!!!, May 9, 1999
The Book told about tons of facts I never knew about and told more details about things I already Knew!!!!!!!!!

An Enjoyable Read, December 19, 2007
I picked this book up after reading a monster of a historical book and enjoyed it very much. It is written in anecdotal paragraphs, with each paragraph being relevant to the chapter it is included in. It has a very interesting chapter on hostages and also one on officers who were in the clergy. My favorite chapter was on quotes about officers from their contemporaries. I will warn the reader that the book seems to lean toward northern sympathies, which is just fine, but I like my history to be a bit more unbiased. Any casual student of the American Civil War should pick up this entertaining book. Advanced scholars will probably enjoy it as well, but the material is pretty light, and most of the anecdotes I am sure you will have come across before.

Civil War Curiosities, October 27, 2007
This provided some little known insights into the humanity and inhumanity of this epic war in America's history. Both sides were brutal, both sides compassionate in individual ways. A thoroughly enjoyable read. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is an electronic edition of the complete book complemented by author biography. This book features the table of contents linked to every chapter. The book was designed for optimal navigation on the Kindle, PDA, Smartphone, and other electronic readers. It is formatted to display on all electronic devices including the Kindle, Smartphones and other Mobile Devices with a small display.

******************

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645. It is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, much like Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Chanakya's Arthashastra. There have been various translations made over the years, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work. The modern-day Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu employs it as a manual of technique and philosophy.

Musashi establishes a "no-nonsense" theme throughout the text. For instance, he repeatedly remarks that technical flourishes are excessive, and contrasts worrying about such things with the principle that all technique is simply a method of cutting down one's opponent. He also continually makes the point that the understandings expressed in the book are important for combat on any scale, whether a one-on-one duel or a massive battle. Descriptions of principles are often followed by admonitions to "investigate this thoroughly" through practice, rather than try to learn by merely reading.

— Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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Reviews

The Book of Five Rings, October 24, 2009

The book appears at first to be written simply; it stated the obvious. Written at a time when perhaps things were simpler.

This is NOT a book to read in one sitting, though you easily could.

Read just a bit, then put it down and walk away. Allow what you have read to be mulled over in your mind.

The book is really complex. It contains secrets to living every day, for dealing with everyone you encounter no matter what their state of mind is. It contains secrets about how to do business.

The title is a translation. Like English, words can have multiple meanings. What is translated into the word "ring" can also be translated into "spheres" which I think is a more appropriate translation. The sphere is the most perfect thing in the universe. Beginning at a point and drawing the ring/sphere/circle you will get to a point where the line begins again upon itself. This is a key to understanding the book.

Cleverly written, it holds the knowledge to live at peace with the universe.

An excellent read and mental workout.

Great value, December 22, 2008
I won't waste anyone's time or space on reviewing the book itself; there are plenty of great references and articles on the value of its contents. Instead I'll focus on the format itself and this particular printing; for starters, it's a lot smaller and more compact than I expected, but still easy to read. The book itself isn't terribly long, so they managed to keep it small without having to shrink the text too much. It still has all of the add on material by Thomas Cleary, so nothing is lost in the transfer. All in all, a very worthwhile buy if you're looking for an affordable, pocket-sized version of the book, or just need to replace it.

There is no second place, March 9, 2009
I have read this short series of essays a few times now.
They can be summed up as follows.

A: In a fight for your life, there is no second place.

B: The way to win a fight for your life is as follows.
1: Be smarter than your enemy
2: Be better prepared than your enemy
3: Have more talent than your enemy
4: Don't be predictable to your enemy
5: Be more determined than your enemy

These things may seem obvious, but if they are, why don't we execute and win?
This translation is clear and easily understood, especially for those who have spent some time in the martial arts, and those who have played sports or engage in competitive business. You may also enjoy The Art of War which was a lot of the inspiration for this man's life, and Musashi which is a fun story of his dueling days.

Two Skies, Two Swords, No Mind, August 28, 2010
Miyamoto Musashi was renowned as a self-taught, undefeated masterless Samurai (Ronin) in Japan in the early 1600s. To this day he is considered a national hero to the Japanese, a kind of Robin Hood-like figure. It's said he killed his first opponent at age 13. He fought all comers until age 29, when he turned to teaching his techniques to students. At age 60, Musashi retired to a Zen monastery where he wrote his unpolished but insightful guide to living, THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS.

Like Sun Tzu's THE ART OF WAR and Machiavelli's THE PRINCE, THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS has been seized upon by the shark-eating man population as a life's little instruction book on how to get the drop on your competitors, and there is that side to it. But like Sun Tzu and Machiavelli, Mushashi's lesson really is more about how a well-prepared warrior need not engage in violent, self-injurious combat to overcome his adversaries.

This edition also contains THE BOOK OF FAMILY TRADITIONS ON THE ART OF WAR written by Yagyu Munenori, a contemporary of Mushashi's. But where Mushashi was unlettered, rustic, masterless and entirely self-made, Munenori was the Shogun's tutor and head of the Imperial Secret Police, the quintessential insider.

It is fascinating to compare and contrast the writing styles, lessons and conclusions of the two men, so far apart socially, who are not so far apart in thought as might be imagined.

Best translation, April 21, 2010
Comprised of five chapters (scrolls) Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Emptiness; this book is not only a vague guide to Musashi's style of swordsmanship, but also contains very useful philosophical points. While the final scroll, emptiness is the shortest, I believe it contains the most useful information and points, so whoever reads this book and my review, i strongly suggest CAREFUL consideration of the last chapter of his book. The Book of Five Rings (at least this translation) also contains scrolls written by the famous swordsman Yagyu Munenori. While far less known, his works are valuable as well.

Unbeaten phylosophy, April 9, 2010
Whether you are a Martial artist or someone simply seeking knowledge, this book and the ideas presented are to be pondered at length. You should find applications for the various techniques, and ways to engage your opponent, for use in all aspects of life.

Amazing book, December 15, 2009
I was really excited about reading this book and it lived up to the expectations. Granted, it wasn't the fastest reading book ever printed, but it was very thoughtful and inciteful. I will absolutely read this book again in the future. But for five dollars, the book was worth every penny.

Makes you think, November 22, 2009
This is a great book. Makes you really think about life in a different way. I think everyone should read this book.

Business and Martial Arts, January 30, 2008

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet.

A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

I need a bit of help with this one, September 21, 2009
I was drinking tea at Samovar Cafe in San Francisco when I read a quote from this book in their menu. It got me quite curious about it and purchased a copy. I understand that it is a seminal piece of work during the time it was originally written. Apparently, there has not been much analysis of strategy for war/combat prior to this book. However, I think my expectations were not in-line with what I got out of reading it. There are some chapters on sword fighting techniques. And, there are also sections that can be best described as zen-like philosophy. But, I find it hard to absorb most as it is very sparse and have little to no elaboration (for example: If you are going to battle, you should learn everything about every weapon...period). Perhaps the knowledge contained in this book is best discussed within a group or to come from a mentor who has some knowledge about the subject. Having said that, I still did pick up some important learning from The Book of Five Rings. The one I will take away with me is the importance of infecting others (as opposed to being infected). As I understand it, Miyamoto asserts that your thoughts, mood and behaviour should always be consciously monitored and used to influence your surroundings and people around you. And on the flip side, also be aware of others not infecting you in a similar sense. It may sound basic but I do believe it is an important skill to learn...either for war, business, or just everyday interactions. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Here for the first time, in rich, human, political, and scientific detail, is the complete story of how the bomb was developed, from the turn-of-the-century discovery of the vast energy locked inside the atom to the dropping of the first bombs on Japan.

Few great discoveries have evolved so swiftly -- or have been so misunderstood. From the theoretical discussions of nuclear energy to the bright glare of Trinity there was a span of hardly more than twenty-five years. What began as merely an interesting speculative problem in physics grew into the Manhattan Project, and then into the Bomb with frightening rapidity, while scientists known only to their peers -- Szilard, Teller, Oppenheimer, Bohr, Meitner, Fermi, Lawrence, and yon Neumann -- stepped from their ivory towers into the limelight.

Richard Rhodes takes us on that journey step by step, minute by minute, and gives us the definitive story of man's most awesome discovery and invention. The Making of the Atomic Bomb has been compared in its sweep and importance to William L. Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. It is at once a narrative tour de force and a document as powerful as its subject. ... Read more

Reviews

required reading - AND utterly captivating, December 16, 1999
Everyone seeking to understand the 20th century, its history, its politics, its scientific development, must read this book. Not only does it illuminate one of the foundational events of our time far better than any other source, it definitively sets forth modern science, its ethical dilemmas, its odd combination of unbelievable explanatory power and the utterly (humanly) unfathomable reality science suggests. Rhodes traces the development of the atomic bomb to its scientific roots, which he demonstrates are inextricably intertwined with the people pushing the scientific developments at an ever increasing speed and for a long time had no idea of the potential their theories carried. Rhodes manages to do all this with complete lucidity, allowing the reader totally unfamiliar with quantum mechanics to follow along with reasonable comprehension. At the same time, the psychological, ethical and political dramas Rhodes describes make this the hands-down most thrilling, most exciting book I have ever read

This Changes Everything, October 2, 2000
I will echo the other reviewers: this is one of the best, if not the best book I have read.

The book covers the subect on a number of levels. First is the factual story of the events leading up to the making of the bomb, which in themselves would be fascinating. For example, the fact that in two years the Manhattan Project built an industrial plant larger than the US automobile manufacturing base. That only in December of 1938 was the fission of Uranium first discovered, but the course of events were so rapid as to lead to the Trinity test in July of 1945. As a sometime program manager, but no General Groves, it was a fascinating account of the world's most significant projecct.

The second level is a very enjoyable history of nuclear physics as the reader is lead through the discovery process from the turn of the century to thermonuclear fusion. That discovery process is the vehicle for the third and fourth levels of the book. The stories and personalities of the scientists, around the world, who added to that knowledge, what shaped and motivated their lives and how they indiviually gained insight, brilliant insight, into the riddle that was physics. I felt I got to know people like Rutherford, Bohr, Oppenheimer, Fermi, Szilard, and Teller. The fourth level was that the insight was not really individual but collaborative. This book is one of the finest descriptions of the scientific process and how this open, collaborative and communicative process works across boundaries.

The last level, the biggest surprise and the most profoundly unsettling, was the realization of how this event, inevitable, has "changed everything" about human history - an appreciation, I believe 55 years later, we who did not participate in the Manhattan Project, have yet to fully realize. Niels Bohr realized it in an instant.

The book is superbly written. The personalies came alive, I felt I knew Niels Bohr. It was absolutely suspenseful even though you know the ending (you don't really). I was caught up in the story as though it were a novel. After reading late the night before, one evening I came home and declared to my wife "They dropped the bomb!". Such was the intensity of my participation in the book that my voice had excitement to it. She was horrified. I had to explain, "No, no. In the book. On Hiroshima". When history is that exciting it is hard to beat.

This is one of only a few books about which I can say that I will never quite view the world the same again.

A masterpiece and a must read.

Superb Historical Account Of Etiology of First Atomic Bomb!, January 8, 2004
One of the most admirable qualities of this truly marvelous work is its ability to paint the story of the creation of the first atomic weapon on the broadest possible canvas, reaching back into the bowels of history to trace, with the fidelity of a seismographic needle, the rise of both the specific intellectuals as well as the critical scientific mass to make the work not only conceivable, but possible. This is indeed a work that one reads repeatedly, for there is so much to digest within the pages of this masterwork as to defy any easy such description. So both the cast of involved personalities is long and incredibly interesting to witness as the author develops it, but then again, so is his description of the rise of theoretical physics through the work of Albert Einstein and his colleagues within the mostly European academic orbit in the first third of the twentieth century. In that sense, it is not strictly speaking, merely a detailed exposition dealing with what happened in New Mexico under incredibly secret circumstances during World War Two, as the Manhattan Project, even though it eventually gravitates toward being exactly that.

Instead, the book opens as an exploration into the minds of some brilliantly eccentric professors and intellectuals struggling within theoretical physics on the very cutting edge of the unknown, and then stretching it in quite unsuspected and revolutionary ways. And as the critical mass of theoretical knowledge began to cluster within the fairly small community of like-minded souls, the scene changes based on world politics and the rise of fascism. It is an interesting curiosity that had Hitler been less vitriolic in his condemnation of Jews, he might have forestalled the emigration of critical players in this unfolding melodrama, and so might have altered his own destiny and that of his most important ally, Japan. For just as the kluge of intellectuals conceded that such a weapon was indeed theoretically possible and feasible, many of them began to flee to more hospitable environs, including both the USA and Britain. Without their help, it is questionable as to whether the Manhattan Project could have ever succeeded.

The author is also quite convincing in his take concerning the long-rumored notion that the Nazis were also rushing toward development of the bomb, which Rhodes believes to be unsubstantiated by the available evidence. In fact, he argues exactly the opposite, that the Nazis were neither very interested in the development of such a weapon, and did not enjoy sufficient access to the kinds of materials they would have needed to mount a serious developmental nuclear program. Yet the majority of the book focuses memorably on the events transpiring in and around Los Alamos. The program to develop a useable atomic bomb was so massive and so secret that it is hard to imagine its scope at the time. Rhodes' prose admirably supports his sometimes almost confessional style, and he writes well enough to interest us in the most prosaic description even as he is describing events and people who literally transformed the world. This book has an incredible panorama to its rather ambitious scope, which includes biographical, scientific, sociological, political, and economic elements to it. It is indeed a classic, and deserves its status as one of the best-written accounts of the events of World War Two yet published. Enjoy!

absolutely first rate scientific and political history, September 28, 2001
This is one of those books that has it all: fascinating personalities, fundamental scientific discoveries explained with utter clarity, and the birth of political issues that are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago. That it is almost certainly the best book on the development of the atomic bomb is in itself remarkable, as the field is already crowded with mediocre efforts. Rhodes makes an entire era - the first half of the 20th Century - come alive in exacting detail.

THe book starts with a ruminating Leo Szilard as he wanders the streets of London, with the concept of an atom bomb germinating in his mind. His pesonality is so quirky, his propensity to find just the right contact to advance his agenda, make him the ideal vehicle to follow the story of the harnessing of the atom for military purpose. But to offer a full view, Rhodes starts with the Curies and their milieu, when they discovered radiation - a fundamental new form of energy that could not be explained by chemistry - that was the start of the 20C revolution in physics. Not only does this story cover such luminaries as Einstein and Bohr, but it includes many others lesser known, who added their discoveries to the pieces of the puzzle that finally elucidated the structure of the atom. These developments are also brilliantly set in European and American history, where the rise of Nazism renders them frighteningly relevant. In addition, other issues are addressed, such as the reason for the sudden blossomng of several Hungarian geniuses, including Szilard and von Neumann, who left their homeland for the US.

Then Rhodes moves to the practical question of the Bomb's development, which was accomplished predominently by European scientists in exile and some remarkable Americans as well. Here, you witness Enrico Fermi as he creates the first self-sustaining nuclear reaction in CHicago; the flowering of Oppenheimer's genius for administration; and the efforts that Heisenburg led, and perhaps sabotaged, in Nazi Germany. Each personality is given the depth you would expect in a historical novel with adventure, such as Bohr's flight from Norway, and the infighting that went on behind the scenes. It is simply a masterpiece of historical reporting.

Though his output has covered many topics, from his personal sexual history to hard scientific topics, Rhodes is indisputably one of America's greatest writers. I was fascinated by this book from page one and even took vacation time so that I could read it in peace while my daughter was in school.

Highest recommendation.

Tree- Huggers Beware, January 15, 2005
This is a good book that I feel different people will get different things from. I'm no quantum theorist however so I should have flipped through these parts more than I did and concentrated on the politics and the war parts which were excellent. The quantum theorem stuff gave me a headache but if you can hang in there I'm sure it'll add to your appreciation of the book. I felt a little impatient all the way through as I wanted to read about Trinity and Hiroshima and the politics behind them. And it was interesting to read about the hopes and fears of the very human but brilliant scientists. I liked the way the book linked the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki all the way back to before the first world war, the lack of unconditional surrender in 1918 and so the desire for it in 1945, many Jews fleeing from Germany in the thirties including their top scientists, the fear of Hitler getting the bomb first etc. It just all seems inevitable with the gift of hindsight but this book shows the uncertainty and fears of the days and long candlelit nights. I think anyone who is contempuous towards the people involved in the arrival of nuclear weapons should read this book and at least speak from knowledge rather than emotion.

A brilliant epic retelling of the birth of the atomic bomb, December 6, 2003
Richard Rhodes's masterpiece is one those books that is almost impossible to over praise. Since reading it a number of years ago, I have been amazed how many times I have heard about one individual or another mentioned in these pages, and either remember specific things about them from this book, or the greater background in which they worked. The book is not, it must be emphasized, not about the Manhattan Project, although that features as a significant feature in the story. Rhodes's tale begins well in advance of that, and his narrative for several hundred pages is a story of the men and women who first started thinking within the field of physics that would eventually make the atomic bomb a theoretical possibility. The cast of characters is immense, and involves nearly all of the major theoretical physicists of the first half of the twentieth century (though many would continue to dominate well into the 20th--indeed, one of the major players, Edward Teller, died only a few weeks before my writing this review).

The first part of the book deals with those men and women who did made a series of brilliant breakthroughs in physics that made the building of an atomic bomb not merely conceivable but feasible, at least sufficiently feasible for the major players in WW II to explore in a full-fledged way whether an atomic bomb could be built. The second half of the book details the efforts of the major players in WW II to build such a bomb. I found this especially interesting, because often writers mention the danger of Hitler having built an atomic bomb before the allies, but Rhodes pretty much destroys any illusions about this. He shows that, first, the German atomic program was tremendously under funded and given only a modicum of support by Hitler and his advisors. There were two major reasons for this. First, the Nazis had little or no access to the materials that would make such a program successful, in particular to an unstable uranium isotope. Their lone source lay in heavy water, which they were able to get from Sweden, but it is exceedingly doubtful that they would have had enough to produce sufficient material for a bomb even if they had known how to do so. But the greater impediment to the building of a bomb was Hitler's own disinclination to do so. Partly because of his own experience with mustard gas in WW I, Hitler was personally opposed to the use of what we would today call WMDs. But as Rhodes shows, even in America there was uncertainty about how devastating such a weapon would be, and some of the Nazis felt that the bomb would result in setting the earth's atmosphere on fire. Therefore, the German atomic threat is greatly exaggerated. Yet, it is still asserted. I read just recently a book by former MP and cabinet minister Roy Jenkins, in which he discusses the possibility of the Nazis getting the bomb first in WW II, an event that is at most a remote possibility. In addition to the German program, Rhodes also discusses the almost nonexistent Japanese program.

The greater part of the book deals with the efforts at Los Alamos, New Mexico to build a workable atomic bomb. The Manhattan Project (so-called because its first administrative offices were in New York) is one of the most massive undertakings in human history, and the story of how General Leslie Groves (whose other great achievement was overseeing the building of the Pentagon) and Robert J. Oppenheimer headed up the program makes for absolutely riveting reading. There is simply no way in the course of a brief review to express the sheer scope and range of issues--scientific, social, political, historical, and military--that Rhodes addresses in this book. It is one of those rare books that not merely informs you on a particular subject, but deepens and broadens one's knowledge of modern history. I would quickly put this volume on the briefest of short lists of modern classics that one ought to have read to understand the world. This truly is a classic that ought to be not merely honored but read.

The Bomb and the Bombmakers, August 23, 1998
When I was an undergraduate in physics at Harvard, a professor once told us that this book should be required reading for all budding physicists. Having read the book now, I agree absolutely. The individuals involved in the distinguished beginnings of 20th century physics and their stories are as engrossing as the consequences mortifying. I am a reader who believes in the counterfactual argument that the bomb prevented a horrific invasion of Japan. However, the idea of one smallish weapon killing tens of thousands (millions, if you count later bombs) must continue to terrify us and all of humanity forever. During the war, events were as terrifying as the bombmakers could imagine. At Los Alamos, the physicists were working for one purpose -- to get the bomb before Germany. That they were mostly Jews makes the quest that much more sobering. This is an account of events with a complicated reality, a very troubling legacy and a cast of truly fascinating individuals. Rhodes has done a service by telling us this story so elegantly.

One of the Best Books Ever Written, August 14, 2006
It's a work of literature, it's a work of history, it's a work of engineering; Richard Rhodes wraps everything into one superb narrative. From Rutherford's canny experiments rigged with chewing gum and string, to Ernest Lawrence lighting a cigarette off an atomic test, nothing is beyond the author's grasp. This is a work of physics in action, the business end. From the very top, Mr. Rhodes' book details the decisions made by FDR and Truman, and goes right on down the chain of command to General Groves, the powerhouse behind the Pentagon's construction who was given stewardship over a bunch of fractious geeks who were attempting to unleash the power of the sun.

Every conceivable type of personality is represented in "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", the ebullient and lovable Dick Feynman, the prickly genius Ed Teller, and the not-so-lovable Klaus Fuchs, executed for spying. One book covers it all, and remarkably, is followed by another excellent work, "Dark Sun" the making of the hydrogen bomb.

Terrifying., December 8, 2001
I used to think that mankind was essentially a foolish, greedy, vain, self-indulgent species with little else on the brain except food, sex, and money.

The contents of this book have made a lasting impact on me - and I'm not one who is easily swayed.

The first nuclear bomb - whether or not you agree with its political, military or social impact on humanity - was a testament to the mental prowess of humankind.

Until now, I had never considered how vast our knowledge of nuclear physics needed to be for us to achieve critical mass. It makes the moon landing appear rather less than spectacular...

Mr. Rhodes does a beautiful job of presenting the material: the history behind the theories, experiments, scientists and politics of achieving an explosion of this magnitude.

The survivors' descriptions of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs are by far the most horrifying things I've ever read.

If this book interests you, I highly recommend Mr. Rhodes' "Dark Sun" which takes a long, hard look at the most frightening of man's creations: the hydrogen bomb.

I must say, I have a new-found respect for our species' mental capacity.

Reads like a novel..., March 2, 2000
From the first paragraph (see below), it is obvious that this is an exceptional work. It reads like a novel, but goes deeper into the nature of reality than any novel can ever hope to. Read this book for the story and gain a first class education in physics, history, history of science and the politics of the past century. While I was reading this book, during my long nights operating the world's largest telescope, visiting astronomers would continuously pick up the book and begin reading... more than one went to the web and bought their own copies when I asked for mine back. This is as good as non-fiction gets.

"In London, where Southhampton Row passes Russell Square, across from the British Museum in Bloombury, Leo Szilard waited irritably one gray Depression morning for the stoplight to change. A trace of rain had fallen during the night; Tuesday, September 12, 1933, dawned cool, humid and dull. Drizzling rain would begin in early afternoon. When Slizard told the story later he never mentioned his destination that morning. He may have had none; he often walked to think. In any case another another destination intervened. The stoplight changed to green. Slizard stepped off the curb. As he crossed the street time craked open before him and he saw a way to the future, death into the world and all our woe, the shape of things to come." ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Highly recommended by ww2db.com, January 18, 2008
This book review is reproduced here on Amazon.com with explicit permission. The original URL is:

http://ww2db.com/read.php?read_id=76

The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told is a collection of 23 stories about the United States Marine Corps, each telling a tale of bravery and courage. They covered the span of the entire history of the USMC, and touched upon every major war the USMC engaged in from Tripoli to Iraq. Of course, there are plenty of World War II stories, they are why this review is here.

Some people simplify the Marines as a group of mindless trained killing machines. "Retreat? Hell, we just got here!" Famous quotes such as this one only reinforce that myth. This book presents otherwise. Throughout training and service, Marines were brought up with the history of the USMC, each taking heart stories of predecessors, and each striving to do better. Thus, in addition to being warriors, they are also historians. The understanding that they will always lead the way into the toughest battles does not make them simple killers; instead, it makes them effective decision makers and leaders.

This leads into yet another misconception of the USMC, one that the Marines wish for war. The truth is that they resent violence as much as anyone, for they are, beneath their uniforms, just like anyone else. The difference is that when the Marines are presented war, they will do their duty unquestioningly, and they will do their best. In journalist Robert Sherrod's chapter, "Tarawa-The First Day", he observed Marines shaking from fear as they waited their turn to storm the Tarawa beach; but yet, when a landing vehicle approached their boat, with the vehicle boss yelling "Quick! Half you men get in here. They need help bad on the beach", the same men who were just shaking from fear moments ago scrambled without hesitation. This theme echoes in nearly all of the stories in this book, connecting the seemingly independent chapters. Each story presents an otherwise ordinary American in the face of a challenge, and each story's main character or characters rise to meet that challenge as a Marine.

While the presentation of the Marines psyche is "great", what really gives the book the "greatest" claim is the fact that nearly all the stories are first hand accounts. Russell Davis told of the colorless landscape of Peleliu from his memory, while Eugene Sledge shared his experiences of the war-torn but yet still scenic Okinawa. The stories are "greatest" because they are personal. "History remembers the wounded men as numbers", Sledge wrote as he explained how the casualty statistics do not simply disappear at the end of the war. He spoke of his buddy whose wounds pained him for life, eventually leading to a hip replacement, and of another who lost his leg so that he needed help just to go to the bathroom. The personal manner that the stories are presented in truly makes them the "greatest" stories ever told.

"Each person's life, if truthfully told, would make a great story", said Ernest Hemingway; sure the 23 stories in this book are not exactly life stories, but perhaps they can collectively be considered the life story of the model Marine of the United States Marine Corps. If there is one great biography of this Marine, perhaps The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told is it.

Any who would read live-action, heart-stopping military stories needs The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told, December 4, 2007
Any who would read live-action, heart-stopping military stories needs The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told, an outstanding re-enactment of some of the greatest Marine battles in history. From the battles of the War of 1812 and struggles during the Mexican-American war to more modern times, these stories of sacrifice and courage come from a range of Marine eyewitness accounts and make for an outstanding, action-packed presentation of experience perfect not only for military holdings, but for general-interest libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Semper Fi, May 15, 2008
This book is a "MUST READ" for Marine Corps enthusiasts. It covers USMC history from Presley O'Bannon and the "Shores of Tripoli" to the "Halls of Montezuma" and up to Kuwait and Iraq. They are GREAT stories, well told, and well documented. A hearty recommendation.

Excellent Accounts of Marine Corps Valor, December 20, 2007
This is Iain Martin's third anthology of our country's military in action. I've read Iain's Army, Navy, and now Marine Corps "Greatest Stories Ever Told," and have found each to be very rewarding in historic first-person narratives. This is a great book for anyone interested in military history, and the Marine Corps in particular. You'll want all three titles.

Donald K. Allen, DVM
author, "Tarawa - the Aftermath"

The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told, November 1, 2010
The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told

This book was a very enjoyable read. Given fair warning in Colonel J.H. Alexander's introduction, I knew I wasn't going to get to read all the good Corps stories, but the ones presented were definitely worthwhile.

The twenty-three stories presented here span the entire history of the Marine Corps. To break them down, there are seven pre-20th Century, one from WWI, nine from WWII, one Korean War, four from Vietnam, one Desert Storm, and one from Iraqi Freedom.

The stories from the first 125 or so years do a very good job of laying the groundwork for an understanding of Marine pride, ethos, and courage. While Marines had served with valor during the American Revolution, it was Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon's expedition "to the shores of Tripoli" that provide one of the early highlights of Marine Corps history. This expedition against superior forces, with U.S. Navy support not only helped immensely in the campaign against the Barbary Pirates, but served to provide Marine officers forevermore with their Mameluke swords, a treasured sidearm even today. Not the only Marine officer to provide gallant service, Lieutenant J.M. Gamble more than lived up to the original requirements for Marines, that "none shall be a Marine that he not be a qualified seaman first," when the young lieutenant took command of a captured vessel, when there were not enough naval officers to take the command.

Three more stories provide glimpses of Marines in combat during the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. Sergeant John H. Quick rounds out the century with his courage under not only enemy fire, but friendly fire at the same time, as he uses semaphore signals warships offshore to cease their naval gunfire support.

Many books have been written about U.S. Marines in the First World War, but the presentation here of Marines and their officers in Belleau Wood shows the chaos, horror, confusion of the combat here.

Since the Marine Corps was at its peak strength during World War II, so it follows that the bulk of the "good" stories would come from this war. About a quarter of the book is covered by the exploits of Marines in the Pacific Campaign. Guadalcanal is covered with stories of an aviator and the Grunt. Tarawa, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, bloody hells all, are featured. Two oft overlooked area of the Corps are also covered: Women and Navajo code talkers. While only a fraction of the well-known names of this conflict are presented here, these stories highlight very important points in our Corps' history. So important are these battles that when I visited Iwo Jima with E/2/2 twenty years ago, there was an unusual sense of quiet reverence in our troop berthing area.

A report by Ernie Pyle rounds out the WWII portion of the book with an interesting look at Marines. Pyle had spent most of the war with men of the U.S. Army in Africa and Europe. When he moved to the Pacific and spent time with the Marines, his expectations and the reality he met are interesting to read of. Although the Army and the Marines drew their recruits from the same basic manpower pools, and though there were similaries in their technical and tactical training, Pyle was well-placed to see that there were indeed differences between the two. His observations from his unique perspective are of value to all who would study the Corps.

A story from the Frozen Chosin provides a seque into the Corps in the Cold War era. This deadly fight illustrates two very important points in the attitude of Marines. When the Marines determined they were surrounded, the feeling was that they had the enemy right where they wanted them. On the other hand, the care and effort put into recovering their dead and wounded during the withdrawal from the Reservoir clearly shows how important it is to Marines to look after each other, either alive or dead. This concept is revisited in Hue City when more men die in the performance of what they consider their personal duty to their fellow Marines.

The battle in Hue City is one of four vignettes presented from the Vietnam era, as Marines struggle to move through that ancient city. The siege of Khe Sanh, another hallowed moment in Marine Corps history is also explored. Unlike WWII, where the American public `knew' so many Marines, there didn't seem to be as many men who the public was aware of during this war. Carlos Hathcock was one of them, a sniper extraordinaire, and some of the reasons for this are brought out as he stalks his quarry in this story.

It is indeed a shame that there are only two stories from the latter part of the 20th Century in this book, where the capture of Kuwait City and combat in Baghdad are presented. It is of course not Mr. Hamilton's fault. It is certainly not that today's Marines fight with any less courage or elan than their forefathers did. The Marines who fought against Saddam's forces to free Kuwait, or who fight even as I write this in Iraq (along side my youngest brother in the Army) and in the hills of Afghanistan instead suffer from the politicizing of their wars. The media no longer presents today's version of the old newsreels to a caring public that follows "their" Leathernecks and Dogfaces around the world. Today, political disdain and public apathy relegate these brave men and women to a level of unimportance that they do not deserve. Their exploits go unrecognized save but by a few. I find myself hoping that Mr. Hamilton continues what he has started here, and includes more of the modern stories, so that more people can learn about Marines, and possibly figure out what it is that makes us tick the way that we do.

Is it worth reading? Most assuredly! Should one have any interest in military history, or the Marine Corps in particular, then this book will be most enlightening.

T.L. Houlihan
SSGT, USMC (ret.)

Got me Interested in reading the rest of the books, March 26, 2010
Even though the stories were a bit short, I liked this book. It made me read the rest of the stories. I recommend this book.

USMC Stories, June 12, 2009
While I have not yet finished reading this book,I have found it to contain very interesting stories. Aside from the Marine Corps aspect, the basic historical areas are worthwhile.

Greatest Marine Corps Stories ever told., March 11, 2008
Enjoyed reading about the history of unforgettable stories of courage, honor and sacrifices by Marines since the beginning of the Corps.

Stories don't really deliver--not the "greatest", June 20, 2010
Seekers of military lore will get a few rewarding tales here, but on the whole, the reportage is common and sometimes banal recollections of battle. There is not a single map.

Also disconcerting is the very poor editing by the publishers--bordering on sloppy--resulting in many typos and obvious misspellings.

You'll finish this book, but it doesn't live up to the promise of its title.

John Eberhart, Houston

Great book!, February 6, 2009
If you liked this book, I strongly recommend "Once a Marine" by Nick Popaditch. You can see more here: www.onceamarine.com. Make sure and watch the trailers and his interviews including a recent one that was on Red Eye.
Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery ... Read more

Editorial Review

"A fluent, intelligent history...give[s]the reader a feel for the human quirks and harsh demands of life at sea."—New York Times BookReviewBefore the ink was dry on the U.S. Constitution,the establishment of a permanent military became the most divisive issue facing the newgovernment. The founders—particularly Jefferson, Madison, and Adams—debated fiercely. Would astanding army be the thin end of dictatorship?Would a navy protect from pirates or drain thetreasury and provoke hostility? Britain alonehad hundreds of powerful warships.

From the decision to build six heavyfrigates, through the cliff-hanger campaignagainst Tripoli, to the war that shook the world in 1812, Ian W. Toll tells this grand tale withthe political insight of FoundingBrothers and the narrative flair of Patrick O'Brian. ... Read more

Reviews

Richly Detailed Look at early American Naval History, October 9, 2006
Few eras of American history are more misunderstood than the naval history of early America after the Revolutionary War. Former financial analyst and political aide Ian Toll sheds new light on this era in his richly detailed and comprehensive first book, Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy. The saga of the original six frigates, the Constitution, Constellation, Congress, President, United States, and the Chesapeake, is one of naval necessity, partisan politics, and the ungainly steps of a young country attempting to defend and assert itself in a dangerous world.

A common misconception in American history is that the original six frigates were begun during the Revolution. As Toll describes in excellent detail, it was in fact under the presidencies of George Washington and John Adams that the decision to form a standing navy was made. With America's merchant fleet under predation from North African pirates, French privateers, and British warships, ships to protect and fly the flag were necessary. An already contentious and partisan Congress argued endlessly over the formation of a American navy to deal with the problem, and finally the Naval Act of 1794 approved funding for the construction of six ships: four 44-gun and two 36-gun frigates. Designed by Joshua Humphreys, the ships were to be the strongest and most effective frigates afloat, a tough job in a world where the Royal Navy dominated. The frigates would play key roles in the quasi-war with France, the Barbary wars, and the War of 1812, and Toll chronicles the personalities, the politics, and the world situation that shaped both the ships and the campaigns in which they took part.

What these ships are best known for, and what is most familiar with the laymen are the battles. Toll describes every major ship-to-ship engagement fought by the original six with a vividness rarely seen in naval histories, rich enough to hear the thunder of the guns and smell the cordite from the gunpowder. The major actions described are: Constellation v. L'Insurgente, Constellation v. La Vengeance, United States v. Macedonian, Constitution v. Guerriere, Constitution v. Java, Shannon v. Chesapeake, and President v. Endymion. Also well addressed are the actions against the Barbary states, including a well-written chapter on the loss of the subscription frigate Philadelphia, and the daring exploits of Stephen Decatur to destroy the captured frigate. The major naval figures of the era like Truxton, Bainbridge, Hull, Decatur, Rodgers, and Barron are all examined by Toll with an observer's eye that fleshes out the caricatures as most histories portray them into real life men.

The end of the War of 1812 saw the launch of the first American ships-of-the-line, but it was the frigate navy that paved the way. Toll's book is an important addition that clears the mythology away from the early US Navy and incorporates all the naval, economic, political, and social elements that contributed to its founding and formation. Toll occasionally strays out of his lane, and the postscript loses a bit of focus delving into the post Civil War navy, but as a whole, this is an excellent book that will satisfy naval buffs and students of history alike. Toll's elegant and rich writing and exhaustive research marks him as an author to watch, and I eagerly await his next work. The original six frigates played a large part in the prestige of early America. Their successes, and their failures, demonstrated that the young United States was a blossoming world power worthy of respect and regard. Highly Recommended.


A.G. Corwin
St.Louis, MO

A Much-Needed History, October 18, 2006
Ever since reading Patrick O'Brian's depiction of the battle between the USS Constitution and the HMS Java in "The Fortune of War," I've wanted to learn more about the United States's own naval history from that period. Surprisingly, though, I was unable to find many published works on the subject. Finally, Toll's "Six Frigates" has arrived, and it's exactly the sort of book I was looking for.

"Six Frigates" is a comprehensive look at the founding of the American Navy, from the years shortly after the Revolutionary War. While the young nation had won its independence, the rest of the world still thought of it as a target ripe for exploitation, and the United States soon found its vulnerable merchant fleet being preyed upon, not only by the Great Powers of Europe, but even the small, piratical nations of the Barbary Coast.

The obvious solution would seem to be the creation of an armed navy, but a surprising revelation of Toll's book is just how much opposition to the idea existed amongst the country's early leadership. Fans of David McCullough's "John Adams" and "1776" will be pleased by the appearance of figures like Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, but here Toll focuses more on their political actions and philosophies than their personalities or character. The arguments over whether creating a navy only served the interests of war profiteers, or whether having one placed too much power in the central government, or might cause the government's bankruptcy, provides a fascinating perspective on the differences between the early Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans.

Grudgingly, and in fits and starts, the federal government allowed for the creation of the book's eponymous six frigates. Toll gives credit to Joshua Humphreys, a Quaker who had never before designed a military vessel, for creating a new class of warships that would be more heavily armed than conventional frigates, but lighter and faster than ships of the line, a choice that would prove to be of immense value in later years, when the small American fleet found itself in conflict with the supreme might of the British Royal Navy.

Initially, however, the U.S. Navy's performance was at best uneven. Toll describes the early U.S. conflicts in the Quasi-War against France and in the wars against Barbary pirates, and his accounts of the various ship battles are the best feature of this work. Those who love Patrick O'Brian will be thrilled by the true life exploits recounted here, and Toll spares none of the details. America's early captains and commodores are presented as the book's most colorful characters--variously incompetent, unlucky, hot-headed, or charismatic--and their victories and defeats alternately were the source of great pride and humiliation for their nation.

With the outbreak of war against Great Britain in 1812, the "little navy" finally came into its own, by defeating the Royal Navy in several ship-to-ship battles--and again, Toll's descriptions of the numerous actions are superb. Coming at a time when His Majesty's ships were thought to be unbeatable, especially by the British, these victories finally proved the worth of maintaining a standing navy to the Jefffersonian Republicans; even more importantly, they played a vital role in forcing the other nations of the world to realize that America was a power that had to be respected.

While Toll is a first-time writer, the book is very well-written. So well-written, in fact, that coming across the occasional obvious typo causes mild irritation--hopefully future editions will correct these. There are color plates interspersed throughout the book that help convey the flavor of the time period, and Toll also includes a chronology of events after 1815 that probably wasn't necessary. The bibliography and index sections appear extensive.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable and entertaining history. I recommend it highly.

History Come Alive, November 19, 2006
I'm a military officer, but, I must admit, I didn't know much about the War of 1812. Having been stationed at Plattsburgh AFB, I knew of the Battle of Plattsburgh, but not its significance. As it turns out, Mr. Toll's very readable book fills in many gaps in my knowledge, such as this one. It's a great rendition of the very real people and grand events surrounding the founding of our nation, with the infant US Navy presenting the backdrop and the storyline. And, it reads like a novel - so much so, in fact, it is one of those rare books that, once started, becomes difficult to put down.

The jacket cover of this book indicates Mr. Toll was a financial analyst by trade. I hope he's given up that mundane calling, and dedicates himself to writing more exciting stories like this one. I very much look forward to his next effort.

The Origins of the US Navy, April 26, 2007
Six Frigates is a great read for anyone interested in naval history during the age of sail. Ian Toll does a very good job of detailing the political background and historical circumstances that led to the creation of the US Navy shortly after America's struggle to achieve sovereignty. I found the political landscape particularly interesting, as the infighting between nascent political parties ranged from agriculture to commerce, and how this affected the naval policy (and whether there even should BE a navy at all!).

It was very interesting to see how bureaucratic problems and commercial interests affected national policy. At time it is easy to lament about our nation's current standing with regards to these topics, however, Six Frigates gives an interesting perspective on how the past is not nearly as pristine and rosy as we'd like to imagine.

The chapters detailing specific naval military engagements are well written and I was never confused about the ships' relationship to each other throughout the battles. They are also as exciting as they are interesting. As I read this book shortly after returning from Iraq and spending the summer of 2006 driving around Baghdad concerned with the prospect of a molten copper disks being blasted through me and thinking "this is such a dirty war", I was again checked in my views on the past while reading about sailors who dealt with mind-boggling quantities of iron balls being blasted through their wooden ships. Another very interesting chapter dealt with a blockaded American port sending out mined boats in an attempt to destroy the vastly superior British naval force in what immediately brought my mind back to the game of cat/mouse with IEDs in Iraq. I guess one of the lessons I took away was: the past is not a pristine utopia & war has never been clean.

All these personal reflections aside, the history is well researched and documented, and will definitely keep your interest throughout. My one critique is that Toll neglects some of the land campaigns that continued in the Barbary States following the Navy's creation; although this is out of the scope of his history (and not just my Army bias), they seem so connected to the events that their inclusion would have made a great read into an excellent one.

Well crafted,5 stars highly recommended, October 3, 2006
I am only halfway through this well researched and comprehensive work by Ian Toll and I very much looking forward to his next offering. This book is not simply the tale of the origins of the US Navy, although it most certainly thoroughly accomplishes that. Mr Toll succeeds masterfully at painting a picture of this time without over-burdening the reader with excessive or unneccessary detail, as some historic military related pieces can. Snippets of remembrances, stories from Jefferson, Adams, wives, the various captains, crew members, and common folk alike, many rarely used by other historians, bring color and depth to this thoughtful and well crafted work.
There are many unmistakable parallels to be drawn between the political infighting of these early years and later events including the Civil War and on up to today. Highly recommended.
Anyone with an abiding appreciation for good story telling, history, biography or politics will find it all right here.

Five Stars - Five Hurrahs for Six Frigates, January 3, 2007
In Six Frigates, Ian Toll captures both the grand design and small nuances of America's evolution toward a naval power. I enthusiastically recommend this book as a superb distillation of a period of history frequently given modest attention.

Well researched, exquisitely written, Toll engages attention from the first and comfortably navigates the reader through the philosphical, political, economic, technological and military convolutions that were the seed of the U.S. Navy. Toll chronicles key naval actions of the Quasi War, Barbary Coast, and War of 1812. But "conflict" is not reserved to "Old Ironsides" or her sisters. Toll sets the miltary stage with a thorough and insightful examination of the political and economic ebb and flow of the time, and how "civilian" matters shaped action at sea. Toll examines the political debate (Federalist v. Republican) on the notion of whether or not to establish a permanent navy and, if so, how it should be best funded and managed. Toll is also careful to juxtaposition the personalities, strategies and actions of the foreign powers of the time, Great Britain and France.

The book includes enlightening biographies of key political players and their opinions. For example, Toll puzzles over Jefferson's contradictions, writing, "...it is hardly surprising to find that Jefferson's words and deeds on the subject of seapower are dissonant. While serving as minister to France in the 1780s, [Jefferson] had argued in favor of building frigates to patrol the Mediterranean... Fifteen years later, campaigning for president at the head of the fiercely anti-navalist Republican Party, he declared himself in favor of 'such a naval force only as may protect our coasts and harbors'..." (Page 162). Toll is deft discussing conflicting design theories including Joshua Humphrey's unorthodox specifications for the title ships. While giving technical highlights, overbearing detail is avoided. He also gives balanced treatment to key naval leaders in the context of personal deportment, personnel and logistical management, and combat ability. Tangents on dueling to settle matters of honor, the chivalrous correspondence between British and American captains, the yellow fever epidemic of 1797, or how Quercus virens (southern live oak) was harvested and turned into ships adds flavor, color and context to the main theme.

Divided into three parts, each roughly 150 pages, I read Six Frigates in three days. The Notes and Bibliography are thorough and professionally rendered. My complaints are three. Numerous spelling errors are a surprising and consistent annoynance. Next is nomenclature. Toll's position (set forth early on) leaves the layman reaching for a dictionary to translate nautical terms. (What is a xebeck, polacre and felucca? One can guess yet remain uncertain about sailors "worming, serving, splicing, hitching, bending, grafting, seizing and parceling" hemp cordage. And understanding maneuvers requires a mix of insight, intuition, extrapolation from context and outright guesswork... close reefs, bent the mizzen, close-reefed fore topsail, hauling her wind, dead to windward, swayed up her topgallant, unbent her cables.) Here margin cut-outs, footnotes or a glossary would have ensured clarity while keeping the length managable.

Finally, and most egregiously, is the scarcity of maps. Toll provides two charts in the bookplates following pages 143 and 304. While artistically pleasing and interesting, they are period sketches woefully inadequate to placing the reader into the action or to better understand the politics, military strategy and troop and ship movements. A general ship's diagram (e.g., in cross section) would have also been valuable.

While perhaps a 4-star in some areas of execution, the subject matter, insight and readability easily warrant FIVE STARS and my endorsement.

Another Shovel of Praise for the Pile, June 25, 2007
I admit to a bit a skepticism when I read the author's biography on the bookcover. A Wall Street guy with some political stuff on his resume is going to write an "epic history of the founding of the U.S. Navy"? This is going to be good. I was wrong...this was REALLY good. "Six Frigates" is this guy's FIRST book? This has to be the literary equivalent of someone hitting a grand-slam in their first major league at-bat. His narrative, spanning just over two decades of the Republic's earliest years, culminates with the War of 1812. Toll leaves the reader with a clear understanding of the political rivalries, economic challenges, and the very significant external and internal threats to the nation's survival that existed at the time. Anyone who pays attention to current events will see some intriguing parallels. The contemporary pundits and politicians who blather about how our nation has never been so divided need to sit down with this for a few hours. Our navy now enjoys a similar position to the British at that time. However, it may not be very long before some upstart naval power challenges U.S. control of the seas...at least regionally. The Royal Navy wasn't in the habit of losing to anyone and neither is today's U.S. Navy. One can only imagine the shock onboard HMS GUERRIERE as it was being blown apart by USS CONSTITUTION, a ship to which the Royal Navy had no direct equivalent. The loss was but a pinprick to the Royal Navy's line-of-battle, but the repeated success of these first purpose-built warships along with the privateers put a big dent in the aura of invincibility that surrounded the Royal Navy and all but destroyed British commercial shipping. Although controversial and unpopular while it was fought, the second war with Great Britain produced long-term world-wide respect for U.S. sovereignty. Ian Toll's command of his subject is impressive, and his personal experience with sailing vessels provides him a critical skill; he obviously understands how these ships worked and is able to describe the battle in a way that, at times, not even O'Brian can match.

Reading this book at sea..., October 14, 2006
I read "Six Frigates" sailing south down the coast of Australia from Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday group.

Keen to dodge a storm, we did a 48 hour dash down to the safety of Yepoon running a 3 hours on/3 hours off watch cycle. Problem was I didnt get any sleep. I was too deep inside Six Frigates. Back on deck, I'd update my watch on what I'd just read. They loved it. Sailing by instalments.

Ian Toll's a wonderful writer. The man is a time machine. He drops you right into the middle of the smoke-filled, blood splattered action. Patrick O'Brian fans: this is the book for you.

Toll is also a deft hand at dropping insights that get you thinking. Like the half-parargraph mention of Madison writing to Thomas Jefferson agreeing that a war with the arab states of north africa could easily be won, and in the process stop the attacks on US merchant ships -but advises Jefferson against this course as the real issue will be the cost of then keeping the peace... Perhaps George W should have a read a little more history at college.

You'll taste the sweat and blood and salt on every page. Best read I've had in ages. And my shipmates agree!

cheers
Andrew Maloney
Aboard Sonnet

History, with Lots of Seafaring Excitement, June 5, 2008
America has had a navy since the American Revolution. General Washington's Continental Army prevailed in that conflict. Ian W. Toll writes that in contrast, "The Continental Navy, with few exceptions, was a wasteful and humiliating fiasco." Only a few decades later, however, by the War of 1812, the United States Navy was a formidable and respected force. Toll has masterfully presented the history of those decades in _Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy_ (Norton). This is Toll's first book; he is a former financial analyst and political speechwriter, but it is big, authoritative, and often exciting. It nicely ties the inchoate navy to the political philosophy of the new nation, and to the world events which compelled America, often reluctantly, to take to the seas in warships. Despite its size, annotations, and enormous bibliography, because of its concentration on personalities and action, Toll's book is less the dry history of the naval theorist than it is the thrilling nautical tales from Patrick O'Brian. (In fact, in compliment to that accomplished storyteller, Toll has incorporated a page of the Jack Aubrey novel _The Fortune of War_ into his account of the 1812 battle between the frigates _Constitution_ and _Java_.)

The colonists had always been enthusiastic about making their fortunes from the sea or commerce upon it, but after the Revolution, they had almost nothing that could be called a navy. They also did not have the Royal Navy to protect their merchantmen. So when American merchant vessels come into the Mediterranean, they were at risk from the pirates of the Barbary states, but when the nation started seriously considering a navy, there was no naval tradition to go by and there were no easy or predictable answers; many argued against having a navy altogether. The continuing capture of vessels by the pirates, however, caused President Washington in 1794 to sign into law the purchase of six innovative warships. Jefferson was the first to deploy the navy into war, against the pirates. The expedition was the first of many victories for the _Constitution_ and the beginning of the reasons that the world needed to take notice of the new nation as a naval and international power. The second great conflict covered here is the War of 1812, fought against the huge and powerful British Navy over its confiscation of American merchant shipping, and its impressment of American sailors into British service. The commanders of the U.S. vessels were too brash to accept the aura of invincibility that the Royal Navy had as its due, and in three single ship duels, the sort of thing at which the British were champions, the Americans got clear victories. The war changed the way the world thought about the United States and how it thought about itself. Churchill wrote that there remained anti-American sentiment in England for several years, "... but the United States was never again refused proper treatment as an independent power." It was only after the war of 1812, Toll reminds us, that Americans started speaking of the United States in the singular rather than in the plural.

Toll is exceptional at showing how human personalities and foibles made a difference in peculiar ways. The first British ambassador to the United States reported in 1803 with disgust that he, while wearing full diplomatic regalia, was received by President Jefferson "standing in slippers down at the heels ... in a state of negligence actually studied." The diplomatic acrimony over this and other slights only ended when war wiped them out. Toll asks, "Could a pair of slippers come between nations?" There are many pages devoted to superstitions. Whatever comfort against fate the superstitions might have given sailors, plenty were positively unhealthy, like the belief that bathing was dangerous because it might wash away your good luck, or that tattoos were protection against venereal disease. Even more surprising are the sections on dueling, which remained popular among hotheaded young American officers long after it was abandoned in other quarters. "The junior naval officer, done up in his high standing collar and gold lace, was as testy and vain as a fighting gamecock," Toll writes, and if a war was not handy, he was eager to show his honor in front of the pistol of a fellow officer. "Not surprisingly, the frequency of dueling appears to have been inversely related to the frequency of naval combat." Any excuse might do; one midshipman took offense when another entered the wardroom with his hat on, and challenged him. Toll even pays a historian's compliment to Teddy Roosevelt, who wrote _The Naval War of 1812_ during his off hours from college and law school; the work on the book gave Roosevelt lessons used "... in the course of his remarkable career as an American statesman and a devoted imperialist." One page after another in this fine history yields curious facts, thrilling scenes of battle, and grim depictions of battle's toll.

Definitive, January 14, 2007
Mr Toll's book closes a lot of gaps in the early history of the United States. In addition to his coverage of the US Navy in its infancy, Six Frigates goes a long way in explaining the underlying roots of the US economy and its foreign policy. I would not say revisonist is quite the treatment of the Adams' presidency, rather, Toll has taken an objective look at Adams, as well as Jefferson and Madison, without the subjective and trite explanations of the presidency's of each.
The economic look is interesting as well. Prior naval histories may speak about the projection of power; Toll is as much concerned with what the US can do with that power. For example, what was the cost of having the Mediterranean closed by the Barbary States, what was the impact of privateers to English shipping?
Well done. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Foreword by Timothy J. Mullin, of ''Unintended Consequences.''

Since the 2002 edition, over 200 pages of various revisions have been included during the annual reprintings. Amazon carries the latest 2009-on printings which include Boston's several page analysis of the Heller decision. (This is not some completely new edition, as some reviewers have incorrectly inferred. Three-fourths of the book remain the original text of 2002. The other fourth are revised pages from 2003-2009.)

While Boston recognizes that gun/gear prices have changed, and that a few new worthy products have emerged, he does not feel that the title yet deserves a completely revamped edition. Good basics never change, and BGB is pretty thorough about those. ... Read more

Reviews

A tome distilled from several dozen tomes, January 4, 2003
If you are involved in an aspect of arms ownership that is not completely relegated to target/hunting matters, then this is the book to give that person. One problem with defensive/offensive arms and their handling, is that the entire industry of munitions as available to the U.S. civilian is made of junk, useless junk, non functioning junk, and the occassional gem. While Boston may be able to tell you in one sentence why rifle XXX is way inferior ro rifle YYY, but in this book, first and foremost, he explains WHY one is inferior. Then the 'why' is placed in the context of the legal availability of certain weapons. And from that is distilled the cream. the cream being the best available to the civilian under current regulations. If these implements are going to be such that 'you would bet your life on them' only the cream will do. You get a little 'combat rifle history' which will make you understand the importance of proper control placement, and why a rifle was designed a certain way. While the book will not nail on the head the only things you should buy, what the book will do is allow you to eliminate 90% of what is not feasible and otherwise junk. The T&E of weaponry takes up the largest part of the book. There is also a large section concering handguns and handgun ammo. I thought rifle ammo was neglected. ALso the statement that 'SS109 5.56 is a major improvement over 55 graim ball' is now proven to be wrong by its performance in Afghanistan. You then have a section on sniper rifle choice. OUt of 300 available calibers you are honed down to perhaps 10. An artcile on .50 cals. .50 Cal ammo. Night vision, I actually learned the difference between various Gen. devices. Scopes. Really every conceivable piece of fighting gear is touched upon. That is why if you read this book, you will eliminate 90% of whats out there from your vision. There are philosophical sections on the warrior mentality, philosophy, shooting, these make entertaining reading. In all, there is no book like this, and it is worth every penny but it is not the end of knowledge, it is the beginning. In other words, even though you may have narrowed your search for a tactical scope down to 10 models, you must then fill in the rest of the picture about the 10 and how they work and then train, train, and train some more.

I do have one caveat. The author is obviously and tremendously trained in almost all aspects of martial arts. Yes, shooting is a martial art too. However, to my knowlegde, and Boston makes no reference to it in anything I have read by him, that he has taken down an oppenent with karate, knife, etc., or had someone in his custody and 'under his gun', much less shot anyone or been shot at. Its not like I have either, but if Boston has one weakness, it is this. No practical combat experience. You might want to balance his book with other material by bona fide veterans, etc.

The Ultimate Book for Firearms Owners - Monumental!, January 14, 2003
Boston's Gun Bible stands alone as the very best all-around reference for firearms owners. Not only does it cover practical rifles, pistols, and shotguns in detail, but it has a wealth of valuable information on related subjects such as optics, practical carry, training, legal issues, and legislative issues. The new expanded and updated edition (with 200 extra pages) is fantastic!

This weighty tome is an absolute MUST for all gun owners. At $28 it isn't cheap, but as I stated before in reviewing the previous edition, it is worth every penny.

Boston's observations and conclusions about guns are precisely researched, scientific, and relatively dispassionate. Unlike many other writers in the firearms field, Boston has consistently shown that he is willing to change his mind when presented with logical evidence.

This is a book that may very well save the life of yourself or a loved one. It is also a highly influential book that may contribute in the long run to the restoration of our Constitutional Republic and freedom around the world. Boston's Gun Bible doesn't just whine about the decline of our God-given Constitutional liberties. Rather, it shows practical solutions that individual Citizens can and must take to insure the liberty of future generations. It is nothing short of a monumental work of non-fiction!

Don't just buy one copy. Buy two! You will soon find that you'll need an extra copy to lend out to family members and friends.

OBTW, if you already have the older edition, then I strongly suggest that you buy the new expanded and updated edition. This valuable new information is well worth the investment.

As a published fiction writer, I stand in awe of this important piece of non-fiction. It deserves a place of honor on the bookshelf of every freedom-loving Citizen.

Semper Paratus,>Author of the pro-gun novel "Patriots:Surviving the Coming Collapse."

Inspiring careful reflection and considered action, December 26, 2002
Boston's Gun Bible, written by Kenneth W. Royce, is scholarly and philosophical, as well as passionate, political and technical. It is no accident that Mr. Royce cites the ultra-science fiction/political satire, Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, as "one of the five best novels I have ever read". Like Stephenson's book (Stephenson is postmodern Melville) Royce's "Bible" is a collage, a pastiche, a rich simmering brew of humor, ideas, opinions, cant, rant and instruction.

Given the book's patchwork style, I think it best to review it according to themes. There are three I will consider: 1. Technical Aspects of Firearms; 2. Philosophy of Firearms;
3. Politics. Other themes which are thoughtfully developed in the 848 page book are on the laws governing gun use, women and guns, self-defense, tactics and training, combat rifle history and how to become a rifleman.

The Technical discussion is one of the strongest sections. I came to this book as a complete newbie as far as firearms are concerned. But the technical part of the book rewards careful reading. It is a complete and meticulously considered course on firearms - how to buy them, how to evaluate them, how they work, how to keep them working, etc. Of the 46 chapters in the book 22 are devoted to this one topic. In his sections evaluating various rifles and pistols, Mr. Royce, using a system he devised, rates dozens of rifles and pistols. His system employs "63 criteria...to rate the controls, features and specifications of combat rifles." And while it is true his full system is deployed only against rifles, the system itself is an extremely useful tool for evaluating any firearm, and also comparing firearms among themselves within distinct classes

The Philosophical aspect of the book is as difficult and convoluted as the Technical part is straightforward. On the one hand, this is in the nature of philosophy. On the other, the difficulty has to do with the purpose and meaning of guns in human culture. This topic has no Socrates (unless it is Nietzsche), and Mr. Royce in this book provides what is only a rudimentary outline. (In his other books, none of which I have read, he may articulate more fully his philosophical arguments.) Mr. Royce's view of human society is that it consists of a very large number of sheep-like beings, who are preyed upon by a few rapacious predators and/or bad governments. He seeks to lay out a third position: "those who refuse to be either", and offers as an example, "an armed libertarian".

The core values of the Third Way are the values of the Warrior, and in any number of ways, Mr. Royce drapes the term Warrior in the full regalia of an ancient and venerable tradition. By denying the Warrior as predator (Mr. Royce's Warrior is no berserker, no pirate, no storm trooper and no imperialist) he evokes a sterner, more finely tempered kind of life, where honor, personal responsibility and concern for others hold pride of place. Human life is intrinsically a life of struggle, and in Mr. Royce's view, a person can accept the reality of this and learn to fight, or he can flee this responsibility, outright by becoming prey, or indirectly by delegating his role to other "protectors". Unfortunately, as any reading of history will attest, the protectors all too often themselves become the predators. Only the Warrior, living a value imbued life that explicitly eschews violent domination of others, can move beyond the predator/prey cycle. The state for which the Warrior strives is that of liberty, and the life of liberty in human societies is moved by four forces, symbolized as the soap box (discussion), the ballot box (formulation), the jury box (interpretation) and the cartridge box (decisive action). In the real world, the first three do not exist in a substantive way without the fourth. And for that reason, firearms - "liberty's teeth"-are the necessary though not sufficient conditions to resist servitude.

The Political themes of this book are the most passionate, and the least organized, of all.
Royce very rightly champions the second amendment as not only the safeguard of the right of each individual to keep firearms but the major bulwark against evil doers and tyrannous governments. Scattered throughout the book are many statistics concerning the relationship between gun ownership and crime. Just in case you are wondering, when a society is armed, there is less crime. Any society which disarms its citizens AND maintains a low rate of crime, does so only by sacrificing many of what we still regard as fundamental human rights (i.e. Japan).

With respect to tyrannical governments, Mr. Royce's arguments are not convincing, at least to me. Certainly, he does have history on his side. "Death by government" was a central motif of the twentieth century, and many previous centuries as well. People would do well to be wary of governments. They would do well to be prepared to take action against tyrannous governments. The question is, Do Americans now face such tyranny? Has the time come to step off the soap box, batten down the ballot box, burn the jury box and open the cartridge box? Mr. Royce is convinced that such a time is imminent, but his arguments in this direction are flimsy. The Political side of the book does not answer to the Philosophical side.

This is a strong book, which I recommend most highly for anyone who is interested in firearms, and who wishes to learn more about any of the themes I have outlined. Owning and using guns is a method which, in mature use, inspires careful reflection, as well as considered action.

Absolutely Essential, March 21, 2007
I bought this book thinking it would merely be a handy reference on firearms, so I was utterly floored by its unexpected intensity and passion. Rather than just giving you the "how", it serves up a healthy dose of the "why" as well. This deeply American book should be required reading for everyone. The writing is lucid and honest, at times funny, and the lessons are indisputable. The citizen disarmament advocates use hype and emotion to further their cause. BTP's Gun Bible meticulously dismantles their rhetoric with facts and reason. I challenge "gun control" advocates to read this book and walk away with your convictions intact.

Invaluable Reference for both the Novice and Experienced Shooter, April 15, 2006
I purchased this book soon after reading the author's first work of fiction, Molon Labe, and I couldn't be more happy with the purchase. Given all the gun media out there that competes for your reading dollar, this is about the best $20 i've spent in some time. Gun Magazines all make their livelihoods selling advertising to gun manufacturers and thus, their reviews tend to sugar-coat flaws. Not so with Boston! His evaluations are unbiased and cut like a razor. Had I bought this book before I purchased my $1400 Armalite AR-10A4 that jams at least a round or two per mag regardless of the ammo/mag, I would have saved a good deal of money and bought a FAL or M1A to start with. The book lives up to its title in that it is a compendium of hands-on researched and empirically analyzed information about firearms for all purposes, with an emphasis on home defense and defense of Liberty in general. I have read and reread the book so many times in the last 4 months that I expect I'll need to replace it soon. The poor thing is starting to fall apart; it's that solid of a reference.

Other reviewers have gone in depth to explain the contents of the books so I will not duplicate their work. However, I find it helpful to mention the three sections that have been the most useful to my interests. I was interested in purchasing a full power battle rifle (308) to replace my jamming AR-10 but given the costs involved, Boston's complete evalations of all the major battle rifles (AR-10, FAL, HK91, M1, M1A, AR-15, Steyr AUG, AK-47, AK-74) were invaluable in helping me to select a DSA Para FAL that fills my needs and goes bang every time I pull the trigger. The second area that was very useful for me was the surplus ammunition evaluation. Nowhere else have I found a solid accuracy evaluation of various types of available surplus ammuntion for 308, 223, and 50 BMG surplus projectiles. Given a battle rifle's appetite for ammunition and Boston's maxim "Ammunition turns money into skill", information ranking the accuracy of surplus ammo in various rifles alone justifies the cost of this volume. Lastly, a section of the book has a solid evaluation of the items needed and costs of getting into 50 BMG target rifle shooting. Boston provides a full evaluation of what is required (rangefinders, ammo, reloading, optics) as well as ranking rifle models previously unheard of by me and most "gun-guys". While the book definitely doesn't discourage one from purchasing a 50 BMG rifle, the text is definitely an eye-opener that these behemoths aren't for everyone, especially those without a well-rooted money tree.

Overall, Boston's Gun Bible is a very solid book (and an exceptional value) for both the novice interested in purchasing their first defensive handgun or hunting rifle to the experienced enthusiast looking to thoughtfully fill up their gun safe. Should you buy it outside Amazon, be sure to get the current edition which has been updated since the 1994 "Krime Bill" expired. The version offered here on Amazon.com as a New Book is the updated edition.

good & helpful, but flawed, December 13, 2007
I was very excited to read this book. Based on the reviews, I knew that I shared most of the author's leanings on both politics and rifles.

On the plus side, Boston's Gun Bible contains tons of great information that can't be found in any other single volume that I've come across so far. When it comes to gear, this guy really knows his stuff. For that reason alone, I think it's a worthwhile book for any proud `gun nut' (like me); I don't regret the purchase and I intend on keeping the book.

That said, the book does suffer from some flaws in three areas that kept it from being as pleasurable of a read as I expected. The net result is that one has to wade through a fair amount of unfocused venting in order to glean the worthwhile information that the book does in fact contain. The flaws in question are haphazard organization, historical errors of fact and analysis*, and writing quality that I can best describe as C-.

Since it looks like all three of these problem areas have been addressed by previous reviews, I'm only going to discuss the one that I found most distracting: the author's lackluster writing skills. Perhaps I'm being abnormally picky here, but still, I think Jeff Cooper for one would agree with me on the value of good, technically correct, clear prose.

There are the usual suspects - bad grammar and typos - throughout; I often wondered whether a competent editor had ever looked at Mr. Party's manuscript. In addition, some of the author's New-Speak-like jargon seems clever at first, but rapidly gets annoying after a couple dozen pages.

By far the most annoying thing, though, is (as a prior reviewer noted) Mr. Party's constant changes in fonts, especially his ridiculous overuse of italics. When you only occasionally use italics, their intended effect - emphasis of a crucial word or phrase - comes across clearly, and everybody is happy. However, when you use italics too much, as I believe Mr. Party does, it eventually stops having the desired effect, and instead creates the effect in the reader's head that the author suffers from some kind of voice-modulation disorder. I found it very distracting.

One can only imagine how much better this book might have been if Mr. Party had also, in between all the firearms classes he's attended, taken the time to attend a writing seminar or two.

*One historical problem I can't resist mentioning: Mr. Party essentially doubles the actual number of Soviet KIA from the Afghan War; moreover, he wrongly attributes these & the resultant Soviet defeat there primarily to the Afghans' skill with the 303 British bolt rifle. In reality, the Afghans were losing the war until American aid arrived in the form of better weapons (more modern rifles, heavy machineguns and artillery, mines, and, most crucially, the Stinger missile which neutralized the Hind gunship threat.)

Thick enough to stop a bullet, February 9, 2009
Well, probably a .25 or .22.

Where to start? OK...This book has both quality AND quantity. Great bang for the buck in these times of everything costing more, and books costing even more than that.

Boston's books all have a sense of urgency that would turn into ranting in many writers' hands. But this is avoided by Boston's keen sense of organization (both on the page and out in the world, he *is* the FSW founder), combined with pretty damn good proofreading, editing and page layout, especially compared with most small press fare.

And the man can *write*. While he obviously thinks a mile a second, he still manages to get it all down in a polished way.

Being that I am a recovering liberal who used to be afraid of guns, I found this book quite an eye opener. It's not just about guns, though the gun stuff is covered and then some. (If you just want books about guns, period, there are plenty of good gun books, Massad Ayoob has written many.)

Boston's Gun Bible is very short on shotgun info (though the line about "condo beehivers and drywall" was hilarious), and not too heavy on revolvers, but Boston likes rifles and semi-autos. This is probably the best rifle book extant. And Boston doesn't cover much on shotguns and revolvers because he "writes what he knows", and he knows what he loves. He loves rifles.

If you want a shotgun book, I recommend "Modern Shotgunning" by Dave Henderson. It's detailed and sweet. Sort of feels like a knowledgeable grandpa passing on his life experience with hunting. Boston's Gun Bible feels more like it's written by your crazy uncle, who it turns out isn't crazy after all. Maybe the crazy uncle is really the only sane guy in the family, because he really understands how the world really works.

Reading this book is a direct pineal download (yes, you'll lose sleep) to the true spirit of the men who created America, men who spoke their constitution with arms. Arms not as symbols, but as actual TOOLS.

In these exponentially turbulent times where America is becoming a welfare state and a foreign country (and that includes many who call themselves "true Americans"), Boston's Gun Bible will help keep your "aim true."

When I bought this book, I was just looking for a book on target shooting and home defense. I got so much more.

Guns, as with any defensive tools, are owned and practiced so hopefully we never have to use them. But an unwillingness to push back when dragged off isn't what this country was based on. And even that has become an unpopular opinion with many of the shiny happy sheeple.

Reading Boston's Gun Bible, I'm reminded of this quote from Charles A. Beard:
"It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence."
==-
MichaelNotMike

I have 70+ "gun books", I only travel with 1. This is it., September 16, 2006
Yes, I disagree with Boston on a couple minor technical points (and was proud to see my "contribution" on Aimpoint optics in the latest edition), but being active-duty Army, this is the only civilian weapons book I make room in the bags for when deploying overseas. When our battalion was issued M14 rifles from storage, the class I gave on iron-sight zero procedures came right out of BGB. I'm on my third copy as it keeps growing legs, and bought copies for some of my soldiers as welcome-home gifts.

BTW, the M855/SS109 is better and punching holes in things, but you're correct in that its inferior on soft tissue. When possible here, I followed SOCOM's lead ans scrounged some Black Hills match grade 5.56 loaded with the 77 grain Sierra. Works great if you don't have an M14 handy.

The definitive work...., January 31, 2001
If you are going to only own one book on guns, this is it. Soup to nuts on why to own a gun, which ones to buy, what gear works, you name it. The section on U.S. gun laws is worth the price of the book alone. It's 700+ pages that doesn't gloss over anything; whether he's rating battle rifles or exploding the myths of gun control, Boston has clearly taken his time and done this one "right". A word of caution for those not familiar with Boston's work- this is not a book about hunting- it's about the true purpose of the Second Amendment clause "to keep and bear arms". You might as well go ahead and order two copies, because when you read it you're going to want to share it with friend....

Must have book!!!, March 4, 2007
I accidentily discovered this writer when I won an auction lot of books. I was overwhelmed by his frank hard-hitting style of writing and no holds barred truth. This book is by far the best I've ever seen on guns. From the technical knowledge, little known facts/tricks, tactical information it's like a complete course in one book. Just one tip like how to use the width of your front sight as a range finder is worth the price of the book (-ie- the 8 moa width of a M14 front sight lines up perfectly with the army targets at a certain range). I received an expert marksman award in the military and believe me I never received any training about this. There is so much information presented that each chapter in itself could I think be expanded into its own book. Especially the chapters on battle rifles and becoming a rifleman. Other valuable information such as home defense, what to do in event of a self defense shooting, etc. Invaluable stuff that someday could save you or your families lives or at least keep you out of prison. I hope he continues to keep writing and expanding on this material cause I'll be buying them all. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Here is one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asian culture. Written not only for martial artists but for leaders in all professions, the book analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction.

The Book of Five Rings —which has become a well-known classic among American business people, studied for its insights into the Japanese approach to business strategy—was composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Unlike previous editions ofThe Book of Five Rings, Thomas Cleary's is an accessible translation, free of jargon, with an introduction that presents the spiritual background of the warrior tradition. Along with Musashi's text, Cleary translates another important Japanese classic on leadership and strategy:The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yagyu Munenori, which highlights the ethical and spiritual insights of Taoism and Zen as they apply to the way of the warrior. ... Read more

Reviews

Places Musashi in an Historical Context, February 15, 2003
What I prefer about Victor Harris's translation of Musashi Miyamoto's book is the fact that Harris has gone through exacting lengths not just to present an accurate translation in the context of a 17th-century samurai, but to present Musashi in his proper historical context. As opposed to every other English translation I have read, this one includes a chapter which gives a biography of Musashi, and shows many of his creations, such as paintings (including a self-portrait), tsuba (swordguards), etc. We can see where Musashi stayed, and what his grave looks like, etc. For clarity in understanding, this volume, along with the translation by Thomas Cleary, are the best. I should justify that by explaining that I practice martial arts--for those of you looking for a business oriented edition, there are several translations and interpretations out there which are geared towards your needs. For those of you involved in the practice of martial arts, sports, or with an interest in historical strategy texts, I heartily recommend this translation!

Whay does this book discuss? Musashi's masterpiece eschews practice, and decries vanity, ego, and "secrets". Musashi was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, and the influence of Zen philosophy can be seen everywhere in his writing. This is however, definately a book on the strategy of swordsmanship, and not a treatis on religion. Musashi Miyamoto fought in a number of duels--back in the era of true challenge matches--when usually the victor was the man left living! The realities of his times, the fact that life was so cheap and had to be guarded fiercly, and that Musashi succeeded in doing this is what makes his writing even more precious. This was the book Musashi passed on to the students of his school, the unusual two-bladed Ni-to Ryu (two-sword school). For more on the historical Musashi Miyamoto, read Makoto Sugawara's excellent (non-fiction) "Lives of Master Swordsmen".

Have sword, will fight, January 11, 2000
Everybody should read this book. That's all there is to it. Musashi takes the reader into a world filled to the brim with devotion, self-respect, disciplin, honesty and purity of thought. Even though this book was written by and for warriors and samurai, and in a completely different time and culture, it is a remarkabe source of inspiration for selv-developement. Musashi's teachings are concise and to the point. He uses phrases like "you must understand this" and "you must practice diligently" and explains only general, but unquestionable and fundamental, concepts of the Way of the Warrior. These guidelines are not directly applicable in our time and age, but what is applicable are the things this book contains about working with yourself. Striving to achieve improvement on the inside as well as the outside.

It would be a lie to say that this book is a "positive" book. Taken litterally it's about how to become an efficient, albeit enlightened, killer. The value of this book comes from reading between the lines, and let me tell you: Those lines could fill volumes.

Musashi in an Historical Context & Best Translation, February 15, 2003
What I prefer about Victor Harris's translation of Musashi Miyamoto's book "Go Rin no Sho" is the fact that Harris has gone through exacting lengths not just to present an accurate translation in the context of a 17th-century samurai, but to present Musashi to us in his proper historical context. As opposed to every other English translation I have read, this one includes an in-depth biography of Musashi prior to the translation, and shows many of his creations, such as paintings (including a self-portrait), tsuba (swordguards), etc. We can see where Musashi lived and practiced, what his grave looks like, etc. For clarity and understanding, this volume, along with the translation by Thomas Cleary, are the best. I should justify that by explaining that I practice martial arts--for those of you looking for a business oriented edition, there are several translations and interpretations out there which are geared towards your needs. For those of you involved in the practice of martial arts, sports, or with an interest in historical strategy texts, I heartily recommend this translation!

Whay does this book discuss? Musashi's masterpiece eschews practice, and decries vanity, ego, and "secrets". Musashi was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, and the influence of Zen philosophy can be seen everywhere in his writing. This is however, definately a book on the strategy of swordsmanship, and not a treatis on religion. Musashi Miyamoto fought in a number of duels--back in the era of true challenge matches--when usually the victor was the man left living! The realities of his times, the fact that life was so cheap and had to be guarded fiercly, and that Musashi succeeded in doing this is what makes his writing even more precious. This was the book Musashi passed on to the students of his school, the unusual two-bladed Ni-to Ryu (two-sword school). For more on the historical Musashi Miyamoto, read Makoto Sugawara's excellent (non-fiction) "Lives of Master Swordsmen".

A sword-fighter's bible., January 30, 2000
I've read several books on sword techniques, methods, philosophies, etc... This book takes all that knowledge and adds an edge to it I haven't found anywhere else. It makes you think about your movements, and style of fighting... and answers the questions on things like why the samurai used a long and short sword instead of two long blades.

Musashi fought back when it meant living or dying, and never lost. He wrote the book years after he retired from fighting and tried to capture the very essense of how to win in any situation. This book does not have any pictures of techniques, but it makes you evaluate every technique.

It offers a great deal of knowledge for every day life and even if you never pick up a sword or raise your fists, this book can teach you how to win in life's battles by way of your mind. A great book, and I feel lucky to have it on my shelf... available when I need it.

Good Book Bad Translation, August 2, 2002
I have read 4 different translations of Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings and I would have to say this is the worst translation I have read by far. It is obvious the translator does not have a passion or understanding for Japanese Martial Sciences. The translator made numerours mistakes, and he consistantly referred to Japanese swordsmanship (kenjutsu)as Kendo. This is a major mistake and the very first time I saw Kendo mentioned in the book, I wanted to put it down. It is quite obvious that the translator missed alot of subtle lessons Musashi tried to convery in this book. I would not recommend this version of a classic. However I would recommed A Way to Victory The Annotated Book of Five Rings by Hidy Ochiai. Mr. Ochiai is an accomplished martial artist and has a good understanding of Japanese Martial Arts. I would also recommend reading Legacies of the Sword by Karl Friday. This book will give you a complete understanding of a traditional Japanese (kenjutsu) school still operating today.

Lacking Commentary, June 1, 2001
Many of these books are difficult to understand because they are meant to be used as study and reference guides along with a teacher. The Book of Five Rings (of which I've read 3 of the 5, and am just a few pages away from finishing) is a treatise describing Musashi Miyamoto's personal school of fighting - the school of two skies. He eschews other schools as too this or too that. They concentrate, he says, on technique rather than what swordfighting is all about - killing your opponent.

The text is dry, and the sections are short. They are intended (a) for swordfighters, and (b) to be meditated on. The principals in this book would take a swordfighter years to master. In fact, at one point he says one should study for about 3 years (he gives a specific number of weeks) and then practice for 30 or so more years.

How does this translate into my life? I'm not sure. I don't have enough of a background in swordfighting, the culture, etc. to know how these concepts apply to my life. If perhaps I had a guide, in the form of commentary, I could more easily integrate these concepts into my life. As is, however, this book isn't of much use to me, except as reference for the day when I do have commentary.

I reccomend, instead, Cleary's Classics of Strategy and Counsel. This trilogy of books includes the Art of War, Mastering the Art of War, The Lost Art of War, The Silver Sparrow Art of War, Thunder in the Sky, The Japanese Art of War, The Book of Five Rings, Ways of Warriors, Codes of Kings (which includes several works), The Art of Wealth, Living a Good Life, The Human Element, and Back to Beginnings.

In addition to the text, there is often commentary, and supplementary material that can put the text in context and aid the student on his or her journey. Amazon lists several of these as the same book...

Deep book, March 13, 2002
This is a deep book - not one that you can sit down and read straight through and get right to the point -- each of the strategies deserves its own session and a great deal of thought. I've now gone through the book several times and feel like I'm just beginning to grasp the applicability of certain pieces. Even read out of context, such as with business in mind, it is useful. I also highly recommend 'Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom' by Taro Gold.

A fine translation of a rich book, December 2, 2000
In a fit of generosity I gave away my copy of Victor Harris' translation to a martial artist friend. Having searched for a replacement I finally purchased a dismal 'Interpretation' of the book by an American Karateka, who restyled many passages until they spoke the exact opposite of the original. I threw it away. Mr. Harris' faithful translation, however, bears reading again and again and I believe keeps to the spirit of the original which defies simplistic interpretation, and increases in depth with each reading.

Like poetry it suggests more than it says, July 11, 2004
Okay, so I really have no clue as to what compelled me to buy this book. I hate to admit it but it looked "pretty" and it looked "historical," so I got it. I also love the Japanese film classics starring Toshir� Mifune as the ultimate samurai warrior. Many of them illustrate a combination of charm, sophistication, humor, even comedy, with violence, ruthlessness, and arrogance. The comparative lack of graphic bloodiness tends to focus the viewer on the human dynamics and art of the situation, and while some of these classics have been translated by the Hollywood film industry for Western tastes, what transpires still has a "foreign" feel. One sees the action and senses that something going on here is different, uncomfortable. Upon reading a few paragraphs of the Book of Five Rings : The Classic Guide to Strategy, I understood why.

For one thing, I had not understood that the character in the samurai collection that Mifune had been portraying had actually been an historic individual living in a unique period of Japanese history. Why I should have been surprised, I don't know, since the exploits of the likes of Pat Garret, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holiday became the basis for a good deal of 19th and 20th Century pulp fiction, TV series, and movies in the United States. In fact, the period in Japanese history that the translator describes sounds not unlike the "Wild West." The sod busters and the ranchers have made their peace, leaving hundreds of gunmen unemployed. The lucky ones find work as lawmen while the unlucky wander the country looking to enhance their reputations by lethal confrontations to see who's "fastest on the draw." The winner may ultimately find a job as a peace keeper; the loser finds a spot on boot hill. In the case of the American western, the contestants use guns; in the case of the Japanese samurai, they use swords and other equipment. Still there seems something more to it. The something more, I think, is a philosophy, a school, an etiquette, even an art that leaves the Western mind a little uncomfortable.

With some of the techniques of sword work and battle strategy, I think that as Musashi himself informs the reader, it is very difficult to "write" how to do a mechanical task. One can only convey the "feeling" that performing such a task has for the expert writer on the subject. In modern times this facet of the learning process is overcome by photo illustrations, but even then only to a very limited extent. As the author points out, there is no substitute for experience with the process and practice, practice, practice. Even the very limited experience I acquired years ago when I took fencing lessons helped me picture more clearly some of the moves the author described.

Part of the difficulty in connecting with the author's experience as he performs the various actions of sword fighting may be that this book is a translation from the Japanese, was originally written in an older version of the language, and embodied an ancient version of the culture itself, one that is no longer available even to modern Japanese let alone a Western translator. A warrior of Musashi's time may well have connected far better with the similes he uses than a modern person. The unique benefit of this fact, however, is that a great deal can be read into the work. Part of this is the author's intention, but part of it is due to the very ambiguity of the work. Just as the author himself suggests, the reader who does not concentrate on the words but allows the mind to float over them makes all sorts of interesting discoveries. For instance a book on dealing with problem people suggested a technique much like Musashi's "To Know the Times," essentially to match the rhythm and intensity of the subject until one can gain control of that rhythm to de-escalate it. His "To Become the Enemy" immediately brought to my mind the individual characters of Civil War generals Robert E. Lee and his opponent George McClelland. As Musashi suggested, the enemy always feels he is outnumbered which means that a few may defeat many if they are trained in The Way. Or as Lee is reputed to have said before a battle, "The Army of the Potomac is a very good one, unfortunately General McClelland brought himself along." Lee understood The Way. He knew that McClelland's personality, or lack of The Way, produced vast armies of the enemy in his mind.

In all a very interesting and surprising book, one I expect to read again and again to mine for concepts. For a slender 95 pages, the author, like a good poet, has packed each word with a maximum of information because they encapsulate concepts and principles.

A Profound Work of Philosophy, May 7, 2003
The Book of Five Rings is an amazing insight into the mind of one of the greatest warriors in human history. Miyamoto, or "sword saint" as the Japanese call him, was both a powerful warrior and a deep thinking philosopher. He produced numerous works of art, including self-portraits, paintings of buddhas, and sword tsubas. The depth of his thought can be seen clearly in this philosophical treatise, a must read for anyone who is serious about combat and the philosophy behind combat. However, the reader be warned that this is not a martial arts "how to book." Miyamoto fails to divulge any specific sword techniques, only describing strikes, stances, and sword positioning at a most basic level. Having said this, the work is centered around the philosophy behind combat and killing. The most powerful weapon is the human mind which Miyamoto attempts to begin training with this fantastic work. It is a book that can and should be read again and again by both beginners and experts: it never fails to yield some bit of philosophy that helps strengthen the mind. While what Miyamoto says on numerous occasions is mind bending, such as his section on fighting and defeating fifty to sixty men, and difficult to fully grasp this is a work that I think everyone should read sometime in their life and should be required reading in every dojo. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With a postscript describing SEAL efforts in Afghanistan, The Warrior Elite takes you into the toughest, longest, and most relentless military
training in the world.

What does it take to become a Navy SEAL? What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep? In The Warrior Elite, former Navy SEAL Dick Couch documents the process that transforms young men into warriors. SEAL training is the distillation of the human spirit, a tradition-bound ordeal that seeks to find men with character, courage, and the burning desire to win at all costs, men who would rather die than quit. ... Read more

Reviews

Yup, it really is that good, May 18, 2002
There are lots of books on SEALs out there, some good, most bad, very few great. This is one of the great ones. Why? Because it takes a theme that has been done to death, the training of the Navy SEALs, and writes what is probably the definitive book on the subject while doing what none of the other books has done. For the first time, a book follows the trainees through BUDs, through Hell Week, and keeps going all of the way to the assignment to an active team. It emphasizes the fact that the vaunted Hell Week, long portrayed as the horrible endurance contest that it is, is in fact just one of the gut checks along the way to becoming a SEAL. It's not a magical peak where everything after is easy, it's a point that weeds out many but is more preparation for the rigors ahead than a line to cross. To put it bluntly, there is no need to write another book on the training of the Navy SEALs, this is the final word. If you have dreams of becoming a SEAL, read this book. There is much wisdom in these pages. Ever think that "your reputation begins at BUDs"? You'll learn that here.

Finally, a book that reaches the levels set by books such as "Brave Men, Dark Waters" and "Class-29 : The Making of U.S. Navy SEALs". Well written, insightful, and just simply excellent. Buy this book!

Matt

Five-star story, three-star writing. Absolutely worth reading., August 22, 2005
Let's start with the positive, because there's so much here that's so good. The Warrior Elite tells an incredible story. As a reader, you get to ride along with a class training to become Navy SEALS. Couch, a former SEAL himself, does a great job of capturing the details of BUD/S training so that you understand the challenges and trials these young men face to become SEALS.

You come to know the men of Class 228 well and you quickly learn the differences between movie SEALS and real SEALS (not many 6'3" 250 pounders to be found on the real SEAL teams). You also have the interesting experience of simultaneously being inspired and realizing your own limitations. It's almost impossible to read this book without imagining what parts of SEAL training you could handle and what would be your undoing. You end up realizing that we are all capable of more than we think, but not many of us have what it takes to become a SEAL (far better candidates than I'd be fell out of Class 228 pretty quickly).

So what keeps this from being a five-star book? The writing; and that's hard to say, because after reading this book you respect Couch so much for what he's accomplished as a SEAL. Even so, the writing is mechanical, the structure slows down your reading considerably, and you will be painfully aware of the repetitive use of some unique phrases.

That said, Couch does give you a great view of something that most people will never see, and he does it from the perspective of someone who's done it himself. This book is absolutely worth reading for anyone interested in the SEALS. For a similarly great story with story telling to match its content, check out Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney. The two books are great to read back-to-back to compare and contrast not only Delta Force and the SEALS, but also two different writers.

Amazing Individuals, Amazing Read, June 15, 2004
I first became interested in the Navy SEALs during a Learning Channel 5-part series that follows class 324 thru BUD/s (Basic Underwater Demolition, Seal training) To see the various evolutions these young men had to go thru was inspiring. Thus when I was on Coronado Island I decided I had to get a book that dug deeper into the forging of a Navy SEAL. I was recommended this book by the owner of a Coronado bookstore. Dick Couch, the author and former Navy SEAL was given access to BUD/s class 228 to tell the story of the men who make it to graduation and beyond. Throughtout the book you get a real sense of what it would be like to go thru the training, and all the internal thoughts that you need to fight off to make it. There is a great deal of detail put into Indoc., First Phase, Hell Week, Second Phase and Third Phase. While that entails all phases of BUD/s graduation there is much more training ahead for the graduates, that most likely gets told in Finishing School.

I highly recommend this book, to at the bare minimum understand the trials these men go thru, and at the max. to push yourself to achieve things you never thought possible.

An intimate look at the training of a warrior, January 7, 2002
Dick Couch, a former SEAL, takes an in depth look at the BUD/S, the training school that future SEALs must go through. I am an avid Navy SEAL fan and have read as much as I can on the subject. This is THE book I would recomend if somebody asked me which ONE book they should read on SEALs. After having learned about what a SEAL must go through to earn his Trident Pin (the official point at which you are a SEAL) I only have more respect for those men.

As a former SEAL, Couch gets an unprecident look at this school. He is the only author I know of who has been allowed to truly document the training from Indoc (the first training session) all they way through their first deployment. You get a close look at the four phases of training and not only do you see WHAT they do, but Couch interviews many of the trainees and reveils what they are thinking and what keeps them going (or not as the case may be) despite being cold, wet, tired, hungry and in pain. What was especially interesting was the section on Hell Week. A period when the trainees must work for five straight days with only about four hours of sleep total. Of the 60 or so trainees who made it to the begining of Hell Week, only 15 or so made it out.

I consider this book a must have for anybody who is a SEAL buff. However, I also believe that it was a wider appeal as a look at the pysche of men who never, ever stop trying no matter how hard the situation.

"The Warrior Elite" -- U. S. Navy SEAL Training and Mission, November 2, 2001
"The Warrior Elite" is about the mission and training of Navy SEALS. It was written by Dick Couch, who was a SEAL himself, led a platoon of SEALs in Vietnam, and knows the subject by heart. This book takes you into the remarkable training and daunting mission of the SEALS; it gives the reader a mind blowing first-hand account of the grueling process of forging a team of professional warriors. I couldn't put the book down. It starts with a bang and kept me breathless for the entire story. The book is jam packed with insights into SEAL training, weapons, and capabilities. It also reassuring: we've got some really tough, good guys going after the really bad actors around the world. And for that reason, it's a very timely book.

The Warrior Elite is a must read for all proud Americans...., December 18, 2001
The true story of how the world's toughest and best fighting teams are molded - one day at a time. It is an extremely well-written, fast-paced account giving us a rare glimpse into the making of Navy SEALS. The chapter on Hell Week alone is worth the price of admission.

This is one book where the journalistic and writing skills of the author places the reader smack in the middle of the action. I felt as if I was living the experience of the officer and enlisted trainees as they endured bitterly cold ocean temperatures, endless physical training, and numerous psychological uncertainties. The joy of graduation day for those who finish is impossible to fathom for an outsider, but the author managed to project the feelings and emotions to the extent that I was grinning and yelling HOOYAH in my living room!

Captain Couch has written an outstanding book that every American can be proud of. Its timing is obvious--no doubt some of the fine young men described in the book are laying it on the line in Afghanistan and points elsewhere as we speak. There are plenty of lessons for life and business within the story of SEAL Class 228--stuff that can be applied by everyone who strives to be the best, persevere, and contribute as a team player. Hopefully many of our esteemed civic and political leaders, present and future, will pick up a copy.

As for the graduates of SEAL Class 228 and their brethern, let's jusy say that after reading The Warrior Elite, I believe you will realize how fortunate we are to have them on our side.

how Navy SEALs are trained, September 4, 2003
The training to become a US Navy SEAL is one of the toughest programs of any special operations unit in the world. From what I've read, the only other units that might come close or match the SEAL training is perhaps the Air Force's Pararescue and Combat Controllers program.

This book affords us a rare opportunity into the world of the basic training stages of SEAL candidates. Basic Underwater Demolition and SEAL training (BUD/S) is approximately 6 months but as pointed out in this book, it takes at least a year of training to become a full-fledged Navy SEAL. After one finishes BUD/S, he must go for SEAL Tactical Training (STT) and function as part of a SEAL team for another six months before he is eligible to receive his coveted SEAL trident pin. BUD/S is the focus of this book however. We get to know a number of SEAL candidates fairly well from the first day of indoctrination to the final day of BUD/S and beyond. Class 228 began with 114 trainees who were selected from a much larger group of applicants. Of those 114, only 10 of them managed to go straight through all of the phases and graduate. The majority seem to volitarily drop out of the program at some point in the program (particularly during the infamous "hell week"). Anyone can volitarily quit and any time in the training by simply telling an instructor "I quit". Trainees quit for a number of reasons, but some of the more common reasons are because of the constant exposure to cold water and the inordinate lengths of time trainees must stay awake. The trainees body temperatures are allowed to drop to what most medical professionals would regard as dangerously low. Trainees passing out in the pool is not uncommon in BUD/S. Some of the trainees begin to hallucinate and become irrational and delirious from sleep deprivation.

The focus on certain trainees makes this book all the more compelling. We meet a young man who wants to become a SEAL very badly but he's dropped for not being able to meet the physical demands. There is another man who is trying BUD/S for the second time; he's very strong and has no problem with most of the training evolutions but he eventually gets a pulmonary edema and hence is forced out of the program. Then there's a man who doesn't seem to have a weakness at all and breezes through everything until he's forced out of the program due to sinus problems.

I'll stop and leave with a quote from this book which I found interesting:

"warriorship is as much a tempering of the spirit as a physical rendering"

EXCELLENT!, July 10, 2003
This is absolutely the best book on BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL) Training that I have ever read. Most of the SEAL training you hear about is the infamous Hell Week. This book does an excellent job of showing you that Hell Week is merely a speed bump in a SEAL's training.

Retired Captain Dick Couch is a 1967 graduate of the US Naval Academy and Honorman of BUD/S Class 45. In this book, he takes the reader through all six months and three phases of BUD/S. Due to training requirements, he isn't really allowed to fraternize with the BUD/S trainees, but he does a good job of portraying some of the students of Class 228. So much so, in fact, that I found myself getting a bit choked up reading about their graduation ceremony. It felt like I was there, sitting proudly in the audience as I watched a family member or friend graduating from BUD/S.

It's amazing that you learn that the average SEAL is not a hulking mass of muscle like you would be apt to think. Many are under 6 feet tall and weigh in the area of 160-170 pounds. Certainly not the stereotypical Rambo-like visage one would expect (note: Rambo was a Green Beret, not a SEAL; you will also find out through other reading that most Green Berets are not like Rambo, either). One learns that what separates these elite men from others who fail the BUD/S course is heart, will, and determination. Strength, stamina, and endurance are important, but the strongest and fastest do not always make it. It is the heart of these warriors that stands above others.

Couch takes it a step further and touches upon post BUD/S training, the future of Navy SEALs and their possible role in the war on terrorism, following the 9/11 tragedies.

He mentions in this book that he is currently working on a new SEAL book scheduled for release in the spring of 2004. "It follows the path of a BUD/S graduate as he earns his SEAL qualification and prepares for operational deployment with his SEAL platoon. As with 'The Warrior Elite', [he is] following a group of men through their advanced SEAL training--the training BUD/S graduates must successfully complete before they are awarded their Naval Special Warfare Insignia, the Trident...[he is] also oberserving SEAL platoons and SEAL teams preparing for operational deployment." I can't wait for this new book!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to potential SEAL candidates and anyone interested in the training of this elite fighting force.

The Training of Winners, July 20, 2006
The Warrior Elite, written by Dean Couch, is an excellent account of the type of training that makes a Navy Seal. The author is with class 228 from start to finish, detailing how many there are (and most of the time how many are left), what they are doing, how they are doing it, and why.

The book is a page-turner for sure and, though in itself interesting stuff, the author doesn't detract at all from the suspense, challenge, and ultimate victory (for some) that entails Navy Seal training. In fact, the author's no-nonsense layout of the training fits the subject matter perfectly. Seen through his eyes, the story of class 228 is stripped of all non-essential happenings, leaving you and I--the readers--with the ability to focus on the struggle and the people struggling.

Speaking for myself, this makes the book much more interesting, and it makes the ultimate value of this book for a general audience much more realizable. Knowing what makes an "elite warrior" on the battlefield is helpful if one wants to be a master of their own trade, whatever that is. In detailing the class of 228's training, Couch gives his readers exactly that knowledge--though it's up to each reader to induce the general principles.

Here's my recommendation: When you catch yourself starting to whine about how hard your everyday life is or when you are wondering what it would take to really master your profession, stop by your local bookstore, pick up this book, take a rest, and then witness the making of Navy Seal class 228. You will see pretty quickly how easy your life is in comparison, and you will be shown the path to success in any field: precise, clear thinking, lots of hard work, repetition, and persistence.

Excellent, September 14, 2005
Very gritty, true to life stuff. Could not put it down. Excellent read even if your not into this stuff. Just the dedication and stories are enough to keep you interested. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. More than ever, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces–the legendary Green Berets.

In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch draws on nearly a year spent at Special Forces training facilities and offers an unprecedented view of the education of these men.

Following the experiences of one class of soldiers as they endure this physically and mentally exhausting ordeal, Couch spells out in fascinating detail the demanding selection process and grueling field exercises, the high-level technical training and intensive language courses, and the simulated battle problems that test everything from how well SF candidates gather operational intelligence to their skills at negotiating with volatile, often hostile, local leaders. Chosen Soldier paints a vivid portrait of an elite group, and a process that forges America’s smartest, most versatile, and most valuable fighting force. ... Read more

Reviews

Fascinating look at what it takes to earn the Green Beret, October 23, 2007
I believe this is the first comprehensive look at the entire U.S. Army Special Forces selection, qualification and training process; certainly the most updated (as of around 2004-5). Couch, a former Navy SEAL, is full of praise for the abilities and character of those young sergeants and junior officers who earn their Green Beret. And while the prose at times lags with over emphasis on procedure, it is still a fascinating look at a world very few of us will ever experience.

The main strength of the book is that it's more than an anecdotal telling of what these candidates had to go through. Couch also explores what the SF cadre instructors and trainers bring to the process as well. For instance, I was surprised to learn that there was little of the shouting and hazing that I suppose I'd expect to read about. Instead, Couch shows that throughout all four Phases, the cadre sergeants and officers are extremely considerate AND dedicated military professionals.

Although this kind of experience is no longer for me, I believe this is an excellent book for those contemplating a military career in Special Forces. Couch spends a lot of time on each Phase, as well as each Special Forces specialty (communications, engineering, weapons, medical, etc.).

There's also a section devoted to the preparation officers undergo to become ODA leaders, although I felt this was where Couch was at his most dryly procedural, whereas I wanted to read more about their field exercises. Finally, the book concludes with a satisfying overview of Robin Sage, the final Phase IV unconventional wargame exercise.

Strongly recommended.

Very enjoyable, March 27, 2007
I am a civilian female with no special military expertise, and I found this to be an excellent read. Mr. Couch is careful to explain the confusing military slang and acronyms, and he has a knack for anecdotes and details that bring the trainees to vivid life. I highly recommend the book, and I thank God that this nation still raises up the kind of men who strive to wear the Green Beret.

Vintage Dick Couch, March 24, 2007
Ex- Navy SEAL Dick Couch provides an excellent narrative of Army Special Forces Selection and Training in 'Chosen Soldier." Mr. Couch follows a group of U.S. Army 18-XRay Special Forces recruits through all phases of their long road to earn the Green Beret and serve with some of the best soldiers in the world. Much like 'The Warrior Elite,' and 'The Finishing School,' Mr. Couch provides detailed, word-for-word descriptions of training scenarios, snarling cadre members, and relentless physical and mental trials. I highly recommend 'Chosen Soldier,' to anyone who is either interested in becoming a Special Forces soldier, or is interested in the selection and training process of these elite men.

THE BOOK on Army Special Forces, May 17, 2007
I think this is Couch's best book! As a person with a big interest in the subject matter and some knowledge to begin with, I was instantly pulled into the stories of these men heading down the road to a Green Beret. I was impressed, though by the exceptional job the author does at making it understandable for readers without a lot of prior military knowledge. It has everything you expect from a Couch book: an insider view at a super-secret society, people you can be proud to have out fighting for us, detail and excitement that is engaging throughout. This is a great book in support of the guys laying down their lives without getting trapped in political rhetoric. I highly recommend Chosen Soldier

A primer on Special Forces for all who are interested, May 12, 2007
Dick Couch, author of "Chosen Soldier: The Making of a Special Forces Warrior" has written a superb piece in this book.

Couch takes the reader through all the phases of the Q-Course, and he brings the Special Forces Warrior's challenges and experiences as true to life as one can get from a book.

"Chosen Soldier" is a MUST READ for anyone interested in the Green Berets and what is required to become one (and, sew on that patch!). I especially recommend this book to anyone in or anticipating joining Special Operations Forces.

I closed this book in total awe of and respect for every man who makes it through this grueling training. They truly are the elite of the elite.

Great book on Special Forces soldiers, February 20, 2008
A really interesting look into the making of special force soldiers. The author, Dick Couch, is a former SEAL himself, so he knows what it takes to make our toughest military members. He was, I think, given unprecedented access to Green Beret recruit training, and Couch offers a fine first-person, memoir-like description of all he saw as the recruits arrived at Fort Bragg, NC for what was a grueling training process. After reading Couch's book, I'm convinced of a few things: 1) that US Army Special Forces soldiers are some of the toughest, smartest, and hardest working people on the planet; 2) that it is not easy to create new SF soldiers - it's costly, time consuming, and few people have what it takes to be SF soldiers; 3) that we need more of these folks considering the counterinsurgency wars we may be involved in over the next couple of decades, and they are not easy to create (see #2); and 4) that our political leaders should have been much more knowledgeable of these points before opting to invade Iraq. What some people are willing to take on for their country is amazing, and to know that there are Americans who already have it all and yet complain that they need tax cuts is pathetic. Anyway, Couch did a great job and offered a valuable window into the tip of the spear of American efforts to defeat terrorism.

Great book, explains the challenges an SF canidate must endure., August 4, 2007

Overall great read! As an american soldier with a significant time in service,both stateside and overseas, I found this book to be very informative and motivating. It shares with the reader all phases that an SF canidate must endure to earn the sacred Special Forces tab and be able to call himself a special operator. I have been considering a life in SF and I think this book might have pushed me over the edge and motivated me enough to try out. As I said before, great read and very well written.

Specialist M
US Army

Informative and entertaining, July 23, 2007
Dick Couch does an excellent of job of taking the reader through the preparation, assessment and selection, and qualification courses of a special forces soldier. Couch also touches on what kind of men excel in these demanding environments. He does this with great detail while making the book very entertaining. Couch has written several books about SEAL training and involvement in the war on terror. The fact that Couch (a retired SEAL and CIA case manager) labels Army Special Forces as the most important weapon in the war on terror, speaks volumes about these guys. As someone interested in joining the special forces, this book contained some of the best information that I have been able to get my hands on.

Couch Shines Again, May 9, 2007
I've read several of Mr. Couch's books and the level of detail and realism he brings, based on access granted as a result of his own SOF affiliations, always makes for an interesting read. This book provides great detail into the training of a Special Forces Soldier and how mult-facted their role really is. Particularly coming from one who belongs to the Elite fraternity of Navy SEALS, he sings particular praise for these Army Warriors.

Answers for Mothers, January 10, 2009
Presently my son is in the qualifying program. Individuals ask my wife questions like the difference between a seal or ranger and geen beret. She asks me since I once was a green beret. I gave her this book so that she would relate to what our son is doing and could answer questions like that. Book is excellent. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This collectible edition of "The Art of War" presents Sun Tzu's timeless instructions regarding military strategy and managing conflict in two complete versions.

A modern introduction, tracing the origins of "The Art of War" and its historical and cultural importance, firmly grounds the reader in the context with which this oldest of military treatises has survived the ages, as well as contemporary examples of its continued use.

The first part contains "The Art of War" in English, without notes or commentary. This allows the reader to understand the teachings of Sun Tzu, without the distraction of footnotes or excessive comments. This newly revised translation is succinct and very easy to read.

The second part contains the complete annotated translation by Lionel Giles, along with his definitive critical commentary and supplemental information from a broad range of sources. Written during the Victorian era, Giles' 1910 "Introduction" has also been included, containing the legend of Sun Tzu and The Army of Concubines.

Although written in the 6th century BCE, the teachings of Sun Tzu are still found today in the martial arts, legal doctrine, military schools, management seminars and pervasively throughout popular culture.

Excerpt from The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Deluxe Hardcover Edition
© Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Sun Tzu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.

By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.

If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well supplied with food, he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him to move. Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.

An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not.

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.

Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. ... Read more

Reviews

A True Collectible Edition, Not A Cheap Pocket Book, June 6, 2009
This is the third different edition of The Art of War I have purchased on Amazon. They say the third time is the charm, and in this case, I can't argue with that. The first volume I purchased was the cheap $3.99 version. They also say you get what you pay for. The book was so small, it could fit in my front pocket. The paper was so thin that if you exhale, it might shred. Needless to say, I returned it immediately.

The second book I purchased was the 6.99 edition. This was slightly better, but I found I could not concentrate on the teachings of Sun Tzu, because of the way the translation was presented. Additionally, the book also looked kind of cheap. I wasn't sure I wanted to have it in my library, even if I could get past the questionable presentation of the teachings of Sun Tzu. So, after a few days I returned the $6.99 edition to Amazon.

Upon receiving this edition, I knew immediately that it was more of what I was looking to have, both to read and to add to my library. It's a full-size paperback, not a teeny tiny stocking stuffer. The introduction was very modern, unlike the other 2 books, and it traced the impact this book has had over the centuries. It also contains 2 version of The Art of War, with and without footnotes, making it easy to pick how deep you want to go into the subject matter. I would definitely recommend shelling out a few extra bucks for something you can be proud to have in your library.

A clean, full sized edition, August 28, 2009
This edition of The Art of War by Sun Tzu was presented in a large sized paperback format. The 13 chapters of the book of Sun Tzu are presented without footnotes, but with the original numbering system used by Lionel Giles. This little trick is ingenious, as you can flip to the second section (also numbered) if you are a more serious student of Sun Tzu or Chinese transliteration, to read Lionel Giles' translation notes.

The second section contains the 1910 translation by Lionel Giles, along with the original introduction to the 1910 edition, the completely annotated English translation, and then finally, Lionel Giles' complete notes and bibliography section. Each of the 13 chapters in the second section are also numbered, consistent with the first section. This allowed me to read Sun Tzu completely (it's only 60 pages) in a completely uncluttered way. Then I went back and analyzed Giles' translation notes, for, what I felt, was a deeper understanding of the text. Each statement is a single thought or instruction by Sun Tzu. Each paragraph imparts one concept to the students of Eastern philosophy, strategy and warfare. I can't imagine anyone reading this book who would not take away something new in regards to strategic thinking, morale management and conflict resolution.

Even Tony Soprano Appreciates Sun Tzu, July 28, 2009
Even if you aren't a world leader, the teachings of Sun Tzu can be invaluable in expanding or preserving your "empire." Tony Soprano said, "Been reading that-- that book you told me about. You know, The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I mean here's this guy, a Chinese general, wrote this thing 2400 years ago, and most of it still applies today! Balk the enemy's power. Force him to reveal himself. You know most of the guys that I know, they read Prince Machiabelli, and I had Carmela go and get the Cliff Notes once and -- he's okay. But this book is much better about strategy."

What's good enough for Tony, is good enough for me.

One of the most important military books in history, October 3, 2009
The Warring States period Warring States Period 475-221 BCE is a history of constant warfare, of alliances and counter-alliances, and of treaties made and broken. The nature of warfare evolved during the period. During the Warring States period, political stability was impossible to gain by adventurous military action. With the advent of swelling ranks of soldiers, protracted sieges, and an ever increasing drain on state treasuries, warfare became a serious matter for study.

Thus, the opening remark of "The Art Of War" states--without exaggeration--war had become the most serious business of the state, the key to survival or ruin. The author of this and other pithy aphorisms on how to successfully fight a war was Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu scholars place his writing "The Art of War" in the Warring States Period, based on the descriptions of warfare in the text. The book has received great exposure in the west starting in the eighteenth century after being translated by a French missionary. It has been reported that Napoleon studied the text and effectively put many of its teachings to good use. For the past 2,000 years, it has been the most important military treatise in all of Asia, even known by name with the common people. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese military figures have studied it and employed its concepts to good effect. This is especially evident in the military tactics of 20th century revolutionaries like Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh.

The book is comprised of 13 chapters. The thesis of Sun's work is one should employ an army after a thorough analysis mandated by careful planning and the formulation of an overall strategy before embarking on a campaign. Sun emphasizes rational self-control, influenced by Daoist teachings throughout the book.

Chap 1-Laying Plans
18. All warfare is based on deception. 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Chap 6-Weak Points And Strong
8. Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

The best translation is the Samuel B. Griffith edition

Very Pleased!, August 31, 2009
Who would of thought that war could have such a precise, simplified and honorable step-by-step instruction manual? And that it was written in the 6th century BCE? Sun Tzu's recipe for strategies and engagements is easy to read, with numbered instructions, for just about every war-like situation. And, as the editor points out in the Modern Introduction, these instructions can easily be transferable to the boardroom, sales techniques, athletic endeavors and the like.
I highly recommend "The Art of War", especially for anyone who is interested in the history and the controversy surrounding this man, Sun Tzu and the ancient art of war. The commentary and analysis portion of the book is quite detailed and serves well in taking the reader beyond the simple instructions Sun Tzu describes. I enjoyed it!

The Warring States period Warring States Period 475-221 BCE is a history of constant warfare, of alliances and counter-alliances, October 3, 2009
The Warring States period Warring States Period 475-221 BCE is a history of constant warfare, of alliances and counter-alliances, and of treaties made and broken. The nature of warfare evolved during the period. During the Warring States period, political stability was impossible to gain by adventurous military action. With the advent of swelling ranks of soldiers, protracted sieges, and an ever increasing drain on state treasuries, warfare became a serious matter for study.

Thus, the opening remark of "The Art Of War" states--without exaggeration--war had become the most serious business of the state, the key to survival or ruin. The author of this and other pithy aphorisms on how to successfully fight a war was Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu scholars place his writing "The Art of War" in the Warring States Period, based on the descriptions of warfare in the text. The book has received great exposure in the west starting in the eighteenth century after being translated by a French missionary. It has been reported that Napoleon studied the text and effectively put many of its teachings to good use. For the past 2,000 years, it has been the most important military treatise in all of Asia, even known by name with the common people. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese military figures have studied it and employed its concepts to good effect. This is especially evident in the military tactics of 20th century revolutionaries like Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh.

The book is comprised of 13 chapters. The thesis of Sun's work is one should employ an army after a thorough analysis mandated by careful planning and the formulation of an overall strategy before embarking on a campaign. Sun emphasizes rational self-control, influenced by Daoist teachings throughout the book.

Chap 1-Laying Plans
18. All warfare is based on deception. 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Chap 6-Weak Points And Strong
8. Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

The best translation is the Samuel B. Griffith edition

One of the most important military books in history, October 3, 2009
The Warring States period Warring States Period 475-221 BCE is a history of constant warfare, of alliances and counter-alliances, and of treaties made and broken. The nature of warfare evolved during the period. During the Warring States period, political stability was impossible to gain by adventurous military action. With the advent of swelling ranks of soldiers, protracted sieges, and an ever increasing drain on state treasuries, warfare became a serious matter for study.

Thus, the opening remark of "The Art Of War" states--without exaggeration--war had become the most serious business of the state, the key to survival or ruin. The author of this and other pithy aphorisms on how to successfully fight a war was Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu scholars place his writing "The Art of War" in the Warring States Period, based on the descriptions of warfare in the text. The book has received great exposure in the west starting in the eighteenth century after being translated by a French missionary. It has been reported that Napoleon studied the text and effectively put many of its teachings to good use. For the past 2,000 years, it has been the most important military treatise in all of Asia, even known by name with the common people. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese military figures have studied it and employed its concepts to good effect. This is especially evident in the military tactics of 20th century revolutionaries like Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh.

The book is comprised of 13 chapters. The thesis of Sun's work is one should employ an army after a thorough analysis mandated by careful planning and the formulation of an overall strategy before embarking on a campaign. Sun emphasizes rational self-control, influenced by Daoist teachings throughout the book.

Chap 1-Laying Plans
18. All warfare is based on deception. 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Chap 6-Weak Points And Strong
8. Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

The best translation is the Samuel B. Griffith edition

Sun Tzu Is Truly The Master, June 6, 2009
There is just nothing bad to say about this book. The words of Sun Tzu still have as much impact today as they had in the 6th century. One of my favorite quotes from Sun Tzu is, "Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt."

Perfectly Happy, July 24, 2009
I am very happy with my purchase. This is a beautiful book, both outside and within. My husband is reading it now, and he hardly ever reads books. He was actually surprised I bought this for myself (and impressed!). I can't find a single thing wrong to say. It arrived quickly, in perfect condition, and we have both been enjoying it thoroughly. High marks all the way around!

The Art of War, April 24, 2010
So far, I am enjoying this book. It has things inside I never would have considered. Yet so much of this makes perfect sense. Would recommend. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Originally printed in 1935, War Is a Racket is General Smedley Butler's frank speech describing his role as a soldier as nothing more than serving as a puppet for big-business interests. In addition to photos from the notorious 1932 anti-war book The Horror of It by Frederick A. Barber, this book includes two never-before-published anti-interventionist essays by General Butler. The introduction discusses why General Butler went against the corporate war machine and how he exposed a fascist coup d'etat plot against President Franklin Roosevelt. Widely appreciated and referenced by left- and right-wingers alike, this is an extraordinary argument against war - more relevant now than ever. ... Read more

Reviews

Decorated Marine General Cannot Be Ignored, August 17, 2003
EDITED from 17 Aug 03 to add book links.

This book is a real gem, a classic, that should be in any library desiring to focus on national security. It is a very readable collection of short essays, ending with a concise collection of photographs that show the horror of war--on one page in particular, a pile of artillery shells labeled "Cause" and below is a photo of a massive pile of bodies, labeled "Effect."

Of particular interest to anyone concerned about the current national security situation, both its expensive mis-adventures abroad and its intrusive violation of many Constitutional rights at home, is the author's history, not only as a the most decorated Marine at the time, with campaign experience all over the world, but as a spokesperson, in retirement, for placing constitutional American principles over imperialist American practice.

The following quotations from the book are intended to summarize it:

"I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil intersts in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested." [p. 10]

"War is a racket. ...It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives." [p. 23]

"The general public shoulders the bill [for war]. This bill renders a horrible accounting. Newly placed gravestones. Mangled bodies. Shattered minds. Broken hearts and homes. Economic instability. Depression and all its attendant miseries. Back-breaking taxation for generations and generations." [p. 24]

General Butler is especially trenchant when he looks at post-war casualties. He writes with great emotion about the thousands of tramautized soldiers, many of who lose their minds and are penned like animals until they die, and he notes that in his time, returning veterans are three times more likely to die prematurely than those who stayed home.

This decorated Marine, who understands and documents in detail the exorbitant profits that a select few insiders (hence the term "racket") make from war, proposes three specific anti-war measures:

1) Take the profit out of war. Nationalize and mobilize the industrial sector, and pay every manager no more than each soldier earns.

2) Vote for war or no war on the basis of a limited plebisite in which only those being asked to bear arms and die for their country are permitted to vote.

3) Limit US military forces, by Constitutional amendment, to home defense purposes only.

There is a great deal of wisdom and practical experience in this small book--Smedley Butler is to war profiteering what S.L.A. Marshall is to "the soldier's load." While a globalized world and the complex integration of both national and non-national interests do seem to require a global national security strategy and a means of exerting global influence, I am convinced that he is correct about the fundamentals: we must take the profit out of war, and restore the voice of the people in the matter of making war.

The Fog of War - Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
Why We Fight
Fog Facts: Searching for Truth in the Land of Spin
Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth'
Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq
American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America
The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People
The Lessons of History
The Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past

Straight from the mouth of a General..., September 3, 2003
Dear readers, I first heard of Major General Smedley Butler when I joined the Marines twelve years ago. Hearing of his exploits while in Boot Camp, us recruits all wished we had as much guts as this Demi-God.

Imagine my suprise now, after having learned that our brave and tough idol had confessed to being the best "enforcer" for big business there ever was! He then became a whistle blower of the highest order. Brave and honest men and women who attain some kind of fame on the world stage do not get to live too long in this world. Their outspokeness is extinguished as soon as people start listening. In General Butler's case there was a glitch in the system. He rose to the heights in rank because of his courage, heart, and tenacity during times of WAR. They had no choice but to elevate him. He earned his unobstructed view of how the world works with blood, sweat, and tears. When he realized that he was just being used... All hell broke loose. His passionate essay in this book should be read by everyone living in this great country. He tells it the way it was and the way it still is.

It's going to be a while before someone else from so high-up steps "out of line" and talks. Can you imagine this happening nowadays? Not gonna happen. It seems that Generals are now chosen for political reasons.

So read this book about the brave General who showed even more courage as a Civilian.

War: Who Profits from it and who Pays for it, March 4, 2004
"War is a Racket" is marine general, Smedley Butler's classic treatise on why wars are conducted, who profits from them, and who pays the price. Few people are as qualified as General Butler to advance the argument encapsulated in his book's sensational title. When "War is a Racket" was first published in 1935, Butler was the most decorated American soldier of his time. He had lead several successful military operations in the Caribbean and in Central America, as well as in Europe during the First World War. Despite his success and his heroic status, however, Butler came away from these experiences with a deeply troubled view of both the purpose and the results of warfare.

Butler's central thesis is that regardless of the popular rhetoric that often accompanies warfare, it is waged almost exclusively for profit. He advances this argument in three decisive examples.

EXAMPLE 1: CORPORATE MILITARY PROFITS RESULTING FORM WAR
In an early version of "follow the money", Butler provides pre- and post-World War I data on some of America's leading corporations to demonstrate the surge in profits that they experienced from the war, often totaling several hundred percent. While some companies, such as Dupont, arguably produced goods that contributed directly to America's military victory in 1918, others such as saddle manufacturers did not. Even when these companies failed to contribute directly to the war effort, they still managed to lobby the government to retrain or expand their contracts. Its as though powerful, well connected oil services company today were to contract with the government to supply oil to the military during a foreign campaign and then deliberately overcharge it.

EXAMPLE 2: INVESTING IN OTHER NATIONS' WARS
Butler argues that the United States practically doomed itself to entering the First World War the moment it began lending money and material to the allies. Once the allies were faced with certain defeat, argues Butler, they approached American government and business officials and flatly told them that unless they were victorious they would not be able to repay their staggering debt. In the event that Germany and the axis powers won the war, they would have no motivation to assume and repay the allied debt to the United States. America entered the First World War, according to Butler, in order to guarantee the repayment of its massive military loans to the allies. No allied victory meant no repayment, which meant no profit. Thousands of American soldiers were killed or maimed, argues Butler, to protect corporate profits.

EXAMPLE 3: THE MILITARY AS A COROPORATE THUG
Based on his own service experience in Central America and the Caribbean Butler argues that most American military interventions in small countries were done in order to "clear the way" for American corporations to set up shop and commence pillaging. It would be as if the United States were to occupy an oil-rich nation and then start doling out "rebuilding" contracts to some of its largest and best-connected corporations.

WHO PAYS FOR WAR
Having focused on who profits from war, Butler then examines who pays the price. The answer, unsurprisingly enough is the average taxpayer and the young people who are either slaughtered in wartime or who return home physically and psychologically damaged. Sadly, Butler points out, once these young people are no longer useful they are ignored by their own government and are left to suffer without assistance. It's as though a president were to employ a lot of rhetoric about supporting our troops while using them to occupy and oil-rich nation, but were to secretly slash their hazardous duty pay and veterans benefits.

THE SOLUTION: END WAR PROFITEERING
Butler's solution to preventing the carnage and social injustices of war is to eliminate business leaders' ability to make a profit from war or to avoid serving in it themselves. He also argues that those who put their lives at risk should have a say in whether or not to wage war. This may sound like a lot of idealistic, socialist nonsense, but thing about it. Would the United States have invaded an oil-rich nation if its unelected president had been forced to serve in the front lines as part of the process? Would business interests have supported the war if they never stood to profit from it? Probably not.

"War is a Racket" also contains other interesting factoids including General Butler's successful prevention of a right-wing coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Unfortunately, no one of General Butler's caliber was able to prevent a similar coup from taking place in 2000.

General Butler also makes a persuasive case for the United States to remain isolationist and to avoid involving itself in the coming European war (This book was published shortly before World War II.). Using his considerable grasp of military logistics, Butler counters many of the prevailing arguments of his day that Hitler posed a direct military threat to the United States. Unfortunately, no one of General Butler's caliber was available to counter a similar argument that right wing policy makers advanced about a tiny oil-rich nation in the Middle East posing a direct military threat to the United States.

To anyone who doubts the veracity or efficacy of this book, I have a humble but useful suggestion. Ask yourself who makes money off of war. Then ask yourself if they ever make the physical, mental, or fiscal sacrifices for war. Finally ask yourself who ultimately makes the sacrifices and pays the prices. Most people who favor war either profit from it, or are seduced by the idea of it. General Butler's book is a concise, and brilliantly argued treatise on the reality of war. Of course most people prefer a beautiful idea to harsh reality, and that is why propagandists and politicians are so successful.

As applicable today as when it was first written, September 19, 2004
Brigadier General Smedley Darlington Butler is not a very familiar name when it comes to military lore in America. Butler was a two-time winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor. As a solider he oversaw American campaigns in China, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti. After his retirement from military service he brought down a planned corporate coup that threatened to seize control of the White House. He supported World War I Bonus Marchers who rallied in DC looking for their promised "War Bonus." He treated all his men fairly and honestly and was respected for it. Most importantly, he realized that in his role as a military leader he was a "high-class muscle man for big business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short...a racketeer for Capitalism." This book was his effort to expose everything that he knew about the inner workings of the American War Machine.

The first sentences of Butler's book, written in 1935 and mainly referring to World War I remain true today, "War is a racket. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious." Butler then rips into war profiteers who never shouldered a rifle yet made millions in blood money. Throughout his writing Butler posits that the single focus of war is to make money for the few by trading in the blood of the many. To know that in 2004 these words accurately and eerily describe the majority of the men and women now in control of the United States of America is shameful and disgraceful.

In Chapter Two "Who Makes the Profits" Butler analyzes who made money during the Wars he was involved with. He analyzes how they made their money and how much they made. All one has to do is change some of the industries, corporate names, increase the profits exponentially and you will have a blueprint for the wars of today launched by the US. Again, this shows that when it comes to war, the technology may change through the years, but the end result is always the same, many die and a few make more money.

Interestingly, Butler points out that it was not always big business that made money from war, up until the Spanish American War soldiers also made a profit above and beyond their military salary. Soldiers were paid enlistment bonuses, and they were paid when enemies were captured. The government then discovered they could substitute medals and ribbons for dollars and did so. Thanks to that logic, borrowed from Napoleon, soldiers pay the bill of war with their lives, limbs, minds and souls and are rewarded with worthless tin and ribbon.

Butler offers simple solutions to end the racket of war. First, take the profit out of war. Pay everyone that works in the war industry the same wage that a solider would make in the trenches risking his life. This is a simple and effective plan. Pay the CEO of United States Steel (or Halliburton today) the same as the grunt in the trenches and see how many wars are launched. Another solution; vote on the war. However, the vote would be restricted to those who will be called upon to fight and serve, not those in Congress or the President. Butler's final suggestion, limit the military to homeland defense only; secure these shores, do not patrol the shores and lands of others that are not legitamely threatening us. In other words promote isolationism. As Butler states, "there are only two reasons why you should ever be asked to give your youngsters. One is defense of our homes. The other is the defense of our Bill of Rights and particularly the right to worship God as we see fit." There is no mention about sacrificing the young in search of phantom weapons on foreign shores or to payback on a threat to your Daddy.

Butler shows very clearly that isolationism is the best defense for our country and also the least profitable for big business. In his essay "common Sense Neutrality," Butler details what it would take to attack the shores of the US with success. If anyone thinks that a prolonged ground attack of the US is feasible today they should read the list of items an attack of this type would require. Simply put, it ain't gonna happen.

If the current leadership of this country had read this book and taken Butler's suggestion of a Peace Amendment into account we may not have had to endure the attacks of 9/11. The focus on this Amendment, which could easily be adopted, is a true defense of our borders that not even a rat could sneak through.

The final section of the book is a collection of war atrocity photos from the classic book "The Horror of It" that any war supporter should be forced to view in the company of those that have lost a loved one for "democracies sake."

Make no mistake, Butler was not the Michael Moore of his time; Butler did not point out problems with a smarmy smile on his face while raking in millions of dollars. Butler saw problems with his country; he was critical of issues that affected the working class and he offered solutions to these problems. There is no cuteness in his words, they are hard, honest and thought provoking. And through it all he loved his country; however he had no love for those that ran it and manipulated the masses for their profit.

"This was the war to make the world safe for Democracy" was the cry the public heard in Butler's day, just as we hear today. Butler did not believe that statement and said, "no one told them that dollars and cents were the real reason" for war. Today, Butler would be called un-American due to his critical words. In reality he was the ultimate patriot, never forgetting that the US was to be run by the people, not by big business. Sadly, 70 years after Butler wrote these essays things remain the same.

This is a rare book that stands the test of time and could help us today. If we heed Butler's words and put his ideas in place perhaps we can avoid further useless war.

Only A Military Man could Have Written This, February 18, 2005
In very terse language, General Smedley Butler tells it like it is about war in this short book. His ideas of how war is so economically profitable to some is valid in our own times as well. He calls it no less than 'blood profit', money accumulated by big business by promoting death and destruction.

The General found all this out by direct experience. After a career in the Marines that was spent fighting in numerous wars, the truth that he has discovered, that 'War Is A Racket', should be written in stone for all, especially our leaders, to see.

A classic in the literature about war that should be more widely known.

If it was good enough for Smedley Butler, April 2, 2005
Then it's good enough for me. Hearing his name throughout basic training, stomping through his base in Okinawa, I never even heard about his greatest victory until I was in college a good three years after leaving the Corps and when I learned about this victory, I knew right then and there that I was ignorant toward American History. We all know his greatest victory was stopping the coup against FDR, I am no FDR fan but I am definitely not a fan of individuals attempting to rip this Country apart.

Smedley Butler exposes the war profiteers from WWI and even touches on the possibility of another world war in the not so distant future. I find it rather interesting the names listed of those that were profiteering from WWI, they're the same names that profiteered from WWII and I can guarantee these same people were the ones profiteering from every other war in the 20th Century and this new war. Yes, the names may change but they're the same damn people that are working for the same corporations, same financial houses with the same goal in mind, to profit from the World's misery.

It's amazing, to me, how many Americans don't even know about what Smedley Butler did, don't know about war profiteering and still don't even understand the purpose of both World Wars. It wasn't about spreading freedom, it wasn't about making the World safe, it was about ushering in World Government, consolidating industry into fewer hands and making billions in return. After WWI the League of Nations was formed and failed when the United States didn't join in. After WWII the UN was formed and is still in existence because the United States was manipulated into jumping on board, for those that don't know about Alger Hiss, he was a Soviet spy that brought the UN Charter from SF to DC under lock and key.

To summarize, Smedley Butler is one hell of a Patriot, his Marines loved him and would follow him to hell and back if need be. He shows his Patriotism by exposing the villians that profit from war, by listening to the coup's funders, just to turn them in thus stopping the fascist takeover of America. If you dare to call yourself an American and haven't read this book, I suggest picking it up, reading it very intently and putting two and two together, just because Smedley stopped it in 1933 doesn't mean he's going to come from his grave to stop it NOW, no joke, it's happening right NOW and it's far worse than it was in Smedley's day.

the best president America never had, December 21, 2003
70 years ago this war hero exposed the war racketeeers in short, simple but hard hitting prose. It's just a shame more people didn't listen to him as today a draft dodger and war profiteer sits in the white house. Bush is the epitomy of everything that Smedley Butler warned about.

This book is an anti war classic. Check it out now, you don't even have to pay teh ten bucks; its available online and only takes about twenty minutes to read.

A patriot's "private Idaho" revealed as the road to Damascus, May 3, 2004
"War is a racket. It has always been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives...At least 21,000 new millionaires and billionaires were made in the United States during the World War. That many admitted their huge blood gains in their income tax returns. How many other millionaires falisifed their income tax returns no one knows... The average earnings of the du Ponts [chemical/gun powder producers at the time] for the period 1910 to 1914 was six million dollars a year...[from]1914 to 1918...fifty-eight million dollars of profit we find...an increase of 950 percent..."

Brigadier General Smedley R. Butler
WAR IS A RACKET
From Chapters One and Two

"The complex saga behind [a fascist military] coup attempt [in America in the 1930's], and the devious manner in which Butler was solicited to join the attempt to intimidate President Roosevelt into functional inactivity, was strikingly described by Archer in THE PLOT TO STEAL THE WHITE HOUSE (Hawthorn Books, 1973)...The most revealing details of the McCormack/Dickstein [Congressional] Committee report were suppressed in its original release. Though the report confirmed Smedley Butler's revelation of outrageous corporate plots, it failed to detail the names of prominent corporate entities, whose mention would have embarrassed the politicians they supported and the `patriotic' groups they helped form..."

Adam Parfey

WAR IS A RACKET
From the Introduction

"...Even so, Mr. President Elect, there is an off chance that you might actually make some difference if you start now to rein in the warlords. Reduce military spending, which will make you popular because you can then legitimately reduce our taxes instead of doing what you have been financed to do, freeing corporate America of its small tax burden."

Gore Vidal
PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL PEACE

The maverick Brigadier General Smedley Butler is one of the ironic--and iconic--true patriots of our times.

Born in the wake of the slow death of the 18/19th century Plantation system, the advent of 19/20th century Industrial society, the birth of the American colonial system in 1898 and the horrors of World War One, the pre-World War Two period, with its rampant racism and anti-Semitism serving the dictates of a capitalist spirit again gone mad, serves to explain the moral vacuum existing in our politics today. The culture of the 20's and 30's reveals the seedy underbelly of virulent capitalism and its siamese twin relationship with fascism as it has always existed in America, with varying degrees of influence and power. During this period today's adolescent fascist sentiments masquerading as Conservatism were incubated, hatched and allowed to fester like an open wound, until the cancer of empire/police state overtook the body politic of a still embryonic American democracy in 1947.

General Butler revealed an actual multi-level fascist plot within Wall Street and the military to essentially destroy democracy in the thirties. Fascism's influence in politics and the economy is one of the principal reasons, it is revealed, why there was a shift from fighting the remnants of Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo to an arms race with Stalin and communism after WWII. Indeed, the OSS (which later became the CIA) use of Nazi and Japanese mad scientists and their secret experimentation on Jews and American prisoners of war, *via secretly arranging their US citizenship after World War Two,* to fight an already debilitated communism getting in the way of American imperialism, is a dark side of American history that could only be told [let alone believed] in the context of this basic paradigm of American culture. Too many people, General Butler clearly knows, get rich in every war for it not to be the principal motivation for its existence.

The Isolationist idealism of his seventy-odd page pamphlet WAR IS A RACKET, which could come across as childishly naive at times, delusionally socialist at others, must be read with an understanding of this cultural context. The Isolationist argument in American history has never been truly respected in our modern imperialist times. Brigadier General Smedley Butler, however, had the courage to go against much of what was ingrained in him as a career military man in the Marines and courageously share the only logical reasons for the architecture of modern war and the horrors of modern life. The truths he reveals form the actual basis of the early 20th century Isolationist argument-and reawaken us to its profound moral validity for our times.

The lessons this book has for our times, however, only begins there. The forces that General Butler fought against in 1934 are the same ones President Eisenhower referred to regarding the "Industrial Military Complex" in 1961. They are also the same forces who saw to Reagan's election in 1980 (via preventing the smooth transfer of American hostages out of Iran in the Carter years for political clout) and urged on his support of fascist regimes like South Africa, Iraq and Guatemala around the world; all while undermining actual democracies like Nicaragua via arms sales to terrorists through a CIA financed by illegal drug sales in America (hence the advent of the Crack era; see DARK ALLIANCE by Gary Webb). "Conservative" presidents on both sides of the political fence, via secretly financed wars for "democracy" and "freedom" against "terrorism," have co-opted an American language of democracy, peace and prosperity for the forces of a globalized economic fascism rooted in our country; all to continue the halcyon days of slavery and empire in a new form. And war, as Adam Parfey says masterfully in his postscript (making the many typos in this book forgivable), is the heart of the modern economics upon which this is built.

Indeed, General Butler's revelations on his road to Damascus that is WAR IS A RACKET inevitably calls into question the actual humanity of the Western world, and our entire way of life.

This is a short, painful, passionate and important book.

Many Wars, Many Rackets, June 25, 2006
Smedley got it right. I'd also add that there are many wars that serve as rackets, including the War on Drugs and the War on Immigrants, both of which provide all sorts of business for our growing prison industrial complex.
There is actually some footage of General Smedley Butler featured in the documentary "The Corporation." It deals with the attempted corporate coup of the 1940s.
People who appreciate what Butler is saying also will want to check out Eugene Jarecki's documentary on the military industrial complex, "Why We Fight." It's one of the most important DVDs in my collection. I've purchased several copies for sharing, and have seen how it transforms attitudes about war. Hopefully, the American people will make more of an effort to create wealth through more constructive endeavors, like building a renewable energy infrastructure and investing in "natural capitalism." Websites like Sustainable Business and Natural Capitalism provide all sorts of ideas and models of how we can get rich without destroying our souls.

Good Pamphlet size reading, March 30, 2006
This book is like "Common Sense." It brings to light things that you might not realize until someone else points them out. Afterward the trends that Maj.Gen. Butler brings up are self-evident from then on. It is almost a eureka or "Why didn't I think of that before?" moment. Butler gives few facts but lots of experience. In this day and age, self-evident truth is frowned on; everybody always wants you to quote someone else or show some government report. This book is refreshing in that everything is true if you just sit and think it out logically and apply some academic rigor to his ideas, along with some newer revelations about our history that Butler would not have known but predicted.

He is great at relating how war is engineered and urged on by corporate interests. They are the only benefactors. He is also prophetic in his seeing the coming war with Japan and Germany and how reasons to justify it would be manufactured/engineered and sold to the American people. I do not think that he, or anyone except the Nazis themselves, could envision the industrial murder machine that would be operated in Europe during the Holocaust. But he does see that we ultimately would go to war with Germany on the pretense of defending liberty but pragmatically to bail out the countries to whom we loaned large sums of money and equipment to that were losing the war. And so it happened...and Britain, France, and the Soviet Union remained to pay the debts they incurred with us and we made the Germans pay some of it, too. Japan he saw as a looming economic threat to our expansion in the Pacific and so we would either blockade or embargo Japan to weaken it and force them to attack us. He said all this a decade before it happened.

In the modern age of warfare which, to most historians began globally with the Boer War and for us and Butler the Spanish-American War, gives him some insight to the future with nuclear weapons. No, Butler did not predict the bomb but he said that in this modern age of warfare America would never go to war with a country where there was even a possibility that America might lose. That has been amended to: America will not go to war with another country with nuclear weapons. As Butler says, there is no way that any country could invade us. He does his own math and employs his logistical (amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics)expertise to show how impossible it is unless Canada or Mexico were involved, so the decision to go to war becomes easy for politicians. Since they do not have to risk themselves, their or their constituents captial, or our infrastructure then war is a very easy decision. Sounds eerily similar to today since the best evidence to me that Iraq had no WMDS is the fact that we invaded it. The bomb, of course, levels the playing field since the damage done is catastrophic and could consume our politicians or their corporate masters, it would ruin our country as well as the countries we retaliate against. He also talked about the emergence of superpowers and how one day they would fight wars by proxy (Cold War). The corporatism is also discussed about how those who profit from war will pull out or try and end it when all the profit potential has been realized regardless of the military outcome. A victory has to be sold so that Americans will be willing to go to war just as easily the next time. Vietnam of course broke that mold, the first Gulf war put it back together.

This book is a must read for anyone wanting to wave a flag and shout hooray for our side, or considering going down to the recruiting office on a wave of nationalistic fervor. Do you really know what we are fighting for or do you just think you know? I am a veteran and saw all of it, however I was the one who had to bear the burdens and also got to hear the double-speak going on in the homefront. I like Butler look back on my service and realize that what I was told I was fighting for and what I was actually fighting for were different. I have often been called unpatriotic/supporting terroists for not supporting/loving war, despite my service, that Butler sees as the effectively brain-washed masses who actually believe what government tells them.

Anyone who loves this country should read this book. This book has given me words to describe the feelings I have developed over the years about my government, its policies and their alienation from 95% of the citizenry. Even if most do not know it or refuse to see it. Butler just put on paper my own thoughts

Living in America now is like living with an alcoholic. You are sustained by memories of the good times and the promises of better tomorrows. However, the present is intolerable and can not go on forever. At some point you have to realize that letting go would be best. That is the strength of this book, it gives you the power to realize that the almost religious talk of liberty and justice in our country is just a mask which business and corparate interests wear to get us to do their bidding and that at some point you will have to let go of the delusions you want so much to believe. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Conflict is an inevitable part of life, according to this ancient Chinese classic of strategy, but everything necessary to deal with conflict wisely, honorably, victoriously, is already present within us. Compiled more than two thousand years ago by a mysterious warrior-philosopher,The Art of War is still perhaps the most prestigious and influential book of strategy in the world, as eagerly studied in Asia by modern politicians and executives as it has been by military leaders since ancient times. As a study of the anatomy of organizations in conflict,The Art of War applies to competition and conflict in general, on every level from the interpersonal to the international. Its aim is invincibility, victory without battle, and unassailable strength through understanding the physics, politics, and psychology of conflict. ... Read more

Reviews

An Excellent Translation of a Classic, March 1, 2006
The Art of War seems to be a classic piece of Chinese philosophy that is easy to translate into a mediocre work. I've read a number of translations of Sun Tzu that are clunky and have none of the wit of the original text. Now, I don't read ancient Chinese, but when a Chinese philisophical text reads like a manual for a microwave, you know something is lost in translation.

On the other hand, this translation, done by Thomas Cleary, showed me the subtlety in the Art of War. In addition to the work itself (which would make a very thin book) there is a long, interesting introduction written by the translator which I found very helpful in thinking about the Art of War, as well as helping to put the work in both a historical context, and the context amongst many of the other ancient Chinese philisophical works. How Sun Tzu's work relates to Taoism is very interesting. Also, there are selected commentation on each of the paragraphs of the Art of War. These commentaries were written over different periods of time by different Chinese philosophers. These help to show how many different points of view can exist over a single statement made by Sun Tzu.

I find this translation very well done, and I can easily recommend it to anyone who wants to read The Art of War.

A timeless piece of history written for the future., October 11, 1999
I cannot remember who introduced me to "The Art of War", but I know I could not hold onto the book for very long. Each friend I thought would benefit from the ancient words of Sun Tzu received a copy from me. I went through seven copies before buying the hard cover for my collection.

I found James Clavell's version quite difficult to find, but well worth it - due to clarity of reading and balance.

I tried reading Cleary's version, but could not get through the first chapter. However, I did purchase "Mastering the Art of War" by Cleary; finding it a better tour guide.

Clavell's "Art of War" offers tactical insight on overcoming an opponent whether it be war, work, relationships, or your own personal demons.

Sun Tzu created a timeless piece of history written for the future. I personally feel that today's society needs to look back, master the art of war, in order to repair the future.

Today I'm buying book #9 for a person who inspired me... I wanted to return the favor.

The Art of War, and Life - a timeless and universal text, January 11, 2001
The Art of War by Sun Tzu covers the basic premises on how to wage war and command troops, much like Machiavelli's Il Principe instructs aspiring rulers the proper way to govern a country. Although the books are similar, The Art of War applies to many more aspects of life than just the conquest of territory. It can easily be carried over into the office, into the home, and even into personal romances. The topics are so broad they can be applied to almost anything yet the details discussed are applicable to every scenario you can think of.

Sun Tzu covers all as he describes the proper course of action to take in all scopes from the entirety of the war to the relations with the individual soldier. Everything from maneuvering troops, to the proper use of various classes of spies is covered in the book, as Tzu describes himself nothing can be omitted from this timeless classic as "The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected." (1). As history has unfolded, it has never been devoid of wars, and does not appear to be in our future. The foreword presents fascinating insight into how great rulers are said to have used and succeeded with The Art of War, prestigious rulers such as Napoleon.

This universal applicability of The Art of War is one of its most enticing and lasting appeals. The book leaves nothing out, covering every aspect of war and its orchestration. Thus it successfully dictates the best course of action to take whether you're a CEO or just another guy looking to pin his relationship down. The foreword is excellent as well, it does a good job setting up the book and giving a brief and quite interesting background of the book's history. The only negative comment I have is the odd editing works during the book when the editor re-summarizes some of the original text into his own words, as that text lacks the power and simplicity of the other directly translated text.

This book is definitely worth the read! Take your time to see how Sun Tzu's writing apply to your own life and you will see how powerful his words are, as it will provide insight into almost any situation you're in.

Classic on the priciples of war, May 4, 2008
This ancient classic of 13 chapters was written over 2,500 years ago by the legendary Chinese general Sun Tzu. It is a must have for military buffs that enjoy reading about the tactics of the most succesful generals. It is rumored that Napoleon used a French translation of the Art of War to his advantage while conquering most of Europe, and he lost when he broke its principles.
The principles that are with in this ancient text can also be used in games of strategy, business conflicts, and the day to day battles of life.
Here are ten principles to give you a sample of the wisdom found in its pages:

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance with out fighting.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

Spies are the most important element in war, because upon them depends an army's ability to move.

All warfare is based on deception.

The general who wins a battle makes many calculations before the battle is fought.

There is no instance of a country having benefited from a prolonged war.

The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals.

In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. (So they can retreat).

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained, fight not unless the position is critical.

Taken as a whole this is a book of wisdom and principles on how to win. I rank it in my top ten books I have ever read. It is a must have for any home library. The is a very small book that is quick and easy to read.

Lead, Follow Or Shut Up, February 16, 2000
Sun Tzu captured the ability to grab attention and then command it. Art of War tells literally how to command troops, watch them, and use them to the ultimate exploitaion of the enemy. Figuratively however, he tells how management should play their role at work, and even how great leaders should "command, watch, and use their troops." A philosophy one should not be without.

"Simple" Is Not Necessarily Code For "Profound", March 25, 2008
Going in, my expectations were high -- The Art of War is praised as an all-time classic; equally applicable today as when it was first written; a philosophical insight into all manners of conflict, including business and (some have claimed) even romance!

I did not find all of these things, here. Instead, I found a brief and simple outline of various battle tactics and tautologies, usually on the level of the field general. This is not to say that this is worthless, or that there is no way of taking the information and applying it -- via analogy -- to problems today. But I did not find it compellingly analogous to today's world, or no more so than any number of older works.

The Art of War is a short, fast read. It is worth reading for its historical significance, and for a few insights that are not strictly obvious, and some of it may be applicable (with some mental stretching) to your quest to be promoted to the next level of management, or romantic victory over a rival, or whatever it is in your life that approximates "war." If other people find profound, life-altering depth in its lists of the types of terrain, or observations that it's better to attack your foe when they're tired, rather than well-rested, etc., then more power to them. I feel it's possible, however, that some of this depth lies more in the creative extrapolations of the reader than in the work itself.

The Ultimate Version of the Art of War, August 23, 2007
The Art of War is a timeless masterpiece of interaction of power and politics. It is about war and not war. This version is the one you want if you are interested in the simple, yet profound wisdom of Sun Tzu. I have tried several other versions edited and commented on, thoughts and ideas spun left and spun right by other authors. There is no spin here simple staright forward thought and principles.

The definitive guide to warfare., September 5, 2000
This book is simply legendary. Why? Something legendary is something that lasts forever. Now, The Art Of War was written by Sun Tzu in about 500BC, and guess, it's still applicable today. The book is divided into thirteen chapters, each explaining every topic on warfare, from laying plans to tactical dispositions and the use of spies. The foreword by James Clavell is very sharp and strong, appropriate to this book. You pretend that a book written in 500BC has many diffucult and not-still-in-use words, but it hasn't! It is so clear that seems simply too easy to understand. Many of the great generals of all time have read it, including the Chinese warriors, the Japanese shoguns, Julius Caesar and Napolean Bonaparte. If I was prime minister I would have made this book obligatory for students of all military warfare with an exam passmark of 95%, because simply, if you know it, you'll win. This is a great book from a great philosopher and it's well worth reading.

A Classic Way to Read It, December 1, 2007
This is the best version of The Art of War I have read.

Thomas Cleary does a great job of translating consistently, meaningfully, and has useful notes for understanding the subtleties of translation.

The commentaries are from classic Chinese leaders and philosophers, intermixed. Not all commentaries come to the same conclusions, but they build on each other over history. This is the way many people study these texts in Chinese. This is the only edition I have found that gives context to being able to understand the influence of The Art of War in its functional and historical perspectives in the English language.

If you have ever read The Art of War before and are looking for a way to get more out of the text either for historical or personal understanding I recommend this book.

Highly recommended edition.

The Art of The Art of War, August 11, 2000
As the subject implies, this work is certainly a work of art. Although James Clavell in no way can take credit for this book he has done a great work puting this edition together. This is not only shown in the translation, but also in the foreword as well as in the numerous short interludes that describe events in the Chinese history - events that was either descided upon by the use of Sun Tzu's words, or events that makes a point.

During the XIII chapters you are guided trough all aspects of desicion making in a very poetic but also very precise manner. This will give you a large part of the knowledge you will ever need when commanding your own army. However, this is where the great gets better - take this knowledge and use it in every day life. Wheter you are an admiral or a car salesman you will be able to draw conclusions from this work in a wide number of ways. So do not miss out on this book, this work of art, this book of war - this manual to life itself. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For decades American submarines have roamed the depths in a dangerous battle for information and advantage in missions known only to a select few. Now, after six years of research, those missions are told in Blind Man's Bluff, a magnificent achievement in investigative reporting. It reads like a spy thriller -- except everything in it is true. This is an epic of adventure, ingenuity, courage, and disaster beneath the sea, a story filled with unforgettable characters who engineered daring missions to tap the enemy's underwater communications cables and to shadow Soviet submarines. It is a story of heroes and spies, of bravery and tragedy.

Reviews

A great read for anyone into submarines or espionage, May 1, 2000
Imagine if you will that you are onboard a US Navy submarine that has just snuck into Soviet territorial waters to spy on what the other side's navy is doing. From the sonar members of the crew can listen to the screw noise and learn turn counts that identify different Soviet Naval ships and submarines that are plying the seas around you. Your submarine-in this case the USS-Tautog (SSN-639) is here to gather intelligence on Soviet cruise missile submarines that could pose a threat to US carriers. Your captain, in this case Commander Buele G. Balderston drove his sub deeper into Petropavlovsk whereupon they collided with a Soviet Echo-II class attack boat. This was 1970, the half way point in the Cold War, one of three accidents that year, and all of them chronicled in Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew and Annette Lawrence-Drew's `Blind Man's Bluff-The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage'.

While the title may sound like some cheesy hack banged the book out and filled it with questionable information, `Blind Man's Bluff' takes the moderate approach, the authors admitting that sometimes the information is sketchy at times, and speculate on what probably happened, corroborating information from those directly involved aids in fleshing out the true stories told within the book. It details the disastrous first attempt to spy on the Soviets in 1949 when disaster struck the ill-fated USS-Cochino when one of it's batteries exploded, leaving the submarine to flounder in sixteen foot swells before eventually sinking off the coast of Norway. It's crew was rescued by her sister ship, the USS-Tusk, but not before six crewmen were killed-drowned in the stormy seas.

The book also talks at some length about Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the man who singlehandedly created a nuclear navy for the United States. It details Rickover as being a power hungry, arrogant and petty man who made or broke careers as he saw fit, and someone who demanded to know about any projects `his' boats were involved with. Evidence, whether it be technical or personal, is often presented in anecdotal form, often amusing and always enlightening. It praises the Navy as often as it chastises it and allows the reader to develop their own opinions on whether an action was right or wrong.

However, with regards to the 1968 sinking of the USS-Scorpion, it attacks the establishment-the Navy and her departments for a cover-up that has gone on for thirty-two years. When the Scorpion went down, she was in such a sorry state of repair, that one crewmen had been removed over fears expressed in letters written to his superiors. However, it wasn't the fact that Scorpion seemed to be falling apart that caused her to sink, rather a defective torpedo battery leaking within a torpedo and cooked off the 350 lb HBX warhead contained within the weapon that caused her to go down. Memos written from the Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Center told of the defective batteries, but were ignored. At first the Navy announced she may have been sunk by the Soviets, then recounted that in order to deny the torpedo theory-stating steadfastly that there was no way a weapon could `cook off' while inside a submarine.

As well the authors attack, and rightfully so, the CIA for their $500 million boondoggle of the American public for the Glomar Explorer fiasco-code named Project: Jennifer, the Glomar Explorer was the CIA's massive ship that was used to hoist an antiquated Soviet Golf-class diesel electric missile submarine out of sixteen-thousand feet of water 1,700 miles north-west of Hawaii. The submarine had sunk, probably due to the same problem that sank the Cochino-an exploding battery. Suffice it to say that Glomar Explorer utterly failed to raise the sub more than 3000 feet, at which point the grapples failed and the Golf fell almost a mile where it shattered to bits on the ocean floor. This didn't stop the CIA from trying again a year later in 1975, and succeeded in raising only 20% of the sub-minus the three nuclear missiles it carried, minus any code books and minus any usable technology. It was this singular event that led to the CIA being scrutinized and stripped of much of its vaunted power.

From submarine delivered wire tapping pods being delivered into Soviet waters to listen in on undersea telephone cables to Snorkel Patty and her collection of hundreds of dolphin pins, `Blind Man's Bluff' delivers humor, excitement, and an easily readable glimpse into the shadowy and very often murky depths of Navy Intelligence, its operations and its people. The book is personable and detailed, fulfilling its criteria of being both informative and entertaining making it a fine addition to anyone's library who is interested in submarines, the US Navy or espionage in general.

The Action and Adventure are Real....Thrilling and Moving, January 14, 2000
This book is a series of long vignettes about submarine spying and operations during the Cold War.

That these collections of stories are able to be told are a testament to the author's research and abilities to remove submariner's from their oaths of silence. The fact that they are writing about still classified events means Blind Man's Bluff lacks a central story line or continuous chronology. The authors could only relate those events that participants chose to disclose and describe. Thus, the book is very episodic as oppossed to being a neat history of the subject.

That being said, the stories are fascinating and moving. Thank a submariner the next time you run into one. These men risked (and still risk) a cold and silent demise in pursuit of their missions -- missions that contributed greatly to ensuring that the Soviets would not be tempted to go nuclear during the cold war due to our constant ability to keep ahead of their technology, strategy and tactics and general war fighting ability.

The stories are thrill rides of missions in Soviet waters, collissions between U.S. and Soviet subs, the loss of both Russian and American boats (with all hands), and close to shore cable tapping by our navy that is as breathtaking as anything Tom Clancy could dream up.

The authors do sometimes go overboard in their "breathless" writing as some of the other viewers write, but I found this only a minor annoyance. The stories of the men and machines themselves are the focus and the authors write them well.

(The only thing that nagged me through the book was the realization that so many of our naval personnel were willing to talk about events that they swore never to reveal. The authors do not spend much time on this issue. My hope is that the Navy has given the quiet ok to these veterans as a way of acknowledging their historic service. The alternative is that a large number of sworn men broke their commitment and may be making it more difficult for current submariners to perform their necessary missions.)

This is fast paced, exciting and will stir your pride in our country's armed forces.

MOVE OVER TOM CLANCY, February 15, 2001
Confronted with fading memories, secrecy oaths, security clearances and old loyalties, the authors have done an outstanding job writing a fascinating account that rivals the best cold war fiction. This is a true story of American submarine espionage during the cold war and as the authors note "In silence and stealth, but most importantly in secrecy, attack subs carried out as many as two thousand spy missions as they kept track of Soviet submarines".

In chronological order, the book covers US submarine surveillance during the cold war beginning with the loss of the diesel submarine USS Cochino and ends with the post cold war secrecy problems still facing the families of lost submarine sailors on both sides. Narratives are given for several incidents such as the submarine USS Gudgeon being caught in Soviet waters and forced to the surface by the Soviets. A most intriguing chapter covers the 1968 loss of the US nuclear submarine Scorpion as it returned from a mission to the Mediterranean Sea. Using acoustic data, a submarine simulator and advanced mathematics, it took nearly five months for scientists to locate the Scorpion. Although the evidence points to an on board torpedo explosion, to this day the cause of the sub's lost is still in dispute.

Blind man's bluff involved tracking Soviet subs, surveillance of missile launches and communications monitoring. Soviet subs were trailed by US submarines to determine the submarine's characteristics, patrol areas plus Soviet Naval operational philosophy and tactics. The book contains a fascinating account of the USS Lapon tracking a Soviet missile sub for 47 days. However, tracking was dangerous. There were several underwater collisions, with the text describing the one where the USS Tautog collided with the Soviet submarine Black Lila. The book states "Tautog flipped on her right side, rolling nearly 30 degrees as she was forced backward and down. Men went grabbing for a handhold on rails and tables. Coffee mugs, pencils, rulers, charts and erasers went flying through the control room." While both submarines were heavily damaged, neither sub sank, although each submarine's commander thought the other had sunk. In a post cold war interview, the Black Lila's commander stated "I thought for a second, `I have sunk a brother submariner'....It was hard to have realized it."

The book narrates the US attempt to raise a sunken Soviet submarine. After locating the sub, Naval Intelligence proposed to remove missiles and code materials using robots. The CIA disagreed, intervened, and took over. Ignoring international law, the CIA contracted with Howard Hughes to build a special ship to recover the entire submarine under the pretex of searching for manganese. The project failed with only a 38-foot piece recovered. The Naval Intelligence's approach was validated years later when Navy robots were successfully used to explore the Titanic.

The book's high point is the narrative of wire taps on Soviet cables in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Soviet White Sea. Under great danger, taps were place on Soviet military cables by divers working outside a specially equipped surveillance submarine. At considerable risk, taps were periodically serviced to recover data tapes. Servicing a tap, the Seawolf once got mired for nearly two days on the bottom of the Okhotsk Sea. To avoid detection, the secret surveillance submarine Parche traveled 15,000 miles one way on a indirect route to place a tap on a White Sea cable and gain intelligence on Soviet Arctic operations. The Soviet's use of the Arctic ice was a critical strategic move and the authors note that "the Soviets shift to the Arctic was a brilliant move....where it would be hugely difficult for US forces to root out Soviet missile subs and destroy them."

Throughout, the text describes the personalities involved discussing the differences arising between individuals, groups and agencies. The handling and briefing of the President, Congress and/or Congressional oversight committees is most interesting. A key player through much of the book is John Cavens of Naval Intelligence. Cavens and his scientists developed the techniques that successfully located the nuclear bomb dropped into the Mediterranean following an Air Force B-52 mid-air collision, located the sunken Soviet sub and pinpointed the location of the lost USS Scorpion.

In summary, the text notes "While satellites replaced many of the spy planes and made intelligence-gathering safer....submarines continued to confront the Soviets directly" and concludes "There is no question that some skippers went too far in their quest for the big score. But then the Navy and the intelligence agencies weighed the gains against the possibility of a violent response, they relied on one simple fact: the Soviets were sending out their spies as well."

The text ends stating that "Now, with the end of the cold war and a new phase in submarine espionage beginning, it's time to look back, time to assess what has so long been hidden." Whatever may be the readers views regarding the cold war, the book tells how so many US Navy submarine sailors when "in harms way" so that Americans could sleep safely at night.

The book finishes with appendices and notes which alone are worth book's price. Appendix A describes nineteen confirmed or probable submarine collisions during the cold

war while Appendix B gives the Soviet side of this story.

Following the appendices, notes give the sources for each chapter. The principal player's remarks are often revealing. For example, Admiral Watkins, former Chief of Naval Operations, stated that he allowed the U.S.Naval Institute - a private, nonprofit organizations that works closely with the Navy - to publish Tom Clancy's novel The Hunt for Red October as part of the Navy's psychological warfare against the Soviets. Admiral Watkins said "about two-thirds of the technical information in Clancy's novel is on target and the rest is wrong, and that it typically overstates the US abilities...." The Admiral continues that the book "did us a service....The Soviets kind of believed it, and we won the battle...."

Brotherly Love Beneath The Waves, August 3, 2000
My oldest brother, who is an avid reader, reviewer, and ex-Navy subber, sent me a copy of this searing book, with a brief note--"for REAL espionage, read more non-fiction!" So, I acquiesced to his well placed gauntlet.

"Blind Man's Bluff" was riveting. Stories of secret missions by brave Naval men in diving tombs held me spellbound. One of my favorites was about "Operation Jennifer"--Billionaire Howard Hughes' involvement with Bradley, the CIA, and the digging beneath the waves for the Halibut. Another was the frightful fight for the sunken Scorpio, all hands lost. To this day Russian and American families ask themselves, was the secret submarine war worth the risks? Worth the costs?

Authors Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew's years of research has paid off. The indexing is superb for quick looks at certain areas or famous people. The note section is an added plus for chapter information. Included black and white photos put faces to this myriad of heroes and villains.

Thank you to my brother, heartfelt salutes to the men and women who protect us. This is an intriguing account of submarine cat and mouse.

I appreciate your interest & comments--CDS

Blind Mans Bluff Provides Fascinating Stories, January 14, 1999
Blind Man's Bluff Provides Fascinating Stories Marred by the Newspaper Reporter's Standard Telling

This book brings together stories of submarine special operations and related history in a readable and understandable form. Authors Sherry Sontag and Christopher and Annette Drew present the material from the layman's (and newspaper reporter's) perspective. This, coupled with inaccuracies which inevitably creep into accounts of technical stories written by non-participants blunted the enjoyment to some small extent.

Minor Flaws and Distractions: First, the authors provide extensive discussions of theories, such as the explanation of why the Scorpion was lost, that are not supported by those closest to the real facts. Debate still rages. New information and theories are still coming to light. Second, they make a big deal out of nicknames sailors give to their boats, their shipmates, etc. as if these, too, were universally accepted and agreed to by all. This is not the case and provides an annoying distraction in the narratives. It reflects the limited interviews the authors were able to make and not the whole picture. It's as if sailors name everything with cute and amusing nicknames. Not true. We were not particularly formal on the boats I served on, but at the same time, didn't spend our time naming everything in sight. Third, the use of hyperbole, making almost routine information seem like banner headlines in a tabloid, was very distracting. All interagency conflicts in Washington are not "Bitter", all spy operations are not "Brilliant" and no spying done in the real world was anything like James Bond fiction. It's as if the authors were afraid nobody would read the book if it offered only a straight telling. I believe the stories are fascinating and make compelling reading on their merits alone without the extraneous window dressing.

On the Plus Side: It is obvious that the authors really did make a vast effort to gather the facts and get the stories straight. This makes the book well worth reading. As a cold war submarine sailor, I was very intrigued by the accounts in Blind Man's Bluff. I had never heard the stories of some of the operations and incidents they present and was fascinated by them.

An Exciting Movie In My Head, November 22, 1999
Normally I don't read books with "military" subjects or "tales of the sea". I said to myself, "Whats the heck". From page one, I couldn't stop reading it. I lived with the book for many days. You get the feeling you will miss out on something, if you stop reading, even if it is just a book. The writing was breath taking, you want to know what's going to happen next. Will they figure out how to get the sub out of this situation? Was truly amazed with the story of spying, getting so close and almost getting caught. The authors painted a vivid picture of what was going on. Men overboard freezing in the high waves or the President talking in the oval office to Henry Kissinger. The book was a movie in my head.

Happiest of the Lot, July 29, 2000
If, as Carl Builder wrote in "The Masks of War" (Rand/John Hopkins University Press, 1989), the Navy is happiest when left alone, then submariners must be the happiest sailors in the Navy.

"Blind Man's Bluff" was brought to my attention by a three-star Army general, stationed at the time in the Pacific. Pointing to the book on his desk, he muttered about sacrificing our security for the sake of profit. I picked up my copy at the very next bookstore. I wasn't disappointed.

Sherry Sontag and her colleagues did a lot of spade work to uncover the stories about Cold War submarine espionage that they did. Not all submariners and former submariners were forthcoming, but enough were to provide ample detail for the many exciting and dramatic stories in the book. I particularly enjoyed accounts of Adm. Hyman G. Rickover's nuclear kingdom within the secret recesses of the Navy. It's fascinating that a man could hold such power and longevity simultaneously.

When Sontag and company take the reader deep underwater, as they often do, the suspense is palpable and the pressure of the deep becomes real. Tapping into underwater communications cables in enemy waters while Soviet warships circle above is no mean feat.

Those former members of "the silent service" who did grant interviews for the book may have had an occasional axe to grind, but overall I found "Blind Man's Bluff" more history than compromise of national security. It may be as close as we come to transparency when it comes to the world's second oldest profession coupled with the most modern technology. Enjoy.

A Revealing Book On A Hidden Subject, December 22, 1999
I believe a little background is necessary before I begin the review. I approached this book knowing virtually nothing about the function of submarines in American espionage activities. I vaguely knew that American subs patrolled the Russian coast. I also knew that the one person who had served on a sub with whom I had a friendship answered all my submarine questions with "I can't talk about that." So, I was hoping that the book would provide me with a greater understanding of the spying role of submarines.

The book succeeded beyond my expectations. The authors did an excellent job describing the missions and their importance to the American intelligence efforts. But, the technical descriptions were not the features of the book that impressed me the most. Instead, I was greatly impressed by the dedication, ingenuity, and bravery of the men who were depicted in the book. Whether named or not, these men are all depicted as showing an incredibly strong sense of duty. The authors do a great job of showing that this sense was necessary in order to cope with the various emotional and physical strains that submarine service inflicted. Readers of the book will come away with the same feeling of admiration for these men that the authors clearly feel.

Blind Man's Bluff isn't perfect. Several of the incidents are told in a "breathless" style that is more suited for a work of fiction than a piece of non-fiction. And the book does suffer from a slight lack of details, which is undoubtedly a result of the still classified nature of these missions. But these are minor quibbles. The book is a must read for anyone who is interested in American military efforts, and a should-be-read by anyone who wants to know just how some of their defense dollars were spent.

A bit sensatationalized but worth reading, December 14, 2001
"Blind Man's Bluff," is a fast and easy read about the submarine espionage tactics used during the Cold War. Most of the stories are on American subs but in the latest edition, an Appendix contains a few brief Soviet items that the authors recently uncovered.
Among the subjects covered are: submarine disasters, underwater collisions, undersea wire tapping on Soviet cables, the attempt by the Glomar Explorer to lift a sunken Soviet sub off the sea bottom, and many, many introductions to key Naval Intelligence officers and sub captains. Essentially, it's every story the government tried to keep classified during the Cold War. The authors came across the information by searching declassified documents and interviewing former Navy employees.
Anyone interested in covert military operations, the Cold War, naval operations or Tom Clancy fans will immensely enjoy this book. But even for the casual, meandering reader who doesn't concentrate his reading time on a single topic, Blind Man's Bluff will still be quite enjoyable.
It's so reader-friendly that most people will fly right through this book. And that's partly why I give it only four stars. In parts, it gets a little too sensationalized and too-Clancy for my liking. As an avid history reader, I concentrate on facts and information in texts and at times, BMB bogs down in dialogue and excessive melodrama. Instead of being informative it often becomes very narrative which isn't all bad depending on your reading tastes.
Sontag and the other authors did a great service in writing this book to the courageous men of this country who defended our borders by serving in the 'Silent Service.' Many of the vets have never been able to tell their story to relatives because of an oath of secrecy. Finally, their stories are told. Thank you veterans as well as current military personal for keeping American freedom safe!

- If you're lucky, you may be able to catch an hour-long segment of "History Undercover" on the History Channel devoted to this book. They replay it every couple of months so check your TV listings or the web site.

Fascinating information on US Sub forces exploitations., November 17, 1999
While my background is aviation, I have spent time on subs and personally know one of the characters mentioned in this fascinating book. He has verified the authenticity of some of the info presented. I found the book difficult to put down and had only one regret: that it wasn't longer and didn't go into even greater technical detail. On the flip side, however, I thought the book was relatively poorly written. I believe it is a symptom of when several people try to write a book -- disjointed at times. Moreover, it seems the authors attempted to make the subjects "macho," which is slightly out of character, I think. I've known many men who were submariners and this just doesn't fit; vocabulary sprinkled with profanity doesn't describe any of the guys I know. Attempting to portray them in this light does not do them justice. Maybe the authors felt this was necessary to sell the book, or maybe, they drew the wrong conclusion. For me, this was a distraction.

Regardless, the book is a fine piece, overall. I highly recommend it, especially so that people can read what has been going on for years and years. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Essays on War by a Military Historian, April 27, 2010
From the mind of Victor Davis Hanson comes The Father of Us All, which gets its name from the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus (c. 535-475 BC), who said that war is "the father, the king of us all" (p. 32). That title and quote perfectly describe the theme of this book whose author finds it difficult to think of a democracy "that was not an outcome of armed struggle" (p. 16). Although it covers war, a familiar topic for the author, it is a unique book among the Hanson collection featuring a mishmash of articles and reviews from various publications instead of his other works with more narrow themes (e.g., A War Like No Other, Carnage and Culture). Avid readers of Hanson will surely find something new and interesting, as not all of these articles are readily available. In addition, Hanson has made updates to all of the essays.

The book consists of 13 chapters, which includes six reviews. The first chapter, "Why Study War?" is a perfect introduction for the reader to get a foundational understanding of Hanson's interest in war and his overall mindset. Very simply, wars are worth studying regardless of their age. Though technology and strategies will certainly change, "themes, emotions, and rhetoric remain constant over the centuries, and thus generally predictable" (p. 15). In addition, war may be horrid to consider, but is inevitable and, at times, necessary. Hanson points out that "war--or the threat of war--at least put an end to American chattel slavery, Nazism, Fascism, Japanese militarism, and Soviet Communism" (p. 16). Yet, over the years, American universities have seen a decline in military history courses. Hanson contributes the downfall of academic interest to several factors including the Vietnam War, the growing push for more race, class, and gender studies, and academic careerism (p. 8). Hanson points out correctly that written history began with Herodotus and Thucydides, who wrote about armed conflicts. In addition, Xenophon, Polybius, and Livy wrote predominately about war (p. 6). This first chapter is particularly useful in that if the reader becomes convinced with Hanson's main premise, he provides several pages of books on war worth reading (p. 26-30).

In the second chapter, Hanson discusses the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and correlations that can be drawn from Ancient Greek conflicts. Again, his theme that war is inevitable reveal itself as he points out that the Greeks "warn that conflict will always break out--and very frequently so--because we are human, and thus not always rational" (p. 33). In some instances, no reason is necessary as the Thebans attacked Plataea "at a time of peace" in 431 BC (p. 35). Through it all, Hanson provides insight on the difficulties of the Iraq War and the public support thereof. What is interesting in his approach is that although he clearly supports the war in Iraq, he has little condemnation against those who protest or oppose. On the contrary, like war, he sees antiwar movements as inevitable. He points out "that democracies by their very nature cannot win the wars they choose to enter when their own free people are not convinced that their collective efforts have any humane foundation" (p. 42). This is the case today as it was in Ancient Greece.

Hanson's reviews are interesting and include his opinions on the movie 300 and about a half dozen books. At first, the notion of reading reviews sounds dull for such a work, but in each piece, Hanson provides a historical lesson for the reader. Whether the topic is Ancient Greece, World War II, or the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, Hanson has read his subject well and he provides insight into each period. Still, these reviews only take up about 50 pages of the book. Probably the most fascinating part of the book comes from Hanson's stories of teaching Thucydides to his students at California State University (p. 55-59). Here, Hanson argues that Thucydides is relevant today and it is the everyday workingman, not the scholar, who can more easily understand him. His students were not privileged and those he quotes include a working mother, an immigrant, and a "tattooed and scared" student all working to pay off their tuition. One of his students concluded that Thucydides would probably like Carter better, "but he'd want Reagan dealing with the Russians" (p. 57). The fascinating insights of these students that use terms like "check it" are a breath of fresh air and it is disappointing that Hanson did not include more. Unfortunately, this section of the book is hidden at the tail end of one of the reviews. It should certainly be more prominent.

Another essay includes Hanson's analysis of the temporary lack of decisive battles in modern warfare where he points out that Alexander the Great, the victor of decisive battle like Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela, and Hydaspes, "spent far more time fighting irregular forces in counterinsurgency efforts throughout the Balkans, the Hindu Kush, and Bactria" (p. 106). Chapter 9 offers an analysis on how it is important to keep the American military up-to-date with the latest technology, but convincing the public of the necessity is difficult. In chapter 10, he examines the American way of war over the centuries, which provides great insight into Americans' general impatience with the lack of results when it comes to war.

There are some issues with the book. The first is for new reader to military history. Hanson switches between periods and battles throughout the entire book. A sampling of a random page (p. 24) shows that Hanson mentions the Iraq War, the Korean War, and the battles of Shiloh, Belleau Wood, Tarawa, and Chosin. Other sections of the book mix in ancient battles and figures as well testing the new student's patience with either accepting that he does not recognize a subject or stopping to do a quick search for a summary. Hopefully, more readers will choose the latter, but an inclusion of dates would help tremendously for many readers who could at least recognize the period in discussion.

The second issue is minor, but it creeps up throughout and is a result of this book being a collection of essays written over a decade. In many places, Hanson reiterates the same points and reuses the same historical examples. As evidence of the quick technology enhancements Americans tend to make during war, Hanson twice points out that the Union started the Civil War with muskets, but ended the war with Spencer Repeating Rifles and ironclad warships (p. 124 and 142). As a result, some portions of the book can become redundant.

Overall, this is a quality book for any reader of history, especially those with an interest in how the past relates to modern-day warfare. Hanson has a wealth of knowledge and continually looks to the past for precedence and insight when examining the present. Hanson is very opinionated and tends to lean toward a more conservative outlook with views like how "the controversial practice of widespread gun ownership in the United States has meant that a large segment of American youths do not grow up afraid of, or inexperienced with, firearms" (p. 145). He clearly sees this as a positive for new military recruits. Even still, Hanson provides challenges to both the liberal and conservative perspective with The Father of Us All.

Excellent series of essays, May 18, 2010
Victor Davis Hanson's "The Father of Us All" is an excellent series of essays about war - why we fight, how we fight, the compromises societies make with themselves as they fight, what causes some countries to keep fighting while others grow weary of it, what types of societies deal best with the stresses of war, the future of war and a look at the American way of waging war.

Many of these essays have been previously published (or substantial parts of them) in magazines but Hanson has re-worked and amplified them. I only recognized one essay and the new version was longer and more substantive.

Hanson is a brilliant essayist - he expands the reader's point of view without talking down to him. Instead, in plain language he discusses large ideas and, happily, he includes plenty of references to other authors and other books that he has found interesting and informative. Reading Hanson is liking talking to an old friend who not only informs, he also entertains and brings along a list of fascinating books, authors and topics and quotes for you to enjoy as well.

His last essay, "How Western Wars Are Lost - and Won" is a fascinating look at the current war on terror. It builds on all of the other essays and frankly wonders if the West has what it takes to defend itself any longer: "We presently witness the absurd situation in which a lunatic Iranian regime uses it oil wealth to spin thousands of imported centrifuges to enrich uranium, while peaceful democratic Germany, where nuclear physics originate, could well be blackmailed by the threat of losing a Munich or Hamburg - despite its ability to build within a year thousands of fusion bombs as predictably lethal as a BMW or Mercedes is reliable." (p. 240)

A fascinating series of essays. Well worth your time.

Superb and insightful, May 16, 2010
I have studied the classics in their original languages, so Hanson's grounding in the classics has always appealed to me. I like his writing and I like his mindset. This book is full of fresh insights about war and about the importance of the study of classics to the modern world. I had difficulty putting it down. I think he is absolutely right. The country's liberals should take him to heart.

The absolute best Intellectual in America today., August 23, 2010
The absolute best Intellectual in America today.
Victor Davis Hanson is a blue collar intellectual in the vein of Eric Hoffer. He is a workingman's writer of military philosophy and history. His didactic style brings both knowledge and enlightenment to the difficult subject of war and military history. Dr. Hanson's The Father of Us All is an excellent treatise on War, what it was, what it is, and what it might become. His comparative analysis of the history of warfare is replete with many excellent bibliographic citations which buttress his insightful commentary. Dr. Hanson stresses that studying military history will help us understand all the nuances of war in its totality. The essence of war does not change, just the perception and current understanding of it. As we become technologically more efficient in war fighting capabilities, we tend to view war in a more antiseptic way as exemplified by terms like precision guidance, surgical strike, minimized collateral damage, and on and on. Military leaders like General Tecumseh Sherman would be appalled at this lack of War understanding. He, like most military leaders before him, and some after, understood that war meant to be "Hard War": Savage, brutal and in most cases complete in all that word entails. But, through the ages, man also looks at war in differing ways depending on his culture and varying philosophical views. Dr. Hanson explains this all in great detail drawing on his vast knowledge of military history.

Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, wrote , "War is the father of all and king of all." War has dominated Man and his philosophy since the beginning of time. It is eternal and an integral part of the human condition. Although the means may change with changing technology, the essence of War remains and is embedded in the psyche of earth's grand social experiment, and why even those who abhor war need to study military history. We will never end war but by studying it we may better understand it. As General Robert E. Lee said at the battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862, "It is good that war is so terrible or else we would grow too fond of it." It is indeed, Sir.

As a 3 time combat veteran and credentialed historian I salute Dr. Hanson for his wisdom and understanding of the importance of studying military history. It is not the savagery that is interesting but the willing innate desire of Man to participate in mankind's most deadly endeavor-War. Military history is a window into our very souls as Man is drawn to War and all its environs like a moth to a flame. Whether you have participated in this most exhilarating of man's endeavors or not, it behooves all of us to engage in the study of military history so we can better understand ourselves and why we are so intrigued with War.

As I am a Victor Davis Hanson fan I am biased in my strong recommendation for this book. Still, with that bias in mind, I heartily recommend The Father of Us All, if for no other reason because Dr. Hanson strongly recommends the study of military history.

Finely crafted essays, September 6, 2010
Victor Hanson, a classicist, columnist, and senior fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution, presents in this volume a series of gracefully reworked essays and book reviews that (with some occasional repetition) revolve about a few salient themes.

Hanson argues that the essence of both man and war has remained unchanged through the centuries; that lacking a sense of deterrence, aggressors will always take advantage of their fellows; and that war should be studied by scholars for its didactic value in preparation for inevitable future conflicts. Hanson also believes that wars rarely arise over economics but rather often begin through irrational perceptions about pride and honor. (Even when Greeks fought over land, says Hanson, they--like the British and Argentines in the Falklands--usually fought over worthless land.) Finally, Hanson argues that actual warfare is unpredictable and that all sides make mistakes; the victors, he says, simply prove better at correcting their initial errors.

Although even some conservatives will have difficulty accepting Hanson's well-reasoned apologia for the American war in Iraq, his insightful reconsideration of Xenophon and his moving preface to E. B. Sledge's With the Old Breed (1981) are well worth reading.

Thought-Provoking and Intelligent If a Bit Unfocused, September 3, 2010
I generally accept Hanson's theories on war and history and was very happy to read a level-headed, historically informed, moderate take on military history as it applies to contemporary politics. Much of this book is a refreshing change from the politically correct dogma that we are forced to endure so often these days from both the Right and the Left. But a bit too much of was just that, which is why it gets four instead of five stars and a small dose of criticism from me.

With a solid beginning, in which Hanson discusses military history, the book takes a slightly distracting turn with a few book reviews (adapted for but detracting stylistically from the work). After this section the book chugs along again smoothly until it devolves into a defense of the Iraq War. I do not object to Hanson defending the war at all. It is certainly his perogative and, in fact, I was hoping for a reasonable historical defense. But his does not quite hold water. Rather than continuing his historical approach relating to the history of war and perhaps some higher philosophical truths he simply rehashes the same pedestrian arguments: we must defend Israel (as a political and strategic axiom that cannot be questioned), Muslims hate our way of life and want to destroy us ("freedom" and capitalism as unquestionable political and philosophical goods) and what Hanson refers to as "gender apartheid" (though he never defines it, presumably Hanson means the idea that an unabashed masculine culture is a philosophical "bad"). Using a phrase like "gender apartheid" puts you shoulder to shoulder with the Cindy Sheehans of the world. Hanson has clearly accepted at least some of the philosophical premises of those against whom he argues. I find these arguments absurd and uninformed and an unnecessary digression from the thrust of the book.

I recommend the book for the general thesis: war is human and should be understood and discussed rather than ignored; wars of history greatly inform wars of today; war may not be a political or social good but it is often far from a "worst". These are important and timely themes and I may very well buy a few more copies and strategically place them in the homes of my friends who use phrases like "gender apartheid". All in all, Hanson should be commended.

Passionate and well-reasoned, but marred by a single, glaring flaw., September 22, 2010
Overall, this is a well-written, passionate argument the military history is just as vital a field of study as ever, and that the ideas that we have grown beyond war-making or that war is somehow a different beast than in the rest of human history are junk.

When he confines himself to making these points, Hanson is persuasive. He draws clear parallels between modern wars (particularly the war in Iraq, but also the first Gulf War, Vietnam and several other military engagements in the second half of the 20th century) and any number of wars in the ancient world. He shows clearly that all the issues popularly believed to plague only modern wars (technological advances changing the face of war, tensions between democratic governments and military hierarchies, and the shift from pitched battles to guerrilla warfare, to name a few) are in fact cyclical changes that have occurred and recurred throughout history.

Hanson also spends some time discussing the one area he thinks modern wars do differ from all the wars that came before -- modern America's idea that it is possible to wage a perfect war -- perfection meaning a war that accomplishes its political goals quickly, with no loss of life on our side and minimal loss of life on the other side -- and that anything short of that perfection is a complete failure. He sees that idea as incredibly misguided and incredibly dangerous, and he traces it back to the way that significant increases in our standard of living and life expectancy have made us unwilling to accept any sacrifices of those lives. He backs this claim up with no particular evidence (he isn't, after all, either a psychologist or a cultural anthropologist) but it seems like a rational conclusion.

He is on shakier ground when he argues that democracies are inherently better able to wage and win wars -- he states that they are multiple times, but never backs up that claim with any particular evidence. But that is a fairly minor thread in the volume, though I wish it had been developed further.

But the volume has one glaring flaw. Hanson extends his claims, over and over and over again, to sweeping statements about the entire human race and all of human history, but the only specifics he gives on any topic he addresses are drawn from the history of the Western world -- he talks about ancient Greece (and ancient Persia, but only as it relates to Greece), he talks about continental Europe, and he talks about the U.S.A. -- never once does he mention any actions that take place outside of that sphere. This would not have bothered me if his claims had been more specific, more measured, but in his attempt to make his argument universal he displayed an enormous blind spot that undercut all the solidly reasoned, persuasive work that came before and after.

excellent review of military history, war and its importance to the present, August 2, 2010
This book examines military history through the centuries. Dr. Hanson puts forth an excelllent argument for the study of war through the centuries from ancient time to the present.

Victor Davis Hanson is a National Treasure, June 13, 2010
Victor Davis Hanson's latest collection of essays, "The Father of us all: War and History, Ancient and Modern" is a brilliant examination of warfare and its study. Hanson consistently applies lessons from the past to the modern world, though is careful to note that the study of history is not a simply a convenient grab bag to make a point, but rather a general tool that allows us to made predictions for the future. His analysis is sharp and clever, and leaves the reader astounded at the depth of his intellect. The first essay, "Why Study War?" is worth the price of this book alone. Here Hanson covers the importance of understanding military history and its applications. He notes that this field can help answer certain questions should war be thrust upon us in the future. It can help us with questions like "how do wars begin?", "how can we quickly win a war if necessary?", and "how can we mitigate war's worst effects?"

He dispels the notion that military historians are somehow pro-war and secretly long for it. Rather Hanson is a realist that accepts that war is part of the human condition- from Thucydides to Operation Iraqi Freedom- and therefore an understanding of man at his worst is crucial if civilization is to survive and progress. Hanson also laments the lack of military historians in academia today. (A former Canadian history professor of mine regaled me with a story of how a colleague, a gender historian, angrily demanded to know why a course in World War II was even offered in their history department.) Despite academia's reluctance to embrace military history, dating back to the US defeat in Vietnam, Hanson points out the vast public interest in military history by inviting the reader to check out the sections on the Civil War and World War II at the local bookstore. As a classicist, Hanson also comments upon the recent film, "300", citing both those things that it got right and wrong. He offers incisive looks into the horrors of war by commenting on Sledge's "With the Old Breed", and examines the shifting roles of decisive battle and irregular warfare.

This is a thoroughly engaging book by one of America's most brilliant historians. For anybody interested the in the importance of war as part of the human condition I highly recommend this work. ... Read more