
The Strategy of Denial
American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $21.49
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Mike Lenz
Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition.
Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of US defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.
The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose - precisely in order to deter that war from happening.
©2021 Elbridge A. Colby (P)2021 TantorListeners also enjoyed...




















People who viewed this also viewed...


















Great listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was surprised and impressed by the extent to which the book argues for a relatively narrow coherent policy position, especially in contrast to most books written by politicians. The style imitates that of Von Clausewitz, in a way that seems deliberate. He abstracts actions and then explores move-counter-move sequences in the resulting abstract decision tree. For example, rather than a discussion of surprise attacks on Tiwan by China, he raises the level of abstraction to Fait Accompli strategies (which include surprise attacks). The bulk of the book takes the form of, “If we did this; they could do this, that or the other thing; but the other thing would be ruinous for them, so we can focus on this and that …”.
I spent about 60% of my career work in military technology and was well read in military history. After the fall of “the wall:” and before the rise of China (i.e., during the inter-cold-war years) more and more of the military leaders seemed to think about military strategy less and less. Most started out with a love of military strategy, but what they actually did was: project management, human resources, accounting, and power point. The ones that got promoted gave up pretenses to the contrary at a young age. This book is shockingly unlike that style of military leadership. It’s an adult discussion of military strategy for the period from 2025 to 2035.
A secondary flaw in the book is that it’s weak on technology. However, it’s primary weakness seems to be that it could be critiqued as a post-hoc rationalization of conclusions that are a bit obvious to any serious consideration of the U.S.’s current military situation. His conclusions are similar to those of Robert Work (former Deputy secretary of Defense), but unlike Work, who never wrote for a general audience, he might be able to explain his ideas in ways that even congress can understand. In the books defense, very few are willing to say the simple obvious things right now.
Though overcoming the politics of acquisition will be even harder than changing doctrine; I wish Steven Morani (or someone like him) would write a book like this about that.
The Strategy of the Warring States Period for 2030
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Powerful and persuasive
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Thorough analysis
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Blueprint and Rationale for US Grand Strategy
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A Rational Liberalist Approach in a Realists World
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Insight into the Mind of the USD(P)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Okay overview
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.