The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare (Cambridge Illustrated Histories) 2nd Edition

This is an outstanding read. Many of the reviews already say things that I don't feel a need to parrot - Just know that this is a fully comprehensive history and lesson on Western warfare, and goes in to intricate detail about what made the western method so successful. It is not, however, a compare\contrast of other types of warfare - So if you're after something along the lines of "Why Asian methods of warfare are 'x' compared to Western warfare's 'y' " - you won't find it here.

This is an amazing book! It covers many different areas and regions and helps you understand how warfare was developed and the effect of tactics, science, technology, and culture on the battlefield.While reading it, you will discover that some well-known facts are actually inaccurate or even completely wrong.The illustrations are very beneficial to understanding the area, weapons, advances, and more.An amazing military history book! Highly recommend!

Geoffrey Parker and Victor Davis Hanson are two of the contributors to this book - a collection of military history essays collated chronologicaly. These are 2 of the best writers of their generation and they know their craft well. However, it was Williamson Murray's essay on WW2 that to me was the highlight of the book as it clearly delinieates why the Eastern Front was where the important action was. Russia could have defeated Germany all by its lonesome; the Western Front was peripheral.This book has some memorable essays and although this is not going to be a book of great depth due to its enormous scope, it is a terrific overview of the fascinating but tragic history of mankind's affinity for conducting war. You will get a sense of the evolution of military technology, strategy, and tactics. For some of the more recent wars you will also get a decent outline with analysis and statistics.Good refresher to whet your appetite for more in-depth, blow-by-blow accounts for those wars and eras that enthuse you.

bought it for school, was great!

The book arrived in very good condition, well packaged. Very pleased with seller.

For a highly-regarded volume of essential readings for the interested, some minor mistakes feel outrageous to me. Yet it’s still a highly-recommended one for me. It should be the foundation for most people’s building of knowledge on military history.

Book was in better condition than expected and arrived super fast!

Purchased it for required reading for class. It's ok, the history is good, I'm not a fan of the professor with a PHD analysis of "why things happened" but it comes with the territory.