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To Dare Mighty Things: U.S. Defense Strategy Since the Revolution
The definitive history of U.S. defense strategy--deployments and operations, wartime plans and campaigns, budgets, people, deterrence concepts, innovation and modernization
Much of the history of U.S. defense over the course of 250 years has been a story of success. Insulated by two oceans and mostly friendly neighbors, but constantly ambitious abroad, America has dared mighty things and often achieved them, argues defense analyst Michael O'Hanlon. After growing into a continental power, largely through force of arms, during the first half of its history, it then led the way to coalition victories in two world wars, pursued peace in the Cold War, and has contributed to the most democratic period in human history. But it is a more "dangerous nation" than most citizens appreciate, given that its leaders, as well its people, are highly self-confident and activist. It has had few tendencies toward isolationism but many toward assertiveness and even overreaction, as we arguably saw in Vietnam in the 1960s and in Iraq in the 2000s. O'Hanlon reveals these patterns and America's strengths and weaknesses, arguing that only by understanding this "national DNA" can we hope to steer safely through the twenty-first century.
Much of the history of U.S. defense over the course of 250 years has been a story of success. Insulated by two oceans and mostly friendly neighbors, but constantly ambitious abroad, America has dared mighty things and often achieved them, argues defense analyst Michael O'Hanlon. After growing into a continental power, largely through force of arms, during the first half of its history, it then led the way to coalition victories in two world wars, pursued peace in the Cold War, and has contributed to the most democratic period in human history. But it is a more "dangerous nation" than most citizens appreciate, given that its leaders, as well its people, are highly self-confident and activist. It has had few tendencies toward isolationism but many toward assertiveness and even overreaction, as we arguably saw in Vietnam in the 1960s and in Iraq in the 2000s. O'Hanlon reveals these patterns and America's strengths and weaknesses, arguing that only by understanding this "national DNA" can we hope to steer safely through the twenty-first century.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 13, 2026
About the author
Michael O'Hanlon
27 books12 followersMichael Edward O'Hanlon (born 1961) is a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, specializing in defense and foreign policy issues. He began his career as a budget analyst in the defense field.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 5, 2026
Read this one for work. Dr. O'Hanlon is a really good scholar and leader at Brookings, so I hoped that this one would be a lot more than your normal defense policy slop where the author rattles on for 300 pages before getting to what he actually wants to say. Fortunately, that hope was validated: this book's focus on the historical development of America's defense policy is well-earned, and while it does suffer from the common issue of the last chapter being a tell-all on current defense policy and politics, I thought it was acceptable and that the insights were good.
To Dare Mighty Things traces the history of American defense strategy and policy (and, interchangeably, grand strategy) from the nation's founding to the present. It divides itself into chapters based on episodes of American history, including rather under-discussed eras such as the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, and American defense policy throughout the interwar period. Ultimately, O'Hanlon provides two conclusions: firstly, that Americans are inherently an interventionist and activist people, and secondly, that there is no American "way of war" or trademark grand strategy, instead altering its defense policy as the times demand.
As for the first conclusion, this appears well-supported by the historical record. However, I feel like O'Hanlon could have gone into greater detail about the sociological factors that drive this activism: is it the diaspora populations in America? America's "crusading" mission, per Wilsonianism? A militaristic streak to American democracy? The evidence is there, but I don't know how we got there. As for the second, American defense strategy has certainly changed and adapted to the circumstances, just as O'Hanlon describes it in the historical record. But that raises the question: Does any country that has existed for more than 50 years, or has possessed the power and influence of the U.S., have a consistent defense strategy? Can we say that, say, the United Kingdom has a consistent defense strategy (they can't even mobilize a half-competent navy these days! Admiral Nelson must be spinning in his grave.)?
This certainly shoots above average for a polisci book attempting to break down the history of American defense policy and strategy, but like many, it leaves a lot of the argument up in the air, presenting a historical record and its accompanying conclusions without exploring the causal factors that result in this correlation in the first place.
To Dare Mighty Things traces the history of American defense strategy and policy (and, interchangeably, grand strategy) from the nation's founding to the present. It divides itself into chapters based on episodes of American history, including rather under-discussed eras such as the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, and American defense policy throughout the interwar period. Ultimately, O'Hanlon provides two conclusions: firstly, that Americans are inherently an interventionist and activist people, and secondly, that there is no American "way of war" or trademark grand strategy, instead altering its defense policy as the times demand.
As for the first conclusion, this appears well-supported by the historical record. However, I feel like O'Hanlon could have gone into greater detail about the sociological factors that drive this activism: is it the diaspora populations in America? America's "crusading" mission, per Wilsonianism? A militaristic streak to American democracy? The evidence is there, but I don't know how we got there. As for the second, American defense strategy has certainly changed and adapted to the circumstances, just as O'Hanlon describes it in the historical record. But that raises the question: Does any country that has existed for more than 50 years, or has possessed the power and influence of the U.S., have a consistent defense strategy? Can we say that, say, the United Kingdom has a consistent defense strategy (they can't even mobilize a half-competent navy these days! Admiral Nelson must be spinning in his grave.)?
This certainly shoots above average for a polisci book attempting to break down the history of American defense policy and strategy, but like many, it leaves a lot of the argument up in the air, presenting a historical record and its accompanying conclusions without exploring the causal factors that result in this correlation in the first place.
May 11, 2026
Michael O’Hanlon’s To Dare Mighty Things is the sort of book that quietly reminds readers that strategy, deterrence, and military planning are not actually driven by Twitter threads, motivational slogans, or whichever retired colonel is currently yelling into a cable news camera. Instead, they are driven by difficult tradeoffs, imperfect information, and people trying to prevent catastrophes while everyone else complains about the budget.
Which, admittedly, is not as cinematic as fighter jets exploding over dramatic orchestral music, but it is considerably more useful.
O’Hanlon approaches national security with a tone that is refreshingly sober without becoming unreadably academic. He manages the rare feat of discussing American military power in a way that neither descends into chest-thumping triumphalism nor collapses into fashionable declarations that the United States is somehow simultaneously omnipotent and doomed. The result is a measured, pragmatic argument for maintaining credible military strength while still recognizing the costs, risks, and limitations of power.
Disturbingly reasonable, really.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. O’Hanlon explains defense policy, force structure, and strategic competition in language that intelligent non-specialists can actually follow without needing a decoder ring from the Pentagon or a graduate seminar in strategic studies. He also avoids the temptation, increasingly common in modern discourse, to present every geopolitical challenge as either “the end of democracy” or “nothing to worry about.” Apparently there is still room for nuance in public policy writing, though one suspects it survives only under armed guard.
The book is particularly effective in explaining why military capability matters precisely because no sane person wants to use it recklessly. Deterrence, alliances, readiness, and long-term planning are inherently difficult concepts to dramatize because success often looks like nothing happening. Wars prevented rarely receive victory parades. Nobody erects statues commemorating “that Tuesday when things did not spiral into a civilization-ending crisis.”
And yet that quiet prevention is the entire point.
To Dare Mighty Things ultimately succeeds because it treats defense and strategy as serious responsibilities rather than ideological performance art. O’Hanlon neither worships military power nor dismisses it. He treats it as a necessary instrument of statecraft in a world where adversaries, unfortunately, do not disappear simply because someone posts a strongly worded statement online.
A thoughtful, balanced, and surprisingly readable examination of American military strategy, delivered with enough realism to satisfy serious readers while remaining approachable for those who have not spent the last twenty years trapped inside PowerPoint briefings about force posture and regional contingency planning. Which, in fairness, is already a major public service.
Which, admittedly, is not as cinematic as fighter jets exploding over dramatic orchestral music, but it is considerably more useful.
O’Hanlon approaches national security with a tone that is refreshingly sober without becoming unreadably academic. He manages the rare feat of discussing American military power in a way that neither descends into chest-thumping triumphalism nor collapses into fashionable declarations that the United States is somehow simultaneously omnipotent and doomed. The result is a measured, pragmatic argument for maintaining credible military strength while still recognizing the costs, risks, and limitations of power.
Disturbingly reasonable, really.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. O’Hanlon explains defense policy, force structure, and strategic competition in language that intelligent non-specialists can actually follow without needing a decoder ring from the Pentagon or a graduate seminar in strategic studies. He also avoids the temptation, increasingly common in modern discourse, to present every geopolitical challenge as either “the end of democracy” or “nothing to worry about.” Apparently there is still room for nuance in public policy writing, though one suspects it survives only under armed guard.
The book is particularly effective in explaining why military capability matters precisely because no sane person wants to use it recklessly. Deterrence, alliances, readiness, and long-term planning are inherently difficult concepts to dramatize because success often looks like nothing happening. Wars prevented rarely receive victory parades. Nobody erects statues commemorating “that Tuesday when things did not spiral into a civilization-ending crisis.”
And yet that quiet prevention is the entire point.
To Dare Mighty Things ultimately succeeds because it treats defense and strategy as serious responsibilities rather than ideological performance art. O’Hanlon neither worships military power nor dismisses it. He treats it as a necessary instrument of statecraft in a world where adversaries, unfortunately, do not disappear simply because someone posts a strongly worded statement online.
A thoughtful, balanced, and surprisingly readable examination of American military strategy, delivered with enough realism to satisfy serious readers while remaining approachable for those who have not spent the last twenty years trapped inside PowerPoint briefings about force posture and regional contingency planning. Which, in fairness, is already a major public service.
May 15, 2026
I recently started listening to “Shield of the Republic”, where they interviewed the author. For the gamer interested in American History, it is an excellent concise History, if one does not mind that it is, for obvious reasons, far more focused on recent conflicts than on older ones. It does present a cohesive thesis on American assertiveness that might surprise those who, based on gaming experiences, might have expected something more along the lines of “overproduce, hit fast, hit hard”. It might be too brief to get into any real detail on any given period, but as a a general read on the topic, it is highly recommended.
April 19, 2026
I greatly enjoyed “To Date Mighty Things”. The book shined in its analysis of Cold War defense policy following Vietnam as well as its discussion of strategy of the War on Terror. What limited the book was its length. During to its great scope, but relatively short page count, some of the discussion was more surface level.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews