The Pursuit of Power

by William H. McNeill

Cover of The Pursuit of Power

(4 / 5)

Published1984 · University of Chicago Press
Pages416
ISBN9780226561585
Date FinishedJanuary 15, 2011
Read2011
ReviewedJanuary 17, 2011

Do you think exploring all of military history might be a little ambitious? Yeah, but McNeill pulls it off, explaining how technology, markets, and command authority have combined again and again to win wars, and create modern society. If there’s any weakness in the book, it’s that it skims WW2 and the Cold War, and treats innovation and technology as an autonomous force, but for a comprehensive military history, it’s amazing.


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