Customer Reviews

The Origins Of War: From The Stone Age To Alexander The Great, Revised Edition (History & Warfare)

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There are already a couple of good reviews, so I will only suggest reading the following books on war in addition to Ferrill's: a) "War in human civilization" by Azar Gat; b) "War before Civilization. The Myth of the Peaceful Savage" by Lawrence Keeley; c) "How War Began" by Keith F. Otterbein; d) "War and Peace and War: The Rise and Fall of Empires" by Peter Turchin; and e) "War and the Law of Nations: A General History" by Stephen Neff.

This is a facinating book! I am currently enrolled in professor Ferrill's class at the University of Washington on ancient military history. The course follows the book to a great degree and was the obvious insperation for the class. So think of it as not only reading a book, but also taking a class from one of the most influencial military historians alive. Furthermore, It is an well researched book and is very thoughtfully put together for all reader types. Of course the class is more in depth and personal, but reading the book is like having some of the most exciting stories ever told put into your hand. Who needs fiction, when we have stories like these? It is books like this that brought me to college!!!

Although this book starts out being very interesting and well supported, the last few chapters on the Macedonian armies of Phillip and Alexander are disappointing. The author begins using vague euphemisms (such as the cavalry being used as a "hammer" on the "anvil" of the phalanx) which are not explained. Without some background in military history, and especially ancient tactical doctrines, one could be left puzzled as to exactly why Alexander was such a great general. Since the premise of the book is about Alexander's unification of near-eastern and Greek tactics into a new form of warfare, this flaw decreases the impact of the book.