Customer Reviews

Don't Tread on Me: A 400-Year History of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If more historians covered their subject matter the way Harry Crocker does, perhaps today's younger generation wouldn't suffer from the historical "amnesia" that afflicts it. Fast-paced, stirring, and thoroughly researched, "Don't Tread on Me" is at once moving and action-packed. Painting a 400-year panoramic picture of the broad sweep of military history is difficult, but Crocker does it with bold and detailed strokes. This is a must-read.

I presume H.W. Crocker III wrote his crackerjack book for many reasons, one of which must be to set the record -- and the ranters and ravers -- straight. While one is tempted to ignore the shocking errors of some off-the-mark critics, here are the facts, as Crocker lays out in detail:

(1) "Desert Storm" was not incorrectly labeled "Desert Saber." The fact is the book rightly says that "Desert Saber" was the land component of "Desert Storm."

(2) Chief Joseph was, in fact, bested by General Nelson Miles rather than General Oliver Howard. After all, Chief Joseph surrendered to Nelson Miles, and no one else.

Everyone is entitled to disagree with Crocker's POV, which is, after all, boldly challenging much conventional wisdom. But critics ought not resort to glaring errors in an attempt to point out purported mistakes. This book should be an important part of an open -- and honest -- conversation about our nation's historic legacy and America's place in the world.

Freedom isn't free, and whether it was at Valley Forge or Pearl Harbor, the United States has had to fight for the right to remain an exceptional nation. H.W. Crocker's story is a great tribute to the men and women who have served in uniform and defended our borders. Needless to say, in these uncertain times, "Don't Tread on Me" is an important reminder that we Americans cannot take our freedoms for granted.

Harry Crocker has written a very interesting and compelling history. The book gives us a very effective overview of how Americans have gone to war over the past several centuries. I highly recommend it!

Crocker makes a potentially dry discussion of tactics and details into a fascinating and efficient read. One comes away with a newfound respect for the art of historical writing; that effective writers like Crocker do exist to inform and to entertain without wasted words. I encountered no heavy eyelids in this read as I have in so many other historical treatises. I'm looking forward to Crocker's next effort.

This great book should strike fear into those who wish Americans harm. Over the past couple of centuries there has been no greater enemy than America. Harry Crocker has given us a marvelous view of our major military campaigns complete with the miscues and faulty judgments that have for the most part worked out miraculously in our favor. What the politicians dreamed (or screwed) up, the American fighting man's tenacity and valor (along with darn good weapons) have pulled off. This book should be in our schools! This is how (and what)history should be taught. Buy it, read it, tell your friends. It's an easy, enjoyable read. Well written, witty, and yes, politically incorrect (I've always thought that a redundant phrase). This is a book for your library, to pass on to kids and grandkids who are for the most part subjected to bowlderized versions of America's greatness.

In my experience this is the best concise, readable book on the subject. The 5 chapters on the War Between the States/War of Northern Aggression/Civil War (choose one) are by far and away the best "short" history of this conflict.Personally I enjoyed the various "what ifs" of history sattered throughout. I'd give the book six stars if this were possible.

DON'T TREAD ON ME: A 400-YEAR HISTORY OF AMERICA AT WAR, FROM INDIAN FIGHTING TO TERRORIST HUNTING is one of the most sweeping military histories in print: it comes from a journalist who offers a close analysis of America's military over the past four hundred years, contrasting wars, strategy, ideology and methodology across the decades. From current insights on why a civil war in Iraq needn't be a U.S. disaster to how 1886 justified Southern succession in the 19th century, many eye-opening discussions arm DON'T TREAD ON ME and make it a top pick not just for general-interest and military collections, but for college-level classrooms debating American military and political policies.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

All our wars skillfully compressed into only 400 pages. Not only does the author summarize our wars, he also outlines his view as to why the expansion of the American Empire was and is a good thing, and how some Presidents made some serious policy blunders and thus sacrificed lives and freedom, because they were confused about what America's role in the world should be.

I was helping a friend's kid with preparing a school assignment. It was about the Aztecs, the teacher rejected the paper because it contained a few references to human sacrifice. The prescribed school history book only tells about a great and noble civilization destroyed by greedy, fanatic and intolerant Europeans. Not one word of the Tlaxcalans role in the downfall of the Aztecs or of the unsavory side of Aztec culture, like human sacrifice.

History is the story of man, hence it will contain the moments of great glory where the brilliance and ingenuity of man shines and other times when the depraved side of man comes through. There is no country of culture or civilization which does not have its uplifting moments or its depressing failures. Re-telling history to suit a political agenda is a great de-service to mankind, because it does not let one learn from history.

This book is very interesting because the author chose not to go through the politically correct route. He tries to tell history as it actually happened. This book is refreshingly different from most other books because of this. While the author for most part has done a very good job, there are times when his pro-southern, ultra right bias does come through; like for example, his justifying the South's cause.

Any history buff reading this book will probably learn something new. While I think the author has done an honest job, researching and presenting his facts, I do disagree with the author on a few of his interpretation of history. But then, this is how history is to be told; Give the honest facts...both the good and the bad, and let the next generation make up their minds about the deeds of their ancestors.