Customer Reviews

The Art Of War (A Da Capo paperback)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you are fascinated by Machiavelli and his writings, then this is a must for your bookshelf. If you are looking for a book on the art of war during the Renaissance, then keep looking. In this book, Machiavelli presents his ideal plan for how a city-state should organize its military and fight its wars. He draws almost all of his organizational and war conduct ideas from Flavius Vegetius Renatus' De Res Militarii. He also spends a great deal of effort smearing the practice of hiring mercenary captains (most of which is bad history on his part, so read Michael Mallett on the subject). This book falls short in its discussion of war, but still has many insights into the mind and politics of Machiavelli.

This is the third Machiavelli book that any student of politics MUST read. While 'The Prince' tells a ruler how he should govern and 'The Discourses' explains why unjust and ineffective leaders should be... disposed of, The Art of War gives reasons for the third and ultimate check on political power. Recording a conversation between his friends (with obvious artistic license taken), Machiavelli writes this to support his newly-drafted militia ordinance, requiring all able-bodied men in Florence to arm themselves and be prepared to go to war whenever their country's interests are threatened. He bases this principle on the Swiss model (which is still in place today!) as well as those of Rome and Sparta. The message to his Prince and countrymen is simple: that republics last longer when their citizens are armed and dangerous, and that they are more secure if a prince can call upon a vast army at a moment's notice-- and be able to disband it as soon as the war is over.

As to the actual principles of warfare he provides, they are, naturally, antiquated, and probably weren't very effective since Florence's greatest military achievement seems to have been the conquest of Pisa. The message he sets out to provide, however, is the building of a more secure state by promoting the profession of arms, which he proves has worked every time it has been tried.

Macchiavelli is in his brilliant & compelling best in this admirably written book on military matters & affairs.In a no-nonsense,direct,military approach he narrates his martial dictums from a conversational setting,highlighting on all aspects of warfare:tactics,strategy,proper rulership & the convincingly argued relation between politics & war.The author of The Prince is in complete command in this indispensable book for military enthusiasts & students alike.The great man instructs & informs much clearly & more comprehensively than a lot of the supposed reputable military historians glutted in the market.

This book clearly presents the realistic theory that war and politics go hand in hand. Although a bit too detailed on the mechanics of ancient warfare, the book is nevertheless a masterpiece of (military) strategy.

This book is brilliantly written by a brilliant man. He (Machiavelli) proves that politics and war go hand in hand. It is an extremely tactical book and reccomend that once you have read it, read it again.

This book by Machiavelli is very informative, however, it is not like Discourses or the Prince. It is written in a different style then of the above mentioned. It is very dialectic. But i must say that the master does not yield in technical knowledge of warfare, and making war. All and all it is a very good book.

Machiavelli proves the basis for the successful execution of war is proper political and strategic foresight, and isolates deception of the enemy and self-interest as the proper catalyst to the only end that justifies the means; VICTORY

My review of this book will be based on first it's military value and then it's value as political theory book.
I picked this book up purely based upon the title and some of it's references to Roman military history. I gave it three stars because it's primarily a rewriting of Vegetius' "Epitoma Rei Militaris" which is a military manual for what the Roman army should attempt to attain, rather that what it was in practice. Machiavelli takes these theories and implements them in the 15th century European armies with little regard to practicality of such changes in the military and political spheres of medieval Europe. He is a statesman with minimal military expereince attempting redo the face of medieval warfare.
However, from standpoint of political theory it blew me away. I had read Machiavelli's Prince in college but when I read his Art of War everything in the Prince made sense. Machiavelli's take on war is identical to his take on politics. While most classical political views describe their theories as rules for a group of civilized individual within society to worked with each other as friends/collegues for betterment of people within and against their foes outside, Machiavelli destroys this boderline that determines friend and foe. For grasping ultimate power, all individual competors from inside or outside society are treated as a foe. Therefore, all the rules of warfare including those of deceit and treachery are allowed. In this book one sees that the root of Machiavellian political thoery is based on classical theories of warfare advocated by ancient military theorists such as Sun Tzu, Ceasar and Alexander. Machiavelli has replaced the terms offensive and defensive actions in warfare with conspiracy and counter conspiracy in politics. The methods for success in latter two are basically the same with former two.

The Art of war with more than a merely artistic or historical interest is the incontrovertible truth that it deals with the great principles which still guide nations and rulers in their relationship with each other and their neighbours.

Machiavelli talks about the best way to achieve your own self-interest and material gain