Roots of Strategy: Book 3

The 3 books (Roots of Strategy) pack in 11 cmts (about 2++ inches) all the classics on this field (Sun Tzu, Vegetius, De Saxe, Frederick, Napoleon, Du Picq's, Clausenwitz, Jomini, Von Leeb, Erfurth and Von Freytag) without adding comments or analyzing them in any way. The collected books discuss war related issues that occurred prior to 1945, so the value of this package (the 3 books) rest mostly in the historical perspective. Although I had some of them as separate items or partially discussed as part of other texts (i.e. Masters of War or The Art of War for Executives: Ancient Knowledge for Today's Business Professional), I wanted to have access to the whole package as a reference material (as a PMI PMP, I am interested in developing connections between the art of war and the art of project management). So, if you are trying to (as myself) have access to these books on strategy for reference purposes, this package is fantastic. If you want a discussion or a comparison or a relation with current affairs or business strategy they are not your package.

The roots of strategy books have been an invaluble asset in my study of military strategy. The priciples set forth in Von leebs book should be read and if not implemented, certainly used as a spring board for further deliberatiion and study. I would strongly encourage the student of warfare to aquire this book and spend much time meditating on its contents. Although the material may seem outdated and archaic when viewed superficialy, many of the foundational points hold true. The middle book is especialy relevant to todays military comanders, As J.F.C. Fuller said, the art of generalship never changes.