The Anatomy of Courage

As a mom of the military, I found the book written by the WWI physician fascinating. However, I couldn't help wonder if Lord Moran would come to different conclusions today if he could read new research and medical findings concerning Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The Anatomy of Courage strives to dissect the problem of courage and give the commander a tool to enhance it in battle, to increase it in training, or to find it in recruiting. He discusses the mystery of why one person can fight in the trenches (In WWI) for days or weeks and then one day, simply break. He searches for methods to discover than breaking point and extend it - to maximize the use of that precious commodity. He fails. Instead, he seems to say that the only really beneficial thing the commander can do is recognize the man that has courage and recruit him for service. Promote him when he demonstrates it and hope for the best from the rest of his troops. It is not a happy discovery for the author but he doesn't do well discovering a solution to the problem. It is not for lack of effort and his thoroughness makes the prospects for another would be problem solver seem just as bleak. It is a wonderful journey and a great exploration of the topic. If there isn't a solution to the problem of maximizing courage then the commander can see how important recruiting is and spend his resources there instead. The US marine recruiting goal of looking for "a few good men" seems to be on the mark. Well worth the read.