On War (Oxford World's Classics) | Carl von Clausewitz

On War (Oxford World's Classics) | Carl von Clausewitz | Strategy ? - This book is required reading.

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On War (Oxford Wor...

	On War (Oxford World's Classics) Carl von Clausewitz Oxford University Press, USA, 2007 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 66 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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 analyze 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. Heuser's introduction explains the originality of Clausewitz's ideas, his education and background, and summarizes his key theories, while explanatory notes provide further information on the historical examples Clausewitz cites.

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Geo-Political Student

Very well written. A must have book for any student or practicioner of the Art and Strategy of War and/or the History of War.

Strategy ? - This book is required reading.

This classic is required reading for any scholar or other person interested in strategic thinking, military command and decision making, leadership of large scale or complex endeavors.

Slog

On War is a great book and had Civil War Generals followed its advice, the war would have probably been over much sooner and not have lasted so long.

If you like military history, this is a must read.

The Definitive Von Clausewitz

I purchased the Everyman's Library edition of Von Clausewitz's On War for my husband, who is a military officer. He was deeply dissatisfied with the Penguin edition, which is awful in every respect, and so I went in search of an unabridged publication. The Everyman's library version is affordable at around twenty dollars, and expertly translated by the Princeton scholars Howard and Paret (who have a much more expensive but otherwise identical Princeton press edition published). It includes the entire unfinished work, including the books that focus on specifics of military tactics left out of the Penguin edition.
My only complaint about this excellent edition, which incidentally features a very helpful "how to read this book" section, is that it is somewhat cheaply bound and may not hold up to prolonged and intense study over the years. It would be nice to have an attractively bound copy for display in a library or office, as well. I fear we may begin to lose pages if we are not careful, but at twenty dollars, the book is replaceable. Steer clear of penguin, and go straight to Howard and Paret. You won't be sorry.

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"War is nothing but a duel on an extensive scale."

This is one of those books where one of my immediate questions before I begin is whether or not I have enough qualifications in the subject matter to get anything useful out of the material. Some writers can be read relatively cold. Others cannot. In terms of military theory, I haven't read more than a few primary texts: The Art Of War and The Book of Five Rings.

Since Von Clausewitz spends quite a bit of time on base definitions, I found that even given my lack of background in military theory I was able to follow and engage with the material. I am sure that someone who has a better background in the subject matter would get even more. I was satisfied that it was a good use of my time.

Personally, I found myself focusing the most on the distinction that Von Clausewitz makes between strategy and tactics. It felt important, and quite applicable even off the battlefield. Even if I was only considering that theme, there would have been more than enough material for me to chew over. I was actually surprised with how much I enjoyed the book and how I never felt bored or lost.

I read the Wordsworth Library edition, which was significantly abridged. The first books are translated and published in full, with the abridgment increasing as the books progressed. This irritated me a little bit, but I may well be inclined to trust the editor's judgment that a casual reader like myself need not read the entire work. This edition had a rather blessedly clear and helpful introduction by Louise Willmot.

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