Over 40 articles cover naval principles, sea power in history and naval and national policies. Wide-ranging coverage of strategic positions, principles of naval administration, growth of British sea power, The Battle of Trafalgar, the moral aspect of war, motives for naval power, and much more. 8 black-and-white maps and diagrams.
Alfred Thayer Mahan was a United States Navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian, who has been called "the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century." His concept of "sea power" was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide impact; it was most famously presented in his 1890 book The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660–1783. The concept had an enormous influence in shaping the strategic thought of navies across the world, especially in the United States, Germany, Japan and Britain, ultimately causing the World War I naval arms race. His ideas still permeate the U.S. Navy Doctrine.
A great book into the thinking of Alfred Mahan on how a navy is important to a nation. The writing is technical at times and may be dry to some. Surprised that Captain John Paul Jones the Father of the American Navy is not mentioned.
Man is one of my favorite authors concerning naval history and professional education. Using the Russo Japanese war and the Napoleonic wars, he illustrates many lessons for a maritime nation and it's navy. Hopefully we have learned his lessons and will keep a strong navy and not fritter it away as we have done so many times in our history. I recommend all officers drop their power points presentations, delete their quad charts, and grab a book. You may learn something.