The Culture of War
by Martin van Creveld
List Price:
Our Price: $4.98
You Save: $30.02 (86%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.11 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Martin van CreveldEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-30
ISBN: 0345505409
Number of pages: 512
Publisher: Presidio Press
Book Reviews of The Culture of War
Book Review: Interesting, but not one of his better books
Summary: 3 Stars
Van Creveld's book doesn't really present anything new but it makes for an interesting read. First you have to understand that he comes from the school of thought that war is part of, if not caused by, human nature. "It's culture, rooted as it is in human psychology, is largely impervious to change." And while the function of culture is to make men willingly face death, "it can do so only if it is understood not as a means to an end but an end in itself."
What makes the book interesting is his contention that the culture that surrounds war, from the way societies prepare for war, fight wars, commemorate war, and portray war in popular culture, is not only necessary to successfully win, but to keep it under control.
But I have to admit that he could have made his point in half the time. At times it seemed he was going for the word count and wandered from point to point. Wait 'till it comes out in paper or get it at the library -- it's not one of his best works.
Military Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Military Books
Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History)by David Hackett Fischer
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2004-02-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.89
Price in other shops:
Infamy: Pearl Harbor and Its Aftermath (Penguin Classic Military History)by John Toland
Penguin Books Ltd; Published: 2001-05-31; Paperback; Book
The Mask of Commandby John Keegan
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1988-10-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Sommeby John Keegan
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1983-01-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Unitsby Aaron Cohen, Douglas Century
Ecco; Published: 2008-04-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.82
Price in other shops:
Little House by Boston Bayby Melissa Wiley
Harper Collins Publishers; HarperCollins; Published: 2007-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forgeby Thomas Fleming
Smithsonian; Published: 2005-10-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.48
Price in other shops:
Bodyguard of Liesby Anthony Cave Brown
Harpercollins; Published: 1975-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $70.00
General Patton: A Soldier's Lifeby Stanley Hirshson
Harper; Published: 2002-08-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.94
Price in other shops:
The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to the Crusadesby Paul Williams, Paul L. Williams
Alpha; Published: 2001-10-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.01
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Villageby Bing West
Pocket Books; Published: 2002-12-31; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.36
Price in other shops:
Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and Warby Michael Sallah, Mitch Weiss
Back Bay Books; Published: 2007-06-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.75
Price in other shops:
Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Pattonby Martin van Creveld
Cambridge University Press; Published: 2004-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.05
Price in other shops:
Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Powerby Victor Hanson
Anchor; Published: 2002-08-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.38
Price in other shops:
The Mask of Commandby John Keegan
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1988-10-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Decoding Clausewitz: A New Approach to on War (Modern War Studies)by Jon Tetsuro Sumida
University Press of Kansas; Published: 2008-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $24.95
Price in other shops:
The Rise and Decline of the Stateby Martin van Creveld
Cambridge University Press; Published: 1999-08-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.75
Price in other shops:
Command in Warby Martin Van Creveld
Harvard University Press; Published: 1987-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.25
Price in other shops:
The Changing Face of War: Combat from the Marne to Iraqby Martin van Creveld
Presidio Press; Published: 2008-01-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.01
Price in other shops:
The Transformation of War: The Most Radical Reinterpretation of Armed Conflict Since Clausewitzby Martin Van Creveld
Free Press; Published: 1991-03-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.00
Price in other shops: