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A History of Strategy: From Sun Tzu to William S. Lind Hardcover – May 19, 2015
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length144 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherCastalia House
- Publication dateMay 19, 2015
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.38 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN-109527065542
- ISBN-13978-9527065549
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Product details
- Publisher : Castalia House (May 19, 2015)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 144 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9527065542
- ISBN-13 : 978-9527065549
- Item Weight : 10.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.38 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,378,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,918 in Military Strategy History (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides an interesting overview of strategic thought through the ages. They find it instructive and a great reference for historical military. The writing is clear and understandable to beginners. Opinions differ on the length - some find it short and sweet, while others feel it's too short for what it covers.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book informative and entertaining. They say it provides a good overview of strategies from ancient times to modern times. The writing is concise and intelligent, opening an intellectual door for readers. Overall, they describe it as a great introduction to both military history and military strategy.
"...military history or strategy before, but this well written introduction opened an intellectual door for me...." Read more
"...He said that this book serves as great introduction to both military history and military strategy. He was certainly right about that one...." Read more
"...guidance of history's most significant figures is ripe with worldview enhancement, and I have to say that I think I am a more (more than before) well..." Read more
"...to the historical contexts and summary information, but this works as a good overview." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate its good binding and quality for readers interested in warfare. The book is described as a nice, succinct foray into the world of military.
"I read this a few months back and enjoyed it tremendously...." Read more
"...The shortness and easiness to read are both the strength and weakness of the book...." Read more
"Well written and readable book but it really should be titled "HistorieS of Strategy" as it is more of an overview of essential writings on Military..." Read more
"This is a succinct book with a good, hard binding...." Read more
Customers find the writing clear and understandable for beginners.
"Well written and readable book but it really should be titled "HistorieS of Strategy" as it is more of an overview of essential writings on Military..." Read more
"...Well written and brought to my attention a few writers I didn't know enough about before...." Read more
"...Martin van Creveld's writing is clear, he doesn't overwhelm the reader with the specialized jargon of his field, but rather gently uses the proper..." Read more
"I may be doing this book an injustice with four stars. It is *very* readable even for a tyro like me...." Read more
Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it a concise introduction to history, while others feel it's too short for what it covers. The writing is tight and to the point.
"...So I chose to start here. The book is a short and sweet introduction to the history of military strategy...." Read more
"It's surprisingly short for as much as it covers. The writing is tight and to the point...." Read more
"...Its brevity is part of its strength, and for anyone interested in the topic this is a great reference to find other historical military texts to..." Read more
"...is the last chapter describing fourth generation warfare, which was too short. Wanted more." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2017I read this a few months back and enjoyed it tremendously. I had never read about military history or strategy before, but this well written introduction opened an intellectual door for me. I find myself reading far more about history in general because of this book. Can't recommend enough for anyone with even a passing interest in military strategy and history.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2019A History of Strategy by Martin Van Creveld was a book suggested by Van Creveld’s publisher, editor and friend Vox Day on his Dark Streams. He said that this book serves as great introduction to both military history and military strategy. He was certainly right about that one. I had been suggested by many friends to read his work regarding human equality, and the Israeli military as well. Seeing that the man is commonly seen as the leading figure in military history today, I figured I needed to start somewhere. So I chose to start here.
The book is a short and sweet introduction to the history of military strategy. Each chapter is about 15 pages long and is devoted to a different era in war. One for the antiquity and the middle ages, one for the interwar period, one for the early modern era etc. When reading this it becomes evident that Creveld can write both on the popular level for mass audiences and with the technicality and precision needed to be a great scholar. The chapters go by fast, and so does the book.
When reading through the historiography of military strategy what is most interesting to me are the changes in what was considered the most important element in winning a war. In early societies, maintaining virtue and discipline was considered the key to victory. Later Maneuver and/or the rapid deployment of force was seen as the key to victory. Until finally in the modern era technology was seen as the key to victory. Creveld is sceptical of technology being the be all and end all of modern strategy. Instead he focuses upon actual modern philosophies which are defined not simply upon technology weather they be total, nuclear, or unconventional based. He even talks about his own theory of non trinitarian warfare at the end.
The shortness and easiness to read are both the strength and weakness of the book. You are getting a very shallow conception of the historiography and philosophies involved, but it nonetheless proves to be interesting and engaging. The book best serves as a springboard to suggest further reading materials for the reader to pick after they have finished reading. That being said I look forward to reading more of Van Creveld’s works in the future.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2016For a person who has zero background in anything related to military or strategy, I found this book to be inspiring and insightful. The strategic philosophy and practical guidance of history's most significant figures is ripe with worldview enhancement, and I have to say that I think I am a more (more than before) well-rounded person for having read this book.
When Jesus says to be "cunning as serpents and innocent as dove." Christians exaggerate innocence part to a fault (like Desdemona in OTHELLO), but the "cunning as serpents" part (Iago) is something this book helps give a better understanding of. A HISTORY OF STRATEGY isn't Machiavellian, but the thoughts of the subject strategists is tactically enlightening, tempered with experience, and, well, a lesson in cunning for the doves of innocence.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2019Well written and readable book but it really should be titled "HistorieS of Strategy" as it is more of an overview of essential writings on Military strategy and not a discourse on strategic thought itself. That being said, I'm glad I bought it and read it because now I know where to focus my continued studies with more efficiency as I can go directly to the most important works.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2015A very good summary of the contributions to military strategy over the centuries. Well written and brought to my attention a few writers I didn't know enough about before. My only quibble would be that I'd have liked to see much more detail about their strategic contributions in addition to the historical contexts and summary information, but this works as a good overview.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2017This short book (140pgs, including notes) covers a great deal of ground. The eight chapters cover the highlights of each time period, and it is rather startling that such a major human endeavor can be adequately summarized in such a slim volume. However, Mr. van Creveld focuses his survey on the giants of the field, with a bit of attention to lesser known men who nudged strategic thought in one direction or another.
What I found startling was the lack of truly independent and innovative thought in this field. For example, Western thought in the Middle Ages was mostly a regurgitation of selected classical thinkers. Another point of interest was the cultural contrast between Chinese military thought and Clausweitz. For air and naval strategy, there appear to be only a few key texts.
For a beginner or someone who wishes for a brief overview, this is an excellent introduction. I expect that I'll be exploring the notes for the key strategic texts that are still new to me
- Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2016It's surprisingly short for as much as it covers. The writing is tight and to the point. I've dabbled a little in this field, van Creveld's outstanding skill and deep knowledge is readily apparent to even a layman such as myself. This book acts more a gateway into the world of strategy than anything else. If you want to learn about military history and strategy, this book covers who and what you need to read, and why.
Martin van Creveld's writing is clear, he doesn't overwhelm the reader with the specialized jargon of his field, but rather gently uses the proper language for his craft at the right times, quite often after preparing the reader to understand the context of the unfamiliar terminology.
If you have any interest in this subject, it's a must have book.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2020This is a succinct book with a good, hard binding. Excellent addition to The Art of War for those who aren’t quite ready to tackle Clausewitz just yet.
Top reviews from other countries
- L. N.Reviewed in Canada on December 5, 2020
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Good read
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CICCARELLI GIORDANOReviewed in Italy on June 10, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo libro per orientarsi nel mondo del pensiero strategico.
Il libro, molto breve, ha però il pregio di fare una panoramica su tutto il pensiero strategico dagli albori ad oggi. Altro suo punto di forza è di elencare, in un unico testo, i nomi dei principali autori di strategia della storia umana. Insomma un ottima base per ampliare lo studio della materia in maniera organica.
- jayReviewed in India on December 1, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Van Creveld...........Lucid and logical. as always
- Sam HartReviewed in Australia on May 22, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Interested in strategy, history, strategy games, military fiction, or alternative history? You must read this.
There's not a lot to say about this book. It's a fast, easy read that gives you an excellent narrative overview of the development of strategy, from the most ancient and famous texts, through to the treatises of the 19th century, and into the modern day. If you're interested in strategy and warfare in any period, or if you're interested in wargames from the single engagement through to grand strategy, this is absolutely a must-read, just for the simple insights you can get from it. The moment I realized the implications to strategic warfare of the relative supply needs of a Roman legion to 19th century infantry was pretty awesome.
And it's that kind of insight you'll get here, if you pay attention. Interested in strategy? Read this.
- mcdowellaReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2015
4.0 out of 5 stars Useful survey of the available literature
You could regard this as either a short book or a very long survey article. In either case, one of its main benefits is that it summarizes primary sources for you, so you can either learn from the summaries, or decide which you want to read for yourself. The scope is described in the beginning as confined by the "very limited space available" and therefore does not cover many contributions, particularly from "the vast number who have done so since 1945". I am grateful to it for directing my attention to the work of Julian Corbett (which is now in the public domain) on British Naval strategies, including the use of the Navy to land troops on the continent, and generally make trouble there, when fighting a continental power. I think the most obvious gaps in this book are a lack of coverage of Situational Awareness (or of Boyd's OODA loop) and of counter-insurgency theory.
Freedman's "Strategy: a History" is more wide-ranging and more comprehensive - I am particularly impressed by what it says about the importance of building and maintaining coalitions - but also larger and more expensive.