Preview
  • Clausewitz

  • A Very Short Introduction
  • By: Michael Howard
  • Narrated by: Corrie James
  • Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (28 ratings)

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Clausewitz

By: Michael Howard
Narrated by: Corrie James
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Publisher's summary

Karl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) is considered by many to have been one of the greatest writers on war. His study On War was described by the American strategic thinker Bernard Brodie as "not simply the greatest, but the only great book about war". It is hard to disagree. Even though he wrote his only major work at a time when the range of firearms was 50 yards, much of what he had to say remains relevant today. Michael Howard explains Clausewitz's ideas in terms both of his experiences as a professional soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, and of the intellectual background of his time.

©1983, 2002 Michael Howard (P)2021 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about Clausewitz

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Good Intro for an Overrated Classic

While I'm grateful to Von Clausewitz for the foundation on strategic principles and doctrine that he laid, I lament how people in the military sphere treat his book like Scripture. It's an indictment against our modern military that we haven't held up better works as the standard for military education. I suffered through the verbose 30-hour read of the full book and can say the best part of it was this Very Short Introduction.

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Superb Analysis

Excellent analysis by Howard, as expected, given his subject expertise. This must be a mandatory reading for all students of Clausewitz. Discussion on Clausewitz’s intellectual pathway to his early theorization, and on interplay of his thought with later ideologies, is also quite wonderful. As for technical matters, the narrator performs quite strongly. 10/10, in all regards.

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Useless. Disappointing.

Yet another book "about" its subject, rather than just presenting the subject itself!

It's not even about interesting biographical details, there's simply talk "about" the man and his work, and in such vague generalities as to be totally useless.

Things like "there are two types of war: total and that to impose your terms of peace". Oh really? What elementary school kid COULDN'T tell you that already? More general generalities of generalship where that brilliancy came from... but why?

Waste of time. NOT a good introductory book for anyone of any description. Disappointed. There are way better books than this one out there.

On a positive note, as usual, I thought the audio narrator was great. My issue is with the writer: this book has no point. I literally couldn't write a single-page PowerPoint slide of bullet-pointed highlights of this book (if I did, it would be blank). And I'm surprised because this same author's other book in this "Very Short Introduction" series, "The First World War", is great.

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