-
Book Review: The Military Legacy of Alexander the Great: Lessons for the Information Age
Jason W. Warren PhD
Author: Michael P. Ferguson and Ian Worthington
Reviewed by Jason W. Warren, PhD
The Military Legacy of Alexander the Great: Lessons for the Information Age focuses on three themes—inspirational physical presence, Alexander’s army’s professionalism, and the speed with which he campaigned. The reviewer notes there are many useful observations, overall, he sees the book as a “mixed bag.” For those newer to studies “on Alexander or lessons-learned methodology, Legacy may prove a useful primer.”
-
Book Review: Dr. Seuss and the Art of War: Secret Military Lessons
John Erickson
Editor: Montgomery McFate
Reviewed by John Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies
Dr. Seuss and the Art of War: Secret Military Lessons is broken into five parts. Part one introduces Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss). Part two discusses Geisel’s knowledge of strategy, while part three discusses specialty topics. Parts four and five examine luck in war and post-traumatic stress, respectively. The reviewer notes, “because Dr. Seuss used the genre of story as a pedagogical device, he likely made military strategy digestible to a wider audience.”
©2025 John Erickson
-
Book Review: Origins of the Just War: Military Ethics and Culture in the Ancient Near East
Pauline Shanks Kaurin
Author: Rory Cox
Reviewed by Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin, Stockdale Chair in Professional Military Ethics and professor, College of Leadership and Ethics, US Naval War College
Origins of the Just War: Military Ethics and Culture in the Ancient Near East, by Rory Cox, explores three ancient cultures —Egyptian, Hittite and Israeli—and how they navigated their relationships between ethics and war. Factors central to these civilizations include political authority, divine leadership, justice, and putting down rebellion. The book offers various disciplinary perspectives including philosophy, religion, art, history, sociology, and international relations. The reviewer notes, “This book will be of interest and accessible to academics, practitioners, and general interest readers alike; it reminds us about the value of broadening our philosophical arguments with the influence of history, religion, law, and culture.”
©2025 Pauline Shanks Kaurin
-
Book Review: The War for Ukraine: Strategy and Adaptation Under Fire
Jonathan P. Klug
Author: Mick Ryan
Reviewed by Dr. Jonathan P. Klug (colonel, US Army, retired), course integrator, Theater Army Staff Course, Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College
Mick Ryan’s book The War for Ukraine: Strategy and Adaptation Under Fire examines Russia’s and Ukraine’s strategies and, and Ukraine’s NATO supporters, “exploring how the Russians and Ukrainians adapted during the war—on the battlefield and institutionally.” The book has two parts. Part one explores strategy. Part two discusses adaptation in the Russia-Ukraine War and includes points about adaptation for future wars. The reviewer sees it as a must-read saying, “The War for Ukraine is essential reading for civilian and military national security professionals. The strength of the book is Ryan’s unique blend of experience, education, and access.”
Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.
