The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic WWI Study of the Psychological Effects of War

by Lord Moran

Genres: History

Paperback

Published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic WWI Study of the Psychological Effects of War. Since someone else already wrote a brilliant review that I can never do justice to, I’ll list the contents of this book.

Part One - The Discovery of Fear
Part Two - How Courage is Spent
Part Three - The Care and Management of Fear

[Ravi Ranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even many years on, this work is still a classic. Moran was a First and Second World War vet, as well as Winston Churchill's physician, and his experience as a medical officer in the First World War gave him the inspiration to write this book about courage. It is at times a comparison of both wars and at others a reflection on soldiers' ability to endure stress. What makes this book so incredible is how Moran was so willing to share his innermost thoughts and how his opinion of war oscillated. It's amazing how presciently Moran predicted what would later be confirmed by many studies of combat stress: every man/woman has their breaking point. Moran uses the analogy of a bank account, stating that every stressful or harrowing moment is a debit on a person's account, and when their account reaches zero, they break down. The larger the stress, the larger the debit. It is still, I believe, the best analogy for how a person's mental state deteriorates under intense stress and/or trauma. Moran's observations of what makes a person courageous and the complex and illusory link between courage and cowardice are brilliant. Perhaps my favourite line: Cowardice "is a label we reserve for something a man does. What passes through his mind is his own affair." Whether you are a military historian, history buff, or simply interested in what makes soldiers tick, this is still one of the best books ever on exploring what goes on in the mind of those in battle.

[Denis Vasilev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Смелость на войне, наблюдение и описание на основе наиболее тяжелой из войн - 1МВ.