On War

Description

This is Volume 1 – Written in 1832, On War might be considered by many to be dated or, at the very least, providing some valuable knowledge that is difficult to extract due to the difference in perception between early 19th century thinking about war and more modern concepts that are also tied into technological warfare.

According to many military strategists, intellectuals, politicians and even some philosophers, however, On War is a valuable, even if incomplete, work that offers one of the most complete and thorough explanations of the nature, purpose, meaning and understanding of war as a concept, as well as a practical series of events.

Clausewitz dives deep into his philosophical explanations of war and its many facets. He essentially divides his work into three parts to explain the idea of war itself, the relation it has to the larger world in which it may exist, and the ways in which success in war can be obtained.

Although some parts of the manuscript are largely made up of Clausewitz’s notes, and the entire document is far from being complete, the author has managed to provide an impressive and clear outline explaining subjects such as when and if war should be initiated, how one should view war as an overall series of events, rather than just a single, standalone event, why the concept of “pure war” has no place in practical reality, and what methods military leaders could find to be most effective in winning battles or ending wars with a favorable outcome.

Similar to the analysis of a very old chess game, Clausewitz’s writings are somewhat dated but extremely clear, while parts of it can still be useful in today’s military strategies. The manuscript can also be an extremely valuable read for history buffs – even indispensable for historians – who can read about many of the most significant battles leading up to the early 19th century.
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