The Past as Prologue: The Importance of History to the Military Profession [Hardcover]

Williamson Murray (Editor), Richard Hart Sinnreich (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2006

Exploring the usefulness of the study of history for contemporary military strategists, this volume illustrates the great importance of military history while simultaneously revealing the challenges of applying the past to the present. Essays from authors of diverse backgrounds--British and American, Civilian and Military--present an overwhelming argument for the necessity of the study of the past by today's military leaders in spite of these challenges. Part I examines the relationship between history and the military profession. Part II explores specific historical cases that reveal the repetitiveness of certain military problems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Military historians and strategists will come away from this book with a stronger awareness of their responsibilities to assess continuities critically and to offer correctives to those who assert that technological innovation means the Western world has reached the end of traditional military history."
-P. Whitney Lackenbauer, St. Jerome's University, Canadian Journal of History

"The Past as Prologue...attempts to demonstrate the importance of understanding history. In fact it doesn't simply attempt, it succeeds...The Past as Prologue is a must-read by senior military and a should-read by senior policy makers."
-Lt Claude Berube, U.S. Navy Reserve, Proceedings

Book Description

The Past as Prologue explores the usefulness of the study of history for contemporary military strategists. Essays from authors of diverse backgrounds-British and American, Civilian and Military-come together to present an overwhelming argument for the necessity of the study of the past by the today's military leader's in spite of these challenges. The essays of Part I examine the relationship between history and the military profession. Those in Part II explore specific historical cases that show the repetitiveness of certain military problems.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 298 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052185377X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521853774
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,523,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good food for thought, June 13, 2006

By 

R. W. Levesque (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Past as Prologue: The Importance of History to the Military Profession (Paperback)

The editors of this book have put together an outstanding series of essays derived from a conference at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and later presented at the Marine Corps University, Quantico. The book's theme is stated in the subtitle; "The Importance of History to the Military Profession;" its view point is that the study of military history is critical for the military. There are two introductory chapters. The first, by Editor Williamson Murray, argues that only by studying military history can a soldier begin to understand war. Not that there aren't pitfalls and, "for history to be of any use, its very complexities demand skeptical inquiry rather than reliance on a smattering of inevitably oversimplified historical anecdotes." The second chapter, by eminent military historian Sir Michael Howard, argues that only military history can provide contextual understanding for many more conventional historians in explaining many issues, such as the impact of World War's I and II on society.

The rest of the book is divided into two sections; the first focuses on the relationship of military history to the military profession, and the second looks at historical cases that illustrate recurring military problems. The essays rely on academics and on military officers both of whom provide insight into history's role in understanding war. The authors include many familiar names such as LTG (R) Paul Van Riper, USMC, MG (R) Jonathan Bailey, British Army, John Gooch, Colin S. Gray, and the two editors themselves.

If you believe military history allows a better understanding of war, or if you just enjoy military history, this book will give you insight into the positive aspects of the field and its pitfalls - and there are many. At the same time, if you tend to believe today's problems are unique, read the book so that you can find the true path.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant intellectual defense of the study of military history, August 30, 2006

By 

Art (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Past as Prologue: The Importance of History to the Military Profession (Paperback)

American strategic thought is cyclic. Ever since the end of the Civil War the study of military history has fallen in and out of style, even within U.S. Military War Colleges and Command and Staff Colleges. During the 1960s, the organizational and business accounting theories of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and his "whiz kid" advisors stated that war could be reduced to number crunching and statistical analysis. As a result military history suffered. By the 1980s, military history was reborn with the wide acceptance of the writing of Carl von Clausewitz. The application of his theories played a major part in the complete rebuilding of American military operational art and the success of Operation Desert Storm. By the mid-1990s, the tide began to shift. "New" theorists began to opine on the wonders of "network-centric" warfare and "effects-based operations". Once again the study of history was replaced by computer networks and mathematical formulas.

"The Past as Prologue" is a brilliant defense of the need for military officers and policymakers to continue to vigorous and constant study of military history and resist attempts to reduce warfare to scientific analysis. The book is a collection of essays from some of the top military theorists and historians of our time. The famous historian Michael Howard's essay on the role of military history in warfare is worth the price of the book alone. LtGen Paul Van Riper's essay demonstrates that military history is not for other academics, but was a critical element in his success as a battlefield commander. His respect for the topic lead him to be a major force in the rebirth of professional military education within the United States Marine Corps.

The essays on Thucydides and Clausewitz clearly show their continued relevance in today's post 9/11 world. The second half of the book is a collection of essays that demonstrate how ignoring the lessons of history led to eventual battlefield defeat. While excellent, essays they did seem to drift a bit away from the central themes of the book and often got bogged down in detail.

The first 2/3 of the book were outstanding and should be required reading during the first week of all major defense colleges and universities, not to mention the need for policy makers to take the time to delve into these critical topics.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Defense of The Value of Studying Military History For Military Professionals, October 2, 2008

By 

Nathan Albright (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Past as Prologue: The Importance of History to the Military Profession (Paperback)

This book is an intriguing collection of essays from American and British civilian and military thinkers on the importance of history to the military profession. Included among this book's essays are thoughtful examinations of the relationship between military history and the history of war, British and American Marine views on he relevance of history to serving military professionals, the sometimes awkward relationship between history and the military education, the role of Thucydides as an educator, a subtle and excellent examination of Clausewitz's views on history and the future strategic world, as well s some intriguing case studies on the Victorian Royal Navy, the Russo-Japanese War, the British army's readiness between WWI and WWII, and terrorism. The closing essay of the book, a frightening examination of the gaps between history and the future of civil-military relations, gives plenty of food for thought in this well-thought out and relevant work.