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For the Common Defense, 3rd Edition

By: Allan R. Millett, Peter Maslowski, William B. Feis
Narrated by: John Pruden
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Publisher's summary

Called "the preeminent survey of American military history" by Russell F. Weigley, America's foremost military historian, For the Common Defense is an essential contribution to the field of military history.

This carefully researched third edition provides the most complete and current history of United States defense policy and military institutions and the conduct of America's wars. Without diminishing the value of its earlier editions, authors Allan R. Millett, Peter Maslowski, and William B. Feis provide a fresh perspective on the continuing issues that characterize national security policy.

For the Common Defense examines the nation's pluralistic military institutions in both peace and war, the tangled civil-military relations that created the country's commitment to civilian control of the military, the armed forces' increasing nationalization and professionalization, and America's growing reliance on sophisticated technologies spawned by the Industrial Revolution and the Computer and Information Ages.

This edition is also a timely reminder that vigilance is indeed the price of liberty, but that vigilance has always been - and continues to be - a costly, complex, and contentious undertaking in a world that continually tests America's willingness and ability to provide for the common defense.

©2014 Free Press (P)2018 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about For the Common Defense, 3rd Edition

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A fantastic Military Textbo

I used this in a military history class in College. This updated version is far better in all regards.

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Comprehensive but with Distracting Pronunciation

Mr. Pruden's performance would've benefited from learning to better pronounce unfamiliar names and locations beforehand.

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An Excellent Perspective

The book provides a comprehensive and interesting exploration of the complex relationship between the government and armed forces of the United States.

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The chapters in the book are badly labled

The chapters in the audiobook don't line up with the chapters in the physical book. I'm reading this book for class and this caused a great deal of confusion. The chapters in the audiobook are segments of the actual books chapters, but this is unclear to the casual eye, and took some testing to actually figure out where I was in the physical book compared with the audiobook

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For me, It's a supplemental textbook...

I'm reading this for Military History 1 for my online bachelor's program. The book covers so much, but so far, so good. I have a physical copy and so this audible version is supplemental to the printed version. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to put their loved ones to sleep on a long road trip for its' 33-hour length.

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Great for school

Great resource for school I was able to study off this book and use it as a great resource

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thanks audible

As a military history teacher this version makes course prep so much easier. I prefer The American Way of War as a text book for students but this is what I use for lecture. this has helped me significantly. PLEASE keep producing audiobooks of common textbooks.

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Not a Military History

If you are looking for a Military History of the United States from 1607 to 2012 you will not find it here. This is a history of politics surrounding military appropriations. Found it quite uninteresting and did not fulfill its promise.

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Interesting politics

And just a few minutes into the introduction, a blatant and historically inaccurate note on our common defense, that being the 2nd Amendment.
I have requested a refund from Amazon.
As a graduate fellow in US History, this insulting interpretation will not be iterated in my presence.

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