The Art of War
The Art of War
One of my interests is history. I have focused on military history. Mostly ancient, but my interest extends up until the invention of the socket bayonet. At that time musketeers could defend themselves in shock combat and not lost their firing ability (at the plug bayonet required). I plan to put into this space my theories of warfare, links to other sites, and book recommendations.
The Art of Maneuver - by Robert Leonhard
The current maneuver warfare bible. It explains the goals and methods of maneuver warfare in amazingly simple terms. Main fault: he is promoting maneuver warfare against attritional warfare. All that is good is maneuver warfare, all that is bad is attritional warfare.
On War - by Carl Von Clausewitz
The basic book on warfare. It is a very practical book (as opposed to Sun Tzu who is nearly worthless except to quote in arguments and theses).
A History of Warfare - by John Keegan
A revolutionary book in its day. It argues that warfare is mostly morale, not shock. Suffers from same fault as The Art of Maneuver, intent on his argument, Keegan ignores reality when it inconveniences him.
Siege Warfare - by Christopher Duffy
This book puts to lie the argument that warfare is about morale, not shock and firepower. Reading what humans endured to assault fortresses is clear proof that the need to kill the enemy is as great as the need to frighten him.
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