Roots of Strategy: Book 4 - 4 Military Classics

by David Jablonsky

Selections from four legends in maritime and air strategy: Mahan, Corbett, Douhet and Mitchell Introduction by noted military strategist and author David Jablonsky David Jablonsky has compiled the best writings of four of the most influential theorists of naval and air power in the past century. Alfred Thayer Mahan's Influence of Sea Power Upon History, Julian Corbett's Some Principles of Maritime Strategy, Guilio Douhet's Command of the Air, and William "Billy" Mitchell's Winged Defense continue to have relevance for students and practitioners of naval and air strategy. They illustrate the continuity of strategic thought, even through current times of great and widespread change.

Genres: History, Military History

Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

Reviews

[Amory Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the volumes in the "Roots of Strategy" series deal with land armies; the first volume in the series contains works on this subject by Sun Tzu, Frederick the Great, and Napoleon. With the fourth volume in the series, however, the subject changes to the past and present alternatives to land warfare. The first two books in this volume, including a classic work by the enormously influential American naval thinker Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, deal with a kind of warfare that was prevalent throughout most of human history, from ancient times halfway into the twentieth century. The second two books are the works of farsighted 1920s air power theorists, the Italian General Giulio Douhet and the American Colonel William Mitchell. These works saw into our own age of modern (or so-called postmodern) warfare and are still relevant today. During the Second World War, when his ideas appeared vindicated, a cult of Colonel Mitchell as a national hero arose in the United States, but that's not how he was viewed in his time, in the 1920s. He was seen as a difficult personality, was hated by most of the military, and his work did not sell well when it was first published. It's impressive how farsighted his work is, despite being an obvious product of 1920s America. This entire volume is relevant and important for its insight into different kinds of warfare, past and present, and for raising thoughts about their implications on world power.

[Matthew Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern Enough

Sun Tzu and his contemporaries get most of the praise in their “Art of War”, but their writing is often esoteric and misunderstood. The writers in this book show, despite some of their outlandish ideas, thoughts on navies and air forces that are more practically outlined to the reader.

[Dave Beeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book in the series of Roots of Strategy. Helpful introductions by the editor to each author helped in understanding of the authors.

[Ian Fleischmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helpful as an introduction but, like other Roots of Strategy books, requires an analysis of the source materials for true synthesis. I find Mahan's analysis of the factors influencing seapower to be self-fulfilling and of limited strategic effect. Granted, I didn't bother reading the other 500 pages of 18th century naval warfare history. Airpower theory has evolved greatly since Douhet and Mitchell.