First published 2023
General David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts examine warfare from 1945 through Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The former CIA director who led coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan teams with the prize-winning historian to study over seventy years of military conflict. They analyze repeated strategic mistakes across the Arab-Israeli wars, Korea, Vietnam, both Gulf Wars, the Balkan conflicts, and guerrilla campaigns in Africa and South America. The authors draw from their distinct expertise to show how leaders and generals struggle to adapt to new weapons, tactics, and theories. Their investigation reveals patterns of failure when statesmen ignore historical lessons. The book closes with Putin's Ukrainian campaign as another example of refusing to learn from the past. Petraeus and Roberts provide knowledge for understanding current battles and future warfare.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, academic, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine
Period: 1945-Present
544 pages · Hardcover · Harper