The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy

If you were assigned this text as part of a college course, you are in luck - it might be the best thing you read all semester. Weigley has a sharp prose style, and he delves into areas of American military history that others either ignore or neglect. I found his take on the war of annihilation against the American Indians especially important, mostly because it is free of political sentimentality and simultaneously captures the human tragedy of the event. His account of the airwar against Germany and Japan is riveting and revealing. Weigley has a gift for making statistics come alive. A great and grand narrative.

There is nothing more boring than a badly written book of military history, especially when it is required reading. I have plowed through several in command & staff college, and this one is a delight. It is easy to read without being simple. I actually enjoyed the reading. After chapters of Clausewitz and Jomini and more battle diagrams than is humane, I got to this book. What a relief! Heck, I would read this book just for fun! I have never enjoyed reading an academic war history, before. I will probably give copies of this book to selected friends. It is on my "top ten of the genre" list. Americana at its best.

I am only a third of the way through this book (just finished the Civil War) and I can already say, unequivocably, that this is an absolutely amazing book. Unlike many military history books which tend to get hung up on tedious descriptions of individual battles (and, thus, lose the forest through the trees and never make a point), this book is an absolute treasure of insights about military strategy as it has evolved from the 1700s through present day. Weigley's writing is incredible, and it seems that every paragraph makes a startling insightful comment.This book is a pleasure to read and I really recommend it.

Dr.Russell F. Weigley's history and assessment of the American application of political and military power is one of the most detailed and comprehensive studies of its kind. Weigley explores the ever evolving role of the military in an ever changing world, using history as the guideline to establish his facts. This book covers the American Way of War through the second half of this century, and illustrates how U.S. strategy and policy became the benchmark for military institutions the world over to the present day.

From Russell Weigley, one of America's most distinguished military historians, The American Way of War illustrates how the nation's political, economic, and social development shaped the military and its methods. Originally published in 1973, the work does not, of course, contain analysis of military policy from Vietnam to the present. Despite this, Weigley's work stands up well and is essential reading for those interested in military history or public policy. His conclusions are solid and writing clear and engaging. Of particular value are chapters covering strategy and policy of the War for Independence, Civil War, and World War II.