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Book Review: A Search for Strategy: British–American Military Collaboration in 1942
No full textAuthor: John F. Shortal
Reviewed by: Reviewed by Colonel William Phillips, US Army retired, assistant professor, Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations, Command and General Staff College
John F. Shortal’s book explores the relationship between Britain and the United States as they worked together to develop strategy during World War II. He introduces key players of strategy development, as well as how priorities the different countries brought to the table affected outcomes of specific battles and the war as a whole. The reviewer sees this book as more than a record of history, but also a provider of relevant lessons for strategic leaders.
©2025 William Phillipshttps://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1115/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War
No full textAuthor: Ben Connable
Reviewed by: Justin R. Lynch, lecturer, Georgetown University
Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War by Ben Connable dismantles popular assumptions about the future of warfare by grounding its analysis in over 400 real-world battles. Rather than relying on hype around technology and precision, Connable reveals the enduring, gritty realities of land combat. This thought-provoking study challenges military planners and strategists to rethink how wars are truly fought—and won.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1107/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II
No full textAuthor: Lena Andrews
Reviewed by: Dr. Christine Cook, director of theories and war, Department of Distance Education, US Army War College
In Valiant Women, author Lena Andrews compiles stories that were largely gathered through interviews with women who served during World War II and uncovers their important but often overlooked contributions to the war effort. Although the reviewer regrets Andrews’s missed opportunity to include academic sources alongside the firsthand accounts, she still sees this compilation of untold stories as relevant and important.
©2025 Christine Cookhttps://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1112/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: Outmaneuvered: America’s Tragic Encounter with Warfare from Vietnam to Afghanistan
No full textAuthor: James A. Warren
Reviewed by: Dr. Marie Louise deRaismes Combes, assistant professor of national security, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College
Outmaneuvered: America’s Tragic Encounter with Warfare from Vietnam to Afghanistan chronologically examines the United States’ relationship with counterinsurgency. The author’s primary focus is the influence of politics on irregular warfare and covers irregular conflicts that occurred prior to and after 9/11. The reviewer saw both positives and negatives to the book and its arguments.
©2025 Marie Louise deRaismes Combeshttps://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1111/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: Sun Tzu in Space: What International Relations, History, and Science Fiction Teach Us About Our Future
No full textAuthor: Gregory D. Miller
Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel Timothy S. Martin, director, Defense Strategy Course, US Army War College, and Captain Stephanie St. Louis, strategic planner, Office of the Chief of Army Reserve, Fort Belvoir
Sun Tzu in Space combines an examination of history and science fiction to assess what humanity’s future in space could look like through an international relations lens. The reviewer sees it as “a pulse check on the potential for violent future conflicts” and recommends it for policymakers and science fiction enthusiasts alike.
©2025 Timothy G. Martin and Stephanie St. Louishttps://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1108/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: Crisis and Crossfire: The United States and the Middle East Since 1945 – Second Edition
No full textAuthor: Peter L. Hahn
Reviewed by: Colonel Phil Messer
From the Arab-Israeli peace process to the fight against terrorism, Hahn’s updated history reveals the forces shaping US policy in one of the world’s most volatile regions.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1119/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks: Dishonorable Leadership in the U.S. Military
No full textAuthor: Jeffrey J. Matthews
Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel Josh VanBuskirk, instructor, Defense Strategy Foundation Course, Department of Distance Education, US Army War College
In this provocative and meticulously researched book, Jeffrey J. Matthews exposes the dark underbelly of US military leadership through a century of scandals—from war crimes and insubordination to corruption and abuse. Through gripping case studies, Matthews reveals how personal failings, and institutional blind spots have repeatedly undermined the integrity of America’s flag officers. A sobering exploration of power and accountability, the book challenges readers to rethink what ethical leadership truly demands in times of crisis.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1117/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: Facing the Victorious Turks: How the French Misread the Turkish War of Independence
No full textAuthor: Andrew Orr
Reviewed by: Dr. Michael S. Neiberg, chair of war studies, US Army War College
After World War I, French officials viewed the Middle East through a lens of Orientalism and imperial anxiety, leading them to misinterpret the rise of Turkish nationalism. In this gripping study, Andrew Orr reveals how flawed intelligence and racial biases shaped France’s response to Mustafa Kemal’s revolutionary movement. Facing the Victorious Turks offers a compelling reexamination of colonial misjudgment and its impact on the birth of modern Türkiye.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1114/thumbnail.jp
The 2024 Carlisle Conference on the PLA: Protracted War Against the PRC
No full textThe US Army War College’s 2024 Carlisle Conference on the People’s Liberation Army was held on October 16 and 17 at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The conference featured keynote speakers from the US Department of Defense and the think-tank community, and panels focused on assessing the People’s Republic of China’s understanding of and capability to carry out a protracted war in the Indo-Pacific. The conference brought together over 100 participants from government, military, US Intelligence Community, academic, and think-tank organizations.
The conference papers were authored by expert speakers and panelists and were designed to provide insight into key People’s Republic of China and People’s Liberation Army advances that could enable Chinese forces in a future protracted war against a US-led coalition. The papers were also crafted to enable in-depth seminar discussions following each panel, allowing the authors to garner feedback to improve their analyses.
The conference volume is organized into four sections based on the conference panels: understanding the People’s Republic of China’s views on historical and modern protracted wars; assessing the People’s Liberation Army’s operational endurance in the land, maritime, and air domains; analyzing China and the People’s Liberation Army’s ability to command and control a protracted war; and determining how Russia and North Korea could support the People’s Republic of China in a protracted war.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1979/thumbnail.jp
Book Review: The Retreat from Strategy: Britain’s Dangerous Confusion of Interests with Values
No full textAuthors: David Richards and Julian Lindley-French
Reviewed by: Dr. James D. Scudieri, senior research historian, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College
The Retreat from Strategy offers a detailed insight into the history of British strategy since the end of the Cold War. The authors dissect the issues they see in British strategy and offer specific solutions to the problems. The reviewer sees this as a timely read for US security professionals.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/1109/thumbnail.jp