Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

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  Book Review: Occupation: Russian Rule in South-Eastern Ukraine

  Christopher J. Hickey

  Author: David Lewis

  Reviewed by: Colonel Christopher J. Hickey, PhD, associate professor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

  In this timely and penetrating study, David Lewis examines the mechanisms and consequences of Russian governance in occupied southeastern Ukraine. Through on-the-ground analysis and geopolitical insight, the book reveals how local institutions, identity, and resistance are reshaped under foreign rule. It’s an essential read for understanding the evolving dynamics of power, control, and legitimacy in one of Europe’s most contested regions.

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  Book Review: Lessons Learned and Unlearned: The Drivers of US Indirect-Fire Innovation

  Michael E. Lynch

  Author: Brennan S. Deveraux

  Reviewed by: Dr. Michael E. Lynch

  How does military innovation really happen—and what causes it to stall? In Lessons Learned and Unlearned, Brennan S. Deveraux traces the evolution of U.S. indirect-fire systems, revealing how institutional memory, battlefield experience, and strategic priorities shape technological progress. This sharp analysis offers vital insights for defense planners, historians, and anyone interested in the mechanics of military adaptation.

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  Book Review: Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security

  Michael S. Neiberg

  Author: Andrew Preston

  Reviewed by: Dr. Michael S. Neiberg, Chair of War Studies, US Army War College

  In Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security, Andrew Preston reveals how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s domestic reforms laid the groundwork for America’s modern national security state. Blending political history with strategic insight, the book uncovers how the New Deal reshaped the U.S. approach to global threats long before World War II. It’s a compelling story of how internal crises forged a new vision of American power on the world stage.

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  Book Review: Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint: The Remarkable Year That Made Winston Churchill

  Kevin J. Weddle

  Author: J. Furman Daniel III

  Reviewed by: Kevin J. Weddle, Distinguished Fellow, US Army War College

  In Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint, J. Furman Daniel III captures the transformative year that shaped Winston Churchill’s resilience, leadership, and artistry. From the trenches of World War I to the quiet refuge of his painting studio, Churchill’s journey reveals a man grappling with failure, reinvention, and the pursuit of purpose. This compelling portrait blends military history with personal introspection, offering a fresh lens on one of the 20th century’s most iconic figures.

  ©2026 Kevin J. Weddle