Recommended Reading for 2022: Enhance Your Stack with War Books - Special Release
In the world of strategy, understanding the past and staying informed about current events is crucial. Here are some books recommended by experts that offer insights into various aspects of strategy, warfare, and geopolitics.
Joel Blaxland, a renowned strategist, suggests "How Insurgency Begins: Rebel Group Formation in Uganda and Beyond" by Janet I. Lewis. This book provides a deep dive into the formation of rebel groups, offering valuable lessons for those studying insurgency and counterinsurgency.
Nicole Perlroth's "This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race" is a must-read for anyone interested in cybersecurity. The book offers a comprehensive look at zero-day exploits and their market, shedding light on the evolving landscape of cyber warfare.
Peter Frankopan's "Silk Roads: A New History of the World" offers an alternative perspective on the history of the Middle East. This book illuminates the complexity of events throughout time, challenging the Western-centric narrative that has long dominated historical accounts.
For those interested in naval strategy, Henry J. Hendrix's "To Provide and Maintain a Navy: Why Naval Supremacy is America's First, Best Strategy" is a compelling argument for the importance of US naval primacy in strategic competition.
Dr. Anthony King's "Urban Warfare in the Twenty-First Century" provides a detailed analysis of urban warfare, the most frequent type of conflict in recent decades. The book offers valuable insights into the unique challenges and strategies associated with urban combat.
Michael Kelvington recommends "Chosen Suffering: Becoming Elite in Life and Leadership" by Tom Ryan. This book offers a unique perspective on leadership and personal development, drawing on the author's experiences in the military and business.
Tim Heck recommends "Retreat from Moscow: A New History of Germany's Winter Campaign, 1941-1942" by David Stahel. This book provides a fresh look at one of the most decisive campaigns of World War II, offering new insights into the strategies and tactics employed by both sides.
Grant Barge, MWI plans officer, recommends "How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization" by Franklin Foer. This book offers a unique perspective on globalization, using the game of soccer as a lens through which to view the interconnectedness of the world.
Austin Doctor recommends "Nonstate Warfare: The Military Methods of Guerillas, Warlords, and Militias" by Stephen Biddle. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of non-state warfare, providing valuable insights into the tactics and strategies employed by non-state actors.
Dr. Lyall's "Divided Armies: Inequality & Battlefield Performance in Modern War" tests the hypothesis that ethnic inequality within a country's polity and society undermines its military effectiveness in wartime. This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the impact of ethnicity on military performance.
Ryan Burke recommends "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics" by John J. Mearsheimer. This book offers a clear and insightful analysis of international relations, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of power politics.
Rush Doshi's "The Long Game: China's Grand Strategy to Displace American Order" offers a comprehensive analysis of Chinese Communist Party strategy. This book provides a clear and accurate portrayal of the evolution of Chinese strategy and its potential impact on the global order.
Cole Livieratos, a nonresident fellow and concept developer at Army Futures Command, recommends a trilogy: "The Three-Body Problem", "The Dark Forest", and "Death's End" by Cixin Liu. This science fiction series offers a unique perspective on the future of humanity and the challenges we may face.
Ben Buchanan's "The Hacker and the State: Cyber Attacks and the New Normal of Geopolitics" provides a masterful analysis of cyber capabilities and their impact on modern geopolitics. This book offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cyber warfare.
Anthony King's "Command: The Twenty-First-Century General" discusses the evolution of military leadership in response to increasing battlefield complexity. This book offers valuable insights into the challenges facing military leaders in the modern era.
Jason W. Smith's "To Master the Boundless Sea: The U.S. Navy, the Marine Environment, and the Cartography of Empire" explores the non-warfare uses of early American seapower. This book offers a unique perspective on the role of the U.S. Navy in shaping American history.
Nancy Collins recommends "American Contagions: Epidemics and the Law from Smallpox to COVID-19" by John Fabian Witt. This book offers a comprehensive look at the legal and political responses to epidemics in American history, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by public health officials.
Joseph Fewsmith's "Rethinking Chinese Politics" critiques contemporary schools of thought on Chinese politics and focuses on the Leninist influences in Chinese politics. This book offers a fresh perspective on Chinese politics, challenging conventional wisdom.
B. A. Friedman's "On Operations: Operational Art and Military Disciplines" offers a comprehensive historical overview of operational art and its influences on technology and warfare. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of military strategy.
John Amble, editorial director of MWI, recommends "A Short History of Russia: How the World's Largest Country Invented Itself, from the Pagans to Putin" by Mark Galeotti. This book offers a comprehensive look at Russian history, providing valuable insights into the factors that have shaped Russian politics and society.
Ryan Grauer recommends "The Transformation of War" by Martin van Creveld. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the changes in warfare over time, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by military strategists.
The book "Routledge Handbook of U.S. Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare Operations" is recommended by Liam Collins, Erich Marquardt, and Michael Sheehan (eds.). This book offers a comprehensive analysis of U.S. counterterrorism and irregular warfare operations, providing valuable insights into the strategies and tactics employed by the U.S. military.
Pat Howell recommends "Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era" by James McPherson. This book offers a comprehensive look at the American Civil War, providing valuable insights into the causes, conduct, and consequences of the conflict.
Rebecca Lissner and Mira Rapp-Hooper's book "An Open World: How America Can Win the Contest for Twenty-First-Century Order" argues for a disciplined grand strategy of openness to protect American security and prosperity. This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of American foreign policy.
Elizabeth Buchanan recommends "The Art of War Visualized: The Sun Tzu Classic in Charts and Graphs" by Jessica Hagy. This book offers a unique perspective on the classic text of "The Art of War", using charts and graphs to illustrate the strategies and tactics described by Sun Tzu.
The book "The Defence of Duffer's Drift" by Ernest Dunlop Swinton is recommended. This book offers a classic account of a British military action during the Second Boer War, providing valuable insights into the strategies and tactics employed by the British Army.
Dominic D. P. Johnson's book "Strategic Instincts: The Adaptive Advantages of Cognitive Biases in International Politics" illustrates the way in which cognitive adaptations shape international relations. This book offers a fresh perspective on international politics, challenging conventional wisdom.
Claude Berube's book "On Wide Seas: The US Navy in the Jacksonian Era" is an in-depth study of President Andrew Jackson's use of the Navy. This book offers valuable insights into the role of the Navy in shaping American history during the Jacksonian era.
Christopher D. Kolenda's book "Zero-Sum Victory: What We're Getting Wrong About War" examines how wars end and the importance of negotiated outcomes in modern conflict. This book offers a fresh perspective on the nature of war and the challenges faced by military strategists.
Finally, ATP 7-100.3, "Chinese Tactics", offers an overview of the People's Liberation Army and its preferred methods of fighting. This publication is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the Chinese military and its strategies.
