Average customer rating:
- Excellent history of ancient warfare tactics and equipment.
- Ancient Warfare Explained
- Loads of Useful Information
- One of the best I've seen!
- disappointing
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Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World (3000 B.C. to 500 A.D.): Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics
Simon Anglim ,
Rob S. Rice ,
Phyllis Jestice ,
Scott Rusch , and
John Serrati
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Warfare in the Ancient World
ASIN: 0312309325 |
Book Description
This essential guide to ancient warfare describes the fight-ing methods of soldiers in Europe and the Middle East in an age before gunpowder. From a detailed examination of the individual components of an ancient army and their equip-ment, to a fascinating exploration of ancient battle strategies, siege warfare, and naval battles, the book explores the unique tactics required to win battles with the technology available. Featuring specially commissioned color and black-and-white artwork and twenty-four full-color tactical maps, this book shows in great detail the methods by which armies, including Assyrians and Roman forces, prevailed over their foes, and why other armies were less successful. This is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient warfare.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent history of ancient warfare tactics and equipment........2007-09-29
This book is very well put together. It has a lot if information that I think is accurate. The information is put together in a logical manner and the illustrations are very helpful and actually do their job. This is a history book, so if that is what you're looking for I would highly recommend it.
Ancient Warfare Explained.......2007-03-28
Laconic, lucid descriptions enhanced by excellent, relevant illustrations, diagrams and battle maps. The style is reminiscent of modern military training manuals - always brief and to the point. The reasons for success or failure are examined dispassionately and changes in the balance of power over time are effectively explained. A vast amount of well researched information presented in a book that is a pleasure to read.
Loads of Useful Information.......2007-02-16
This book served my purposes well in the writing of "Maccabee." Significant detail is given, citing ancient sources such as Livy and Plutarch, in relating what occurred in historic battles and the weaponry that was used. Minute details are given, such as the way a pilum was built so the iron shaft would bend once thrust into an enemy shield so it could not be extracted, thus rendering the shield useless. This book demonstrates that though the weaponry was nothing so sophisticated as the weapons of today, much thought went into how best to wage war. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient warfare.
One of the best I've seen!.......2007-02-14
This is perhaps the second or third best book based on ancient warfare I have ever seen (behind Adrian Goldsworthy's "The Complete Roman Army"). Great details and pictures, you will be lucky to get your hands on this one. Intriguing all the way through, and great for reference.
disappointing.......2006-07-08
totally superficial review based on the hardcover edition. big, large cover, looks like a textbook not a critical history, i have no interest in going to the library and spreading this textbook out on a large table and digging in. textbook presentation of the volume does not appeal to the way i like to use most books. material looked interesting, but also presented in a topic by topic textbook fashion. i sent it back
Book Description
With the content of an authoritative reference and the excitement of a thriller, this history of the U.S. submarine war is one of the most informative and entertaining books written on the Pacific campaign. The author, a respected journalist and World War II submariner himself, is credited with providing a complete and unbiased account of what happened. When published in 1975, it was the first such account to detail controversial aspects of the American campaign, from the torpedo scandal to discrepancies between claimed and confirmed sinkings.
To get to the truth, Clay Blair interviewed scores of skippers, staff officers, and code breakers, and combed thousands of documents and personal papers. In addition, he thoroughly researched the development of the submarine and torpedo from pre-war to post-war times. As a result, he takes the reader into the submarine war at all levels--the highest strategy sessions in Washington, the terrifying moments in subs at the bottom of the ocean waiting out exploding depth charges, the zany efforts of a crew coaxing a chicken to lay an egg. He also exposes the reader to the jealous infighting of admirals vying for power and the problems between cautious older skippers and daring young commanders. Supplementing the text are nearly forty maps showing submarine activity in the context of every important naval engagement in the Pacific, more than thirty pages of photographs, multiple appendixes (including a calendar of submarine war patrols), and an index of over 2,000 entries. This is a work of great scholarship and scope that makes a timeless contribution to the history of World War II.
Customer Reviews:
All the Detail You Could Ever Want.......2007-08-23
What a read! I know it's history, but this is a page turner. The author just keeps bringing it on. I was impressed with the obvious volume of research, but the truly impressive thing is that he keeps your interest all the way through. An outstanding and extremely readable account of an underpublicized arena of WW II.
How the Silent Service strangled the Japanese Empire:.......2007-01-23
This is, quite simply, an outstanding history book. The depth of research done by the author is amazing. It is a blow by blow, patrol by patrol account of how these brave men put the Japanese war machine out of business. It is also exceptionally well written and extemely readable. It's one of those very few books that you can, literally, open up to any page, start reading, and become consumed with interest. This book belongs on any WWII naval bookshelf, and is, I believe, the definitive account of the Pacific Submariners' war.
The WW 2 Sub Warfare Encyclopedia.......2005-09-03
The is book has it all and says it all about the Use of Sumarines in the Pacific during WW2.
The good points about the book:
1. It complete describes every aspect of Submarines - torpedoes - engagements - personnel - strategy.
2. It gives a comprehensive amount of detail about the Commanders and Officers who fought in the Submarines - who did well and who didn't and why.
3. It gives a great amount of detail about the personnel feuds - the attitudes of the Sumarine Admialty in Hawaii - and In Australia. Their pettiness is detailed as well as their greatness. Both get equal measure.
The Weak points: All of the above detail gets a bit tedious and repetitive.
The real eye opener for for me was the fact thatin WW@ it was the submarines that did most of the damage to the Japanese Navy and they eliminated the merchant Marine - with one arm tied behind its back. The torpedoes they used on the boats were a failure for the first 15 months of the war. In reading the details of this issue - it is amazing that even with such incompetence in the Bureau of Naval Ordinance and with some doltish Admirals - that we did actually win the War.
Read the book and find out how we did it. Warts and all.
The silence is deafening!.......2005-08-27
This is a very detailed rundown of the USN's silent service during the Pacific war, and is a must if you are interesetd in the submarine operations, from a US perspective.
Blair also exposes, compared to post war analyses, the over, and dubious claims of ships sunk by the submariners, and a comparson with the U boats will reveal that the latter was much, much more successful, despite the lack of air and surface support, and its codes being cracked and read.
A comparison of Blair's 2 volume work on the U boats with this work will reveal his blatant biases against the Germans, no doubt a case of the inferiority complex.
Submerged in the Details.......2005-08-04
This is certainly a detailed and worthy survey of the US submarine war in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. It offers a great deal of information, much of which characterizes the area commanders with their personal goals, squabbles, and jealousies. It develops the story over the full reach of the war, from the frantic days following the attack at Pearl Harbor, the mostly ineffective first retaliations early in the war, the gradual build up of strength and experience in 1943, to the domination of the wolf packs and strangulation of Japan late in the war. The abominable ineffectiveness of American torpedoes and the denial and difficulty in remedying the problems with exploders and depth control are detailed. So are other interesting topics such as the replacement of skippers who failed to fulfill their assignments with the aggressiveness and tenacity required. All the various tasks assigned to fleet subs during the war are revealed as well and the different techniques encouraged in the various areas of operation. The role of the cryptologists and their essential efforts is also detailed. All this is good stuff and maybe the book deserves more than three stars. But I was overwhelmed by the shear tedium of patrol after patrol after patrol summarized with minimal detail or apparent purpose. This data could have been presented in table format with ease and clarity. The result is that the significant events, famous exploits, and heroic individuals are lost in this muddle of repetitive summaries. By book's end, it is difficult to separate the gallant from the routine. If it were not for signposts along the way from events familiar to me, it would have been even less differentiated. I've read of the Wahoo, Tang, Rasher, and Barb previously in excellent narratives, so their events stood out, as did the Tautog, Drum, and Cobia, subs I've visited. Otherwise, this narrative would have been even less discerning. An unusual style in military narrative employed here is another negative; the author chooses not to associate rank with individual's names. With the significance of rank in the military, this is detractive. I think the author would have served the story better with dramatic examples of incidents that characterize the heroic service performed by these crew and to feature leading events. Instead readers must try to discern this on their own.
Book Description
As anyone who has undergone the transition from civilian to soldier will tell you, basic training is a lot tougher and more challenging than any recruit can imagine. Michael Volkin discovered that fact soon after 9-11, when his personal vow to serve my country convinced him to enlist in the U.S. Army.
As Volkin quickly discovered, he was utterly unprepared for the new world of the military, "a completely different environment full of unknown exercises and acronyms, where can't eat or talk without permission. Volkin began taking notes on everything and anything with the hope that no one else would have to go through basic training like I did completely unarmed with knowledge that would have eased my transition into the military and allowed me to be more successful.
During Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom, Volkin organized his notes, interviewed hundreds of other soldiers, and began to write. The result is The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook, a unique and utterly indispensable guide to successfully coping with and thriving in today's military.
The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook is a comprehensive, practical, and easy-to-follow survival guide written specifically for every new or prospective recruit about to enter any branch of the armed forces. Volkin's book offers step-by-step instructions and solutions, including helpful charts and graphics, for how to prepare both physically and mentally for boot camp. It includes a special eight-week fitness program specifically designed to improve your fitness test scores, specific study guides, an instructional How to"chapter, a list of what to bring (and not to bring) to basic training, tips for success, and much more.
The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook was written by a soldier for men and women who want to become soldiers. No one should enter boot camp without having read this book.
Customer Reviews:
Not army boot camp anymore..........2007-09-07
This book has been super helpful in preparing my husband for boot camp- physically and mentally. The only problem is that we've learned that after the publishing of this book a lot changed in army boot camp. At first my husband was interested in joining the national guard, but in order to go to a boot camp like what is described in this book, he has to choose a different branch of military.
amazing..........2007-02-19
This book was packed with info that will benefit anyone interested in going into the militry. My hubby went through boot camp a few years ago and said that all of the info would have made life a little easier then...lol.
Incredible.......2007-01-17
This book has helped me in so many ways. I knew nothing about the military before I left for boot camp. Now, I feel I am completely ready. The book has an easy to understand fitness routine and told me what to expect mentally from a drill sergeant, even the other recruits. This book even contains a packing list so I know exactly what to pack for boot camp.
Before I was scared to leave for basic, now I cant wait.
Decent Book For Ultra-Noob.......2007-01-17
First off, there are many inaccuracies in this book which is odd considering it was written by a SGT (sergeant). The book is not as good as it could be but it's better than any other book on the military out there - as far as getting through basic training.
Overall, it's a helpful book because it will familiarize you with the Army and basic training. The Army is changing quick so some of the info is not relevant.
I'm a veteran of the Army and I think it could be beneficial. I'd recommend talking to recent basic training graduates and ask your recruiter lots of questions. There's also great info on the Army recruiting websites now.
Where Was This Book in 1965? .......2006-09-15
I always felt that my basic training experience back in 1965 would have been much better had I known something about what I was going to endure. Now, modern day Army recruits have at their finger tips, "The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook" for surviving "boot camp"; and this is no exaggeration! Author Sgt. Michael Volkin has done a very creditable job of capturing all the needed information to survive basic training.
He gives you insights and how and why things happen and what you can do ahead of time to prepare yourself for that experience. I guarantee that if you follow his advice as outlined in his book that basic training will be much easier physically and emotionally for you. The keys from his many words of wisdom are to be prepared and to expect the unexpected.
This book is an absolute must for new basic trainees. It can make all the difference between failing mentally or physically and successfully enduring the training. Good photos illustrate physical exercises that will prepare you for the physical needs of basic. The guidebook also gives a good overview of what you should expect to happen from the time you arrive at your basic training facility and reception to graduation week. It takes you step by step through the whole program of training. More importantly, he gives the recruit some good personal advice on how to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble with your "Drill Instructors".
For those of us "old school" Army veterans from Nam or before --it is interesting to note that your DI can no longer physically hit you and kick you or punch you. Gone are the good old days of brutal and unrestrained Army training; but it still doesn't mean that it is any easier to complete. There are those physical elements of running and push-ups and sit-ups that will always continue to challenge new recruits.
Sgt. Volkin has broken his book into logical chapters that are both easy to read and understand. If you are going into the Army you will find this book even more helpful if you get your hands on a copy and read it prior to reporting. It will give you an edge over others. Your confidence will also be enhanced because you will actually be ahead of the game and will know more than the average recruit.
Book Description
This volume in the Praeger Security International (PSI) series "Classics of the Counterinsurgency Era" reveals how French officers who served in Indochina, like the author, Roger Trinquier, fought fierce rear-guard actions against ideologically motivated insurgents in the 1940s and 1950s to a far greater extent than their American counterparts later faced in Vietnam. The lack of coherent strategic direction from Paris in the chaotic years of the Fourth Republic left the military with the task of making political decisions in the field. With the original introduction by Bernard B. Fall and a new foreword prepared by Eliot A. Cohen.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book.......2007-01-04
This book was written in 1964, distilling the author's decades of counterinsurgency experience in Indochina and Algeria. However, as I was reading it, I found that he could have been speaking about Iraq in present day. In reading this book, a reader can realize exactly where we went wrong in Iraq and what we need to do in order to get it right. Unfortunately the generals still haven't learned from Trinquier's experience or apparently read the book. However, the planned "surge" (being discussed as of January 2007) would be in line with what Trinquier recommends.
I am also reading the Galula book. I find the Trinquier book to be an easier read, and possibly a better book (although Galula gets all the recognition).
A Learning Tool.......2007-01-03
This should required reading for anyone about to deploy to OEF or OIF. The lessons taught in this book have direct applicability to today and the types of conflicts that we are currently engaged.
Book Description
In September of 1939, the world was astounded by Germany's ability to defeat Poland in less than a month. With the world still puzzled by the suddenness of this event, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and France fell in rapid succession to the German onslaught, leaving Britain in shock. Greece and Yugoslavia were rapidly over-run during April of 1941, while German-Italian forces advanced rapidly in North Africa. Russia's turn was next, when German forces began pulverizing their forces in June of 1941. How had Germany achieved victory after victory, often against numerically superior enemy forces? The answer came in two words-Panzer and Blitzkrieg. When and how had Germany built its Panzer forces and trained them for the Blitzkrieg? When was each Panzer unit formed? What was their organization? Why were Panzer units disbursed among the Panzer-Divisions. leichte Divisions, and Armee-Korps? When were the various types of Panzers developed? What were their armament, armor protection, capability? How many of each type were produced? What tactics did they use? How successful were they in combat? This is the only book that provides detailed answers to these and other questions related to how German tankers fought in World War II. Tom Jentz found the answers to these questions bu digging through original records for the past tweny-five years. The content os this book is derived solely from these original records consisting of war diaries, reports, and technical and tactical manuals written during the war. The story is told as recorded by those responsible for decisions in developing the Panzertruppen and by those who fought in the Panzers. As work on this book progressed it became apparent that the story of the Panzertruppen was divided into two distinctly separate phases; offensive and defensive. This first volume presents the offensive phase up to October 1942. A second volume is planned that will cover the defensive phase to the end of the war. Tom Jentz is also the author of Germany's Panther Tank: The Quest of Combat Supremacy(available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.). , over 200 b/w photos, 8 1/2" x 11"
Customer Reviews:
Superb reference source!.......2005-10-17
Thomas Jentz's book proves to be a fantastic source of information regarding the German Panzer forces during World War II. This volume covers the period from the early 1930s to 1942. It uses primary German sources that revealed the evolutionary stages of the German panzer formations, their weapons and numbers as the years rolled by. The book also reflects on German perception of how they did, how their tanks performed and needs for changes.
The book reflects the closeness to the source German material. The author expects the reader to have a fine tune knowledge of the German military prior to reading this book. If you have to look up to see the difference between a Panzer 38(t) to Panzer IVd, this book is probably not for you. The unit organization tables are done in the unfamiliar German symbolism instead of your usual NATO symbols so that can be confusing to the novice.
The book seem to be written for people who wants a greater understanding of the German panzer formations and thier gradual metamorphosis. The second volume covers the second half of the war when the German forces were mostly on the defensive mode.
Overall, highly informative reading material, not for the casual reader since this book don't exactly read like a best seller.
Untainted Excellent Info.......2005-06-10
Fantastic books! The detail and information is great. These are not "spec" books of German tanks. The wonderful inclusion of original correspondence between Beck, Fromm, Guderian, etc is fascinating reading. The extensive usage of original German terminology makes for difficult reading (unless you are fluent in German) but is very much appreciated to avoid errors of translation.
Best $50 I've spent.......2004-08-04
This is perhaps the most usefull book on the German panzer forces in World War II, and anyone interested in the subject needs a copy.
In the first portion of the book, Jentz provides a thorough history of the development and employment of panzer formations. This includes initial formation of the first units, the development of prototypes and early equipment, as well as German armored doctrine and tactics.
The remaining portion of the book covers the employment of the Panzer divisions in war from 1939-1942. In this section, Jentz provides a wealth of information. One very usefull feature is that the organization of panzer companies, battalions, and divisions are tracked (along with the translated text of orders changing the organizations) and presented in tables or figures. Given that the Germans frequently changed the organization of these units, this is very valuable information.
Jentz also presents tank strengths and tank types for each division at the start of major operations as part of orders of battle for the panzer divisions. For example, it is thus possible to quickly look up how many Panzer II tanks were available for the invasion of France, and the amount that each division had.
The end of the book has a number of appendices, which provide data on monthly on-hand strength of each tank as well as technical data on for German and a variety of Allied tanks.
I also strongly recommend Jentz's follow-up to this, which is Panzer Truppen volume II, and covers 1943-1945.
Great Book!.......1999-07-07
I agree with the other reviewers. These two books are excellent! If you have any interest in German panzer, tactics and deployment i strongly recommend you to buy them. The 'combat reports' from the officers writing about there experinence during there fight with the enemy, trying to explain the good and bad how to use there tanks is great and gives you a deeper feeling of the problems they had. A must buy!
Essential to any WWII historian.......1999-05-08
Both this volume and volume 2, are excellent sources of primary documentation. Both use war diary, and after-action reports to describe tactics and weapons evolution. As I said in a review of vol.2, by allowing the crews and their platoon-battalion commanders to speak the book has an immediacy that can't be duplicated in other works of the same subject. The author assumes the reader has at least general familiarity with German operations, and knowledge of German WWII military terms and ranks. Probably not for a general interest reader.
Book Description
The first translation of the full body of ancient Chinese strategic wisdom, including Sun Tzu's Art of War and six other classics. Studied throughout Asia for its insights into decision-making, especially by business people.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-09-01
Sawyer knows his subject. He is a master of Chinese warfare and culture. He even teaches you how to pronounce some common Chinese words that we in the west always mispronounce.
The book is great. It covers a lot --- not just The Art of War, though that's included. It is a complete study of the Chinese strategies of war and I recommend it to those interested in this topic.
Great works from an exciting period of history.......2006-07-06
The works in this book are:
1) T'ai Kung's Six Secret Teachings
2) The Methods of Ssu-ma
3) Sun-tzu's Art of War
4) Wu-tzu
5) Wei Liao-tzu
6) Three Strategies of Huang Shih-kung
7) Questions and Replies between T'ang T'ai-tsung and Li Wei-kung
Hope that helps.
My one complaint about this book is that it uses the Wade-Giles transliteration rather than Pinyin, which is what everyone, including China, is using. Wade-Giles is now over 35 years outmoded, and can be very confusing for the uninitiated. Compare Ssu-ma I (Wade-Giles) with Sima Yi (Pinyin). Would you know that they're the same bloke? (If you do, bravo.) I assume this speaks to the age of the translation rather than an editorial choice, but it's pretty annoying that they didn't update it.
If you think you might like this book, but want more of a story than essays/discourses, I recommend 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.' It's very long, but well-loved in most regions of Asia, and with good reason. Also, search for Zhuge Liang's commentary on 'The Art of War.' It's all on Amazon.
???????????.......2005-12-28
WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE OTHER SIX BOOKS
An engaging book.......2004-03-02
I first saw this book at my public library, and loved it. (Evidentally someone else loved it too, 'cause it wandered off and left a few years later.) It holds a great list of books.
Sun Tzu's "Art of War" is in there, but I especially like Tao Tai Kung (or "The secret teachings of the Tai Kung") The most entertaining thing about this work is that it is a beautiful example of a different world view. It was an excellent introduction to an entire philosophy.
(look for surprising parallels twixt this and Adam Smith's "...Wealth of Nations", with an eastern perspective.)
An oustanding addition to any library!.......2001-07-24
In considering Ralph Sawyer's translation of "The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China" one must look at the work from two angles. First, one must consider the quality of the translation, and how well the author has set the historical stage for the piece. Second, one must consider the pieces themselves, and their pertinence to modern strategic thinking.
Regarding the first issue, Sawyer has done a superb job in both his translation, and in his historical research. The prose is easy to read and understand, but the essential, almost poetic, essence of the original language has not been sacrificed. Furthermore, each piece is prefaced by a brief, but detailed, overview of the work including a biography of the author, or possible authors, and a synopsis of the historical context in which the work was created. In addition, the book is heavily footnoted, which allows the reader to fully comprehend each piece, without the primary texts being chopped up.
Regarding the second angle, I was genuinely astonished by how pertinent theses works are to modern military thinking. For such primitive (chronologically, not intellectually) works, they do a superb job of capturing the key elements of strategic thinking: maneuver, logistics, terrain, combined arms and command hierarchy. Moreover, they are extremely sophisticated in their consideration of Grand Strategy and the mobilization of the population. While these works are by no means a blue print for a modern army (the codes of conduct are draconian, to say the least), they undoubtedly provide a framework for the analysis/planning of modern operations.
This is truly a superb work that captures both the philosophical and the practical aspects of some of the most ancient books on the planet. Furthermore, it is a fascinating look at ancient Chinese history. It is truly a must read for anyone interested in military theory or international relations, particularly with China once again ascendant on the world stage.
Book Description
Second Edition
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The Greeks of the classical age invented not only the central idea of Western politics--that the power of state should be guided by a majority of its citizens--but also the central act of Western warfare, the decisive infantry battle. Instead of ambush, skirmish, maneuver, or combat between individual heroes, the Greeks of the fifth century b.c. devised a ferocious, brief, and destructive head-on clash between armed men of all ages. In this bold, original study, Victor Davis Hanson shows how this brutal enterprise was dedicated to the same outcome as consensual government--an unequivocal, instant resolution to dispute.
The Western Way of War draws from an extraordinary range of sources--Greek poetry, drama, and vase painting, as well as historical records--to describe what actually took place on the battlefield. It is the first study to explore the actual mechanics of classical Greek battle from the vantage point of the infantryman--the brutal spear-thrusting, the difficulty of fighting in heavy bronze armor which made it hard to see, hear and move, and the fear. Hanson also discusses the physical condition and age of the men, weaponry, wounds, and morale.
This compelling account of what happened on the killing fields of the ancient Greeks ultimately shows that their style of armament and battle was contrived to minimize time and life lost by making the battle experience as decisive and appalling as possible. Linking this new style of fighting to the rise of constitutional government, Hanson raises new issues and questions old assumptions about the history of war.
Customer Reviews:
Well written, fascinating.......2007-01-11
This study of Greek hoplite warfare explains the infantry practices of the remote past with great clarity and should interest anyone who enjoys studying warfare or history.
Battle as you've never experienced it before.......2007-01-10
By utilizing primary sources from first hand witnesses of ancient battle, Hanson paints a brilliant picture of what war in classical Greece was actually like. This book is a must-read for anyone fascinated by military history.
Good Grand, if Overplayed Review of Classical Greek Battle.......2006-11-27
Good 'ol Victor Davis Hanson is on the loose again. This time -- thankfully -- in his old stomping grounds of Ancient Greece. Again VDH has the truth serum of classical combat in strong measure. Make no doubt about it, Hanson knows what ancient combat was about -- let there be no other interpretations of this period: This is both the strength and the weakness of his book in my humble opinion: Hanson is making inferences about broad sweeps of history in a way a person would describe the chemical reaction of boric acid in water -- all very mathematical, and not allowing for the possibility of error, or little other interpretation.
Hanson starts where it all began, and where it all should begin -- with the grand master of the Iliad and Homer. Classical battle is defined and the classic stages of warfare, down to Hellenic Warfare are demonstrated. He even goes in detail enough during the dark ages between 1200 and 800 BC and asserts certain economic theories about the time to explain the nature of the civilisation. It is at times like these, when grand edifices are constructed on Hanson's private preferences that one gets the idea that something may be amiss. We know almost nothing about the economic time of the Greek Dark Ages -- I am little more than uneasy about how easily he asserts the truth of this age.
Make no mistake, this is not a politcal track such as "Carnage & Culture" or some of his other literature that have made him a doyen of the illogical political right in the US, this is serious scholarship. But it is certainly a lot different from the model of scholarship I was taught to worship and emulate -- one where a broad understanding of other ideas and competing theories and, and small measure of humility, yeild a wonderful read and superior wisdom. One could cite G.F. Cantor or M.I. Findley as good examples of the latter.
But Hanson has his truth and it will reign. So be it.
I learned a lot from his prose and his ability to find the locus of tactical change within the ancient Greek way of warfare make this a good read with the lot of worthy scholarship. He is particularly good on his shift from classic Greek warfare -- short depth in ranks, short stabbing spears and the panoply -- to the changes that lead to an almost baroque assembly or multiple serried ranks of 20 plus and unwieledy spears. The push of the pike was never more important, but the Greeks somehow lost the ability to engage locate and move against the evolving Roman tactics.
I do not think this book is as good as Lendon ("Ghosts and Soldiers") in its experimental thesis, but it is still a very good introductory read on the subject. Although I am highly critical of Hansen, he should thank me for his royalty cheques, since I do own most of his works, warts and all.
A crucial book.......2006-11-10
This book is a crucial source to understand the way in which Greeks engage in War. As a person interested in strategy and military history, I realize that this book complements my knowledge of the classical greek period.
A disappointment.......2006-10-06
Both Mr. Keegan and Mr. Hanson are accomplished authors with a gift for communicating their ideas. I have been a fan of Mr. Keegan's books for many years but not quite so fond of Mr. Hanson's theories. This theory on the superiority of western warfare and its roots, though perhaps an interesting theory to explore, is a great disappointment to me. It is indeed an important work that should be considered by the serious student but be sure to read some of the opposition and I think the problems with these theories will become quite evident. I would have expected different conclusions from others of Mr. Keegan's books but his great accomplishments in the field of military history force us to consider what he has to say and challenges us to study further.
Customer Reviews:
Mult-dimension book and more books from the author.......2007-04-16
The author writes a mult-dimension book about an unusual war where an entire theater of operations was depend on capturing, and defending an airfield and then the next military objective was another airfield. I agreed that author failed to talk about the K-84 Hayate (Frank), but he forgot that the Japanese also produce the Shiden N1K2 (George) Navy fighter plane. The author also seems to forget that American pilots had to fly for 8 to 14 hours from England and Italy to escort the bombers and then fight the Luftwaffe pilots just like the Japanese pilots had to do from Rabual. The only differences was that we had more fighter planes and pilots than the Japanese, and our planes could absorb much damage from enemy fire and bring our pilots back home.
The author seems to forget that much of the American population was also unskilled labor when it came to maintaining planes that were designed by Americans who were college graduates. We had no nationwide apprenticeship program system like they have in Europe when it comes to producing a skill technical labor force. Nowadays, we have been getting rid of such a technical skilled labor force for the last 27 years. The Japanese at least gave their enlisted soldiers and sailors a chance to become pilots since 1928 and continue it until the end of World War II. On the other hand, the US Navy, Marines and Army did not try to expand their enlisted pilots during the war.
I did not realizes how easy it was to be hit by the variety of diseases and illness in the tropics. Amazing how the tropics can be so beautiful in the photographs of the tourist industries' bochures and at the same time be so deadly. Of course, those people who fought in Burma from 1941-1945 could emphasize those who were expose to the diseases in the South Pacific and dealing with the jungle.
The way they said that it rain so much in the South Pacific, you wonder how both the Allies and the Japanses ever manage to fight such a war in a place like that. If it rain so much, there would have been no war at all because all sea and air operations could not operate in an environment at all.
The author should also have talk to members of the U. S. Navy Fighter Squadron 5 and 17 since they fought in that area. Furthermore, he should also have talk to members of the U. S. Army fighter groups that operate from Guadalcanel.
I hope the author writes two books about the air war over the Philippines in 1944. The first book would be from October 1944 to December 1944 with regards to Leyte Island. The second book should be about air war over the Philippines from January 1945 to the end of Japanese air resistance.
Overall, an excellent book given the complexity blending in so many subject matters and how each one play a part in the overall campaign.
Engineeriing approach and more.......2007-03-30
The strengths of the book have been mentioned in other reviews, so I will focus on certain weaknesses not emphasized by others.
The first main weakness is luck of technical understanding of several terms by the author. He seems to confuse the terms, power loading, and wing loading. He failed to recognize that the Japanese fighters' lower wing loading was actually a more significant benefit in terms of maneuverability at higher altitudes where the air density is lower (he supports the opposite, which is not technically reasonable). He also makes the statement many times that the maneuverability advantage of the Japanese fighters at the expense of heavy armor proved not to be the winning advantage. The statement needs to be corrected however, in my opinion. When a very skilful pilot is manning the more maneuverable fighter, the compromise for maneuverability can actually pay off. Early in the war, the Japanese had probably the best pilots in the world, which justifies their choice in the maneuverability/speed/armor compromise. This is well illustrated when Japanese ace pilots, even late in the war, often engaged large numbers of allied fighters sinle-handed, and not only usually survived by using the maneuverability of their "obsolete" fighters, but also gained victories over their multiple opponents. However, as the author properly states, late in the war, the lack of speed and armor was indeed a serious drawback when the majority of the Japanese pilots could not be properly trained, due to the lack of aviation fuel.
The second main weakness is that the book is heavily biased to the American side. It fails to emphasize the important role of serendipity that allowed the Americans to gain significant advantages (i.e., the victory in the Midway battle which was very much determined by luck, or the early discovery of a flyable A6M2 by the allies which allowed the early development of the proper tactics to deal with the Zero). Another example of bias is as follows: In the section where a P-40 pilot (justifiably biased) declared that his side had the speed advantage and therefore could dictate when and where to fight, the author (who should intervene in a more unbiased position) failed to mention that the Zero had almost twice the rate of climb of the P-40, and therefore a far stronger advantage to dictate the terms of the air battle. Finally, and possibly the most significant example of bias is the Author's failure to even mention the Japanese Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank) in the Japanese warplane section. The Hayate had completely outclassed the US fighters in almost every respect, and its impact in the air war was reduced only by the relatively small numbers and the lack of experienced pilots and mechanics. However, an experienced pilot in a Hayate was a very serious threat to any allied fighter, even if outnumbered.
Finally, the superior fighting spirit of the Japanese was only barely touched by this book. Even though it is not fair to compare aircrew individually due to the different cultures, the Japanese had a considerable advantage in this respect. At the end, quantity overwhelmed quality, as far as the fighting spirit was concerned. In my opinion, this is a serious deficiency of a historical book, that by definition should at least try to be unbiased. A more in depth understanding of the unusual Japanese culture would have helped the author develop a better picture of the cultural disconnect, and how the allied leadership took advantage of the cultural difference to motivate the aircrews, and minimize potential ethical doubts when the latter were employed in the extermination of tens of thousands of Japanese troops (and later hundreds of thousands of civilians). The author states that racism had little part in the war ethics, but that is a serious historical error. In my opinion, we have to say history as it was, in order to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Outstanding!.......2007-03-09
This was the first book of Mr. Bergerud's I've read, and I must say I was impressed. The way he broke down the course of the war into the several aspects he felt to be contributing factors in its outcome I found to be thoughtful and well supported. He supplied frequent first hand accounts that not only backed up the point being made, but were startling in their vividness.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an in-depth study of the air war in the south Pacific. Don't let the size of the book scare you; he does a fine job of covering the subject and supporting his statements. I'd compare his style to the great Barbara Tuchman's: it may take you a while to get through it all, but when you're finished your understanding of the subject will be absolute.
War of attrition -- superb campaign history.......2006-11-25
Most of the reviews here are more concerned with how Professor Bergerud tells his story than what he says.
The what, however, is the reason to spend many hours with this volume.
This is the first history to pull together in one place all the aspects of the air campaign in the Southwest Pacific. Other writers, including some very good ones, have analyzed tactics or equipment. Fewer have paid much attention to logistics, which was even more difficult than usual in the terrible conditions of Melanesia. Fewer still have written much about the difficulties of maintaining health and morale of aircrew and ground personnel in such conditions.
Bergerud pulls all this together, along with thoughtful analysis of the differing approaches of the two foes to the campaign. Also, he explores the social differences between the antagonists, and those effects upon the battlefield.
Nothing is left out.
All this is deftly melded with many personal reminiscences of the warriors, making it an easy read for those whose interest in military matters is limited to the chatter of machine guns. I have never read a better popular battle history.
The Japanese side is underdescribed, inevitably. Not many Japanese pilots survived to reflect on their experiences.
A little thin on Objectivity.......2006-11-08
This is a discussion of why the allies were superior and as such is not so objective. Obviously written by an American however the author gives a nice nod to the Australian & New Zealand allies. It centres on the Guadalcanal and New Guinea campaigns and does not branch into the Central Pacific or Philippines, but is about the South Pacific campaings after all. Outstanding coverage of the weapons involved, more so for the Allied equipment. Easy to read, this book features interviews with veterans, which is valuable and entertaining. This book is an easy read although does drag out a bit too long and not as concise as Touched with Fire The Land War in the South Pacific.
Book Description
'War is merely the continuation of policy by other means' On War is one of the most important books ever written on the subject of war. Clausewitz, a Prussian officer who fought against the French during the Napoleonic Wars, sought to understand and analyse the phenomenon of war so that future leaders could conduct and win conflicts more effectively. He studied the human and social factors that affect outcomes, as well as the tactical and technological ones. He understood that war was a weapon of government, and that political purpose, chance, and enmity combine to shape its dynamics. On War continues to be read by military strategists, politicians, and others for its timeless insights. This abridged edition by Beatrice Heuser, using the acclaimed translation by Michael Howard and Peter Paret, selects the central books in which Clausewitz's views on the nature and theory of war are developed.
Download Description
Two motives lead men to War: instinctive hostility and hostile intention. In our definition of War, we have chosen as its characteristic the latter of these elements, because it is the most general. It is impossible to conceive the passion of hatred of the wildest description, bordering on mere instinct, without combining with it the idea of a hostile intention. On the other hand, hostile intentions may often exist without being accompanied by any, or at all events by any extreme, hostility of feeling. Amongst savages views emanating from the feelings, amongst civilised nations those emanating from the understanding, have the predominance; but this difference arises from attendant circumstances, existing institutions, &c., and, therefore, is not to be found necessarily in all cases, although it prevails in the majority. In short, even the most civilised nations may burn with passionate hatred of each other. Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.
Customer Reviews:
The Rapoport introduction ruined it for me.......2007-02-23
There is a reason that this is a classic. If I'm a teacher at a war college like
West Point , I can assign chapters
and test the students on the understanding of the material.
It is more in the western form of learning than Sun Tzu's classic.
Where does it fail?
Even at this time the "staff" type running of war
that defeated Napoleon was being used by joint European powers.
The running of a war has come to be viewed as like that of an effective business.
You even need a legal staff to deal with civilian complaints.
The modern mathematical approaches of games theory ( Rapoport ) for tactics and
systems theory ( Asimov ) for long range strategy are what spoil this book for me.
War as an object of nationalistic policy has been destroyed by science in our time.
The terrorists have tried to breath new life into the ancient war of faith
by killing their own people at a greater rate than they do the enemy.
Logistically that approach is destined to failure:
you just run out of soldiers fool enough to die for their god.
Carl von Clausewitz was sold on "genius" as the answer to war problems.
I think accounting ability may be as important.
An unwieldy translation.......2006-11-20
In a nutshell: Don't waste your money on this version.
The original version of this translation dates to just after the turn of the century, but the introduction and further editing by Anatol Rapaport (a biologist and a musician, not a political scientist or historian), make this a clumsy read at best and downright misleading at worst.
Rapaport, for being an editor of Clausewitz, was not a believer in the trinitarian system (primordial violence, non-rational actions, and rationality)- probably not a good choice for a work which owes as much as it does to the first and second Trinities (army, people, and government).
If this is the only one you can get, then live with it. The first chance you get, get the much clearer, much more straightforward Paret/Howard translation, which is the one that's actually taught at most service schools as well as in universities in their courses that use it.
A few translation suggestions.......2006-09-27
A few years ago, I translated the crucial first chapter of On War's first book from German into Portuguese. The results were then discussed vis-à-vis the Paret/Howard English version in our post-graduate program. Back then, I wrote a few additional comments in English about nuances of the Paret/Howard text [otherwise, very good], which - so I believed - seemed to dilute the depth of Clausewitz' exposition at key spots. These brief comments follow below, as I still believe they can be of some interest, particularly to those who meditate the relation between war and politics, and as they touch the very heart of Clausewitz unsurpassed insight into the nature of bellic conflict.
The first sentence is the Paret/Howard quotation; the second is the original German; and the third is how I would suggest it in English.
Title 26
* All Wars Can Be Considered Acts of Policy
** Sie koennen alle als politische Handlungen betrachtet werden
*** They [the wars of the previous paragraph] can all be approached as political actions.
§ 2
* If the state is thought of as a person, and policy as the product of its brain, then among the contingencies for which the state must be prepared is a war in which every element calls for policy to be eclipsed by violence. Only if politics is regarded not as resulting from a just appreciation of affairs, but - as it conventionally is - as cautious, devious, even dishonest, shying away from force, could the second type of war appear to be more `political' than the first.
** denn betrachtet man die Politik wie die Intelligenz des personifizierten Staates, so muss unter allen Konstellationen, die ihr Kalkuel aufzufassen hat, doch auch diejenige begriffen sein koennen, wo die Natur aller Verhaeltnisse einen Krieg der ersten Art bedingt. Nur insofern man unter Politik nicht eine allgemeine Einsicht, sondern der `konventionellen' Begriff einer der Gewalt abgewendeten, behutsamen, verschlagenen, auch unredlichen Klugheit versteht, koennte die letzte Art des Krieges ihr mehr angehoeren als die erstere.
*** for if one approaches politics as the intelligence of the personified state, so it ought to be possible, among all constellations that its [the personified state's] calculus must consider, to understand those [constellations] in which the nature of all relationships also determines a war of the first kind. Only if one understands politics in the conventional [depreciative italics] view - as a violence-averse, cautious, devious, and even dishonest cunning - and not as a generic discernment; only then could the last kind of war belong more to politics than the first.
§ 3
*First, therefore, it is clear that war should never be thought of as something autonomous but always as an instrument of policy; otherwise the entire history of war would contradict us. Only this approach will enable us to penetrate the problem intelligently.
** Wir sehen erstens: dass wir uns den Krieg unter allen Umstaende als kein selbstaendiges Ding, sondern als ein politisches Instrument zu denken haben; und nur mit dieser Vorstellungsart ist es moeglich, nicht mit den saemtlichen Kriegsgeschichte in Widerspruch zu geraten. Sie allein schliesst das grosse Buch zu verstaendiger Einsicht auf.
*** First, therefore, we see that we ought always to think of war as a political instrument, and by no means as an autonomous thing. And only with this kind of conception we will not contradict the entire history of war. It [this kind of conception] alone [my italics] opens the great book of proper understanding.
101 § 1
* ... a paradoxical trinity...
** ... eine wunderliche Dreifaltigkeit...
*** ... an amazing trinity...
§2
* The first of these three aspects mainly concerns the people; the second the commander and his army; the third the government.
** Die erste dieser drei Seiten ist mehr dem Volke, die zweite mehr dem Feldherrn und seinem Heer, die dritte mehr der Regierung zugewendet.
*** The first of these three dimensions is directed more to the people; the second, more to the commander and his army; the third, more to the government.
§3
* These three tendencies are like three different codes of law, deep-rooted in their subject and yet variable in their relationship to one another.
** Diese drei Tendenzen, die als ebenso viele verschiedene Gesetzgebungen erscheinen, sind tief in der Natur des Gegenstandes gegruendet und zugleich von veraendlicher Groesse.
*** These three tendencies, which appear just like many different codes of law, have their foundation laid deep in the nature of the object and, at the same time, may acquire variable magnitudes.
My final suggestion is that the name of Clausewitz' book in English should be "Of War", instead of "On War". This is not only a picky nuance: there is a wide and deep gulf between "Of" (`Von', `De') and "On" (`Über', `Super'), a gulf which has been overlooked even by the best philosophers - but not by Clausewitz in his title. Everyday language makes us used to mistakes such as "speak on something", "reflect on something", and truly, these things do not happen. We speak something, meditate/mediate a thought. Clausewitz speaks of war, and certainly not ON war; Jomini speaks on war: he is actually sitting ontop of it, and, really, knows too little to speak OF it.
Would-Be-Commanders Should Buy Other Books.......2006-09-18
If you are going into politics this book is for you. It is very abstract and rambles on for thousands of words in order to get to a single point.
If you are like me I read it, hoping to find great ideas about strategy, and how to best understand ways for armies to maneuver and defeat an enemy. Clauswitz, however, really did not fulfill my needs.
After reading other books titled "The Art of War" there are two that are better than Clauswitz, regarding operational strategy. Baron Antoine Henri de Jomini's "The Art of War," and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." These go straight to the point. Jomini's was written in the same era of Clauswitz. Like Clauswitz it discusses the principles and lessons of the wars of Frederick the Great and Napoleon. Unlike Clauswitz, Jomini discusses how commanders can best use specific strategies in battles, like flank attacks, the oblique order, convex order, etc.--Fun Stuff!
Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" is like reading Psalms (only with military themes)--it is most concise; with fewer words each passage inspires one's mind with creativity in understanding important principles of strategy (there was not much space anyway on bamboo for ancient Chinese philosophers to write long treatises, like that of Clauswitz!)
Much of the philosophies of Clauswitz are viable, but there is a foolish one that I must give criticism to. It is well known in military studies that the generals of World War I studied this book extensively. In "On War," Chapter XI, the author states, "Let us not hear of Generals who conquer without bloodshed. If a bloody slaughter is a horrible sight, then it is a ground for paying more respect for war...." World War I commanders must have really taken this to heart, because the Western Front must have been the most wasteful and unproductive meat grinder in the history of warfare. For example, Falkenhayn wanted to bleed the French white in the Battle of Verdun. He got his wish--a total of a million people died. What positive result did it get anyone? NOTHING! (I guess you can say there WAS more respect for the horrors of war, but what good did that do for millions of families which lost loved ones!) This Clauswitzian theme for bloodshed proved moot when in World War II armies followed a different theme: fight with as little casualties as possible.
Its the ECONOMICS, stupid !!.......2006-09-09
-Everyone expressing a erudite opinion about Clausewitz or "ON WAR" has completely missed the point here.
-The question is NOT whether Clausewitz or "On War" is an essential read for everyone interested in military hsitory or military affairs. THAT is a moot piont to the Nth Degree.
-The REAL question IS - WHY would you pay $595.oo for a book that has the same identical information as another book for $30.oo ?!?!?!?
-That is the ONLY question regarding THIS particular version of "ON WAR".
-Its the ECONOMICS, stupid !!
Book Description
Based on a lifetime of research by naval historian Turnstall, this book traces the evolution of fleet tactics from the Dutch Wars of the 17th century to the War of Independence in the late 18th and the defeat of the French Empire in 1815.
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