How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century [Paperback]

James F. Dunnigan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 006009012X | ISBN-13: 978-0060090128 | Publication Date: April 1, 2003 | Edition: 4

An indispensable guide to how wars are fought, James F. Dunnigan's classic text has been enormously popular with citizens, professional soldiers, and journalists alike. Now, it's been revised to include a stunning array of new subjects. From the cutting edge of cyberwar to the current concern about terrorism, How to Make War presents a clear picture of complex weapons, armed forces, and tactics.

Describing a new world order, one with a greater number of equipped players than the "Big Two" (the United States and the former Soviet Union), this updated edition features all the elements of traditional warfare, along with a discussion of terrorist techniques; nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; and Third World ballistic missiles. Past editions of How to Make War were chillingly accurate in assessing and predicting the outcomes of all the major conflicts in the past two decades. Loaded with expertise and the latest information, this edition is an essential reference for any military library –– and a work that forewarns, and forearms, the Free World for the conflicts ahead.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James F. Dunnigan is the author of many books and over a hundred historical simulations. He has been a lecturer to the State Department, the CIA, and the U.S. Army War College. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; 4 edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006009012X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060090128
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #808,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Managing Modern war, September 4, 2003

By 

M. Gautier "MikeG" (VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century (Paperback)

Dunnigan was part of the now gone SSI war gamers generation. This books is not a collection of war stories but a lay person's guide to how wars are managed from a broad perspective. This is not the book written by a beltway bandit trying to sell the next generation of wonder weapons, or an author who uses the usual beltway pompous pointless semantics that offend no one and says nothing. This is a book that talks about war at the retail and wholesale level. There are comparison tables, weapons charts and explanations of what it takes for modern war. You might get a 5 second blip about this on CNN. Dunnigan's books should be required reading for all those who want a more than casual shoot'em up approach to war. His chapters are organized around topics and themes such as "Leadership" or "The Poor Bloody Infantry". Those who are military academy students or citizens who want a more direct explanation of the mechanics of warefare management should read this book.

46 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Wargamers - Veterans Need Not Apply, January 4, 2005

By 

Castlebravo - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century (Paperback)

Mr. Dunnigan is an respected authority on wargames and military simulations, having produced more than one hundred (mostly manual) games between the late 1960's and early 1990's. The rise and complexity of computer and video games has mostly left him behind, however, in producing profitable products in recent years. This book is best suited for a reader interested in wargaming or as a basic introduction to broad military topics. If you already own the Updated Third Edition (1983), very little substance has changed in the Fourth Edition. The post-9/11 war on terrorism and current war in Iraq are not covered in any useful detail. In fact, lessons from the first Gulf War are not explained much at all. The "How to Make War" editions are written very much from the perspective of a wargamer and to a lesser extent a civilian historical and military analyst. Mr. Dunnigan is not a military professional and did not command men and machines in combat as a career soldier, sailor or airmen. His insights are good and in many cases spot on, but an experienced reader will quickly realize that the book superficially covers most topics and never really explains the psychology, politics, and specialization behind the numbers. It portrays an idealized and romantic view, akin to Tom Clancy`s fiction, by simplifying the issues into mathematical analysis and technical explanations of systems. John Keegan's books do a much better job of giving readers a good understanding of men at war and how they win. Mr. Dunnigan's writing style may also put some readers off, as he tends to lecture and ramble. Given his expert stature in the wargaming community, this professor to pupil style is easily understood. In summary, this book makes a good introduction for non-professional military readers and in particular wargamers.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, December 24, 2004

By 

Alex Salazar (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century (Paperback)

This book is one of the best I've come across on the subject of modern warfare. The chapters are well organized , easily read, and brutally honest on the truths of modern war as it is today and will be in the future. Dunnigan delves not only into tactis and strategy, but also other, often overlooked details of war in the modern world. Among these topics are morale of soldiers, training, equipment and technology, and logistics. Recommended for any student of warfare and current global issues.