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Book Review: The Coming Storm: Power, Conflict, and Warnings from History
Jadwiga Biskupska
Author: Odd Arne Westad
Reviewed by: Jadwiga Biskupska, Harold K. Johnson Chair of Military History, US Army War College
A historian’s warning on how great powers stumble into war, this study draws sharp lessons from the past for today’s fragile global order. As rival powers rise and tensions mount, it reveals how missteps and misperceptions can turn regional crises into global catastrophe—and how leaders might navigate a shifting balance of power without repeating the failures that once reshaped the world.
©2026 Jadwiga Biskupska
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Book Review: The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World
Hal Brands
Author: Hal Brands
Reviewed by: John Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies, and Dr. John A. Nagl, General John J. Pershing Professor of Warfighting Studies, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College
In The Eurasian Century, Hal Brands explores how the geopolitical center of gravity has shifted to Eurasia, where autocratic powers challenge the liberal international order. Drawing on history, strategy, and geography, Brands argues that America must remain engaged to prevent a global descent into instability. This timely and provocative book reveals why the twenty-first century’s defining struggles will be fought across the world’s most contested continent.
©2026 John Erickson and John A. Nagl
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Book Review: Tanker War in the Gulf: Operation Earnest Will, Diplomacy and Seapower in Practice
Richard D. Butler
Author: Tom Duffy
Reviewed by: Richard D. Butler, (US Army, retired), director, Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA), Joint Staff
What happens when maritime security, diplomacy, and military restraint converge? As concerns grow over maritime competition and freedom of navigation, this examination of a pivotal Gulf campaign provides timely insights for today’s security professionals.
©2026 Richard D. Butler
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Book Review: Nostalgic Virility as a Cause of War: How Leaders of Great Powers Cope with Status Decline
Christine C. Cook
Author: Matthieu Grandpierron
Reviewed by: Dr. Christine C. Cook, (colonel, US Army Reserve, retired), adjunct professor, US Naval War College
What happens when powerful nations feel their global status slipping away? In Nostalgic Virility as a Cause of War, Matthieu Grandpierron explores how emotional responses—rooted in pride, identity, and historical memory—can drive leaders of great powers toward conflict. This provocative study blends psychology, international relations, and strategic leadership to reveal how nostalgia can become a dangerous force in global politics.
©2026 Christine C. Cook
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