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The Mind of War: John Boyd and American Security Paperback – August 1, 2004

by Grant T. Hammond (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 178 ratings
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The ideas of US Air Force Colonel John Boyd have transformed American military policy and practice. A first-rate fighter pilot and a self-taught scholar, he wrote the first manual on jet aerial combat; spearheaded the design of both of the Air Force's premier fighters, the F-15 and the F-16; and shaped the tactics that saved lives during the Vietnam War and the strategies that won the Gulf War. Many of America's best-known military and political leaders consulted Boyd on matters of technology, strategy, and theory.

In The Mind of War, Grant T. Hammond offers the first complete portrait of John Boyd, his groundbreaking ideas, and his enduring legacy. Based on extensive interviews with Boyd and those who knew him as well as on a close analysis of Boyd's briefings, this intellectual biography brings the work of an extraordinary thinker to a broader public. The paperback will retain the original publication date as it is the same book but different format.
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  1. Print length
    248 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Smithsonian Books
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    6.04 x 0.54 x 8.98 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    158834178X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1588341785
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“John Boyd was a remarkable patriot whose intense commitment to learning and teaching the lessons of history changed American military doctrine and made Desert Storm possible. This study is an invaluable contribution to a little known part of our military history.”—Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the US House of Representatives

“John Boyd was one of the greatest military and strategic thinkers of our time. His story and his brilliance are superbly captured in Grant Hammond’s excellent book. This is a must read for all those who want to understand how to think about war and to learn about a true American hero.”—General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC, former commander of CENTCOM

“One of the most important books on airpower theory, strategy, technology, organization, and history to come out this year is Grant Hammond’s biography of Col. John Boyd, USAF. Appropriately, it is larger than life – Boyd’s life – for the United States Air Force of today reflects the impact of many of Boyd’s ideas.” – Aerospace Power Journal

“This book is exceptionally relevant conceptually to… ‘fighting’ a global ‘war’ on terrorism using military resources… John Boyd’s lifelong dedication helps us learn to successfully observe, assess, decide, and act before, during, and after we have been challenged or surprised.” – Journal of Contemporary Security Policy

About the Author

Grant T. Hammond, director of the Center for Strategy and Technology and professor of international relations at the Air War College, is the author of Plowshares into Swords: Arms Races in International Politics, 1840-1991.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Smithsonian Books (August 1, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 248 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 158834178X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1588341785
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.04 x 0.54 x 8.98 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 178 ratings

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Grant Tedrick Hammond

Grant Tedrick Hammond

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
178 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Retired Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Wasted Brillance
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book attempts to examine and explain to the non-specialists the revolutionary ideas of late Colonel John Boyd (USAF ret.) that literally showed the way to the transformation of the U.S. Defense Establishment into a 21st Century structure. The fact that in the end Boyd failed in his vision does not bode well for the future of this establishment.

After this book was written, Robert Coram wrote an excellent biography of Boyd that also provided the reader with a detailed exposition of Boyd's ideas. Also in a highly technical and quite well done doctorial work, Royal Dutch Air Force Officer Frans Osinga provided an excellent dissertation on Boyd's development of his strategic theory of war from his original research and development work on aircraft fighter tactics. So don't these two fine books supercede this one?

Well for this reviewer at least they don't, they compliment this book. Boyd was a brilliant complicated thinker and Hammond's work will help to clarify Boyd's thinking and his approach to tactics, strategy, and war. This book clearly shows how Boyd, and his "fighter mafia", could have made the U.S. Department of Defense the center of national security policy instead of the center for log rolling and pork barrel politics that it is today. All who recognize Boyd's worth would be advised to read this book
20 people found this helpful
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Jim Dulin
5.0 out of 5 stars Do you want to be or to do?
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2015
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This is an excellent book about a man who, in his own words, chose "to do" and not "to be." What he did was defeat all comers in forty seconds in aerial combat, teach his techniques to others, evaluate how he did it to create the energy maneuvering evaluation of all fighter aircraft, develop the OODA loop, and change how most militaries look at the art of war.

What did the US Air Force allow this brilliant and obnoxious man of impeccable integrity to be? He was passed over twice to make full colonel. He came back to the Pentagon as a civilian paid one day per pay period. Our Marines loved him and history will treat this nobel hero kinder than the h u t a Air Force which wanted to kill the best fighter in the world because he developed it cheaply.
10 people found this helpful
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James
4.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat Biased but Intimate Biography
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2013
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I purchased this book for my professional library as well as part of a school paper on professional leadership. Grant T. Hammond's account of John Boyd's life is unfortunately somewhat biased, given that he lived and worked with John Boyd and held a great deal of respect for him. This respect manifests itself in a 'Boyd can do no wrong' outlook, even when most readers would find some of Boyd's decisions morally questionable, self-centered, or down-right conceited. If you can look past the author's biases though you will find an intimate account of Boyd that does an excellent job of portraying his unique brand of outspoken genius. Detailing how Boyd combined his experiences as a fighter pilot, his education as an Industrial Engineer, and his self-taught skills as a Computer Scientist to develop such wildly successful (and diverse) innovations as the F16, the OODA loop, and the Energy-Maneuverability theory, Hammond ably describes the incredible ability of synthesis that Boyd possessed in a military branch known primarily for its analytical abilities.
7 people found this helpful
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forestturnings
5.0 out of 5 stars JOHN BOYD: AN AMERICAN TREASURE
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2021
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THIS BIOGRAPHY OF A BRILLIANT MILITARY THINKER IS ABSOLUTELY ENTHRALLING. JOHN BOYD MADE AN INCALCULABLE CONTRIBUTION TO MODERN AIR COMBAT TACTICS AS WELL AS INSIGHTFUL MODES OF THINKING IN MILITARY TACTICS WRIT LARGE. HE IS A TRUE AMERICAN HERO OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
One person found this helpful
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Tiny
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent add to any strategic collection
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2017
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The Mind of War offers a different spot in the dissecting John Boyd's career and theories than the more biographical option offered by Robert Coram. Hammond, who knew and worked with Boyd during his time at War College, focuses on how Boyd thought and how his thoughts were expressed with only brief touches on lifetime events. This book helps one understand one of the basics of modern strategy, showing how Boyd achieved his ideas, and where the emphasis should be. An excellent add to any strategic collection.
6 people found this helpful
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William L. Hysom
5.0 out of 5 stars This book brought Boyd’s concepts into focus
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2022
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The book brought Boyd’s ideas to a very usable level and the concepts of thermodynamics to a meaningful and usable context
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Carl H
5.0 out of 5 stars He was one of the true great minds of war and his brilliance in finding the ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2018
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I have read 2 books about Boyd, He was one of the true great minds of war and his brilliance in finding the truth and getting results put him above most. If you want to learn about aircraft design and how the military works, this is a book that you need to read. It was Boyd and his band of followers that developed the true Art of war and how to get things done despite what higher ups had to say.
4 people found this helpful
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Seneschal
4.0 out of 5 stars "Mind of War" vs. "Boyd: How a Fighter Pilot Changed the Art of War"
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2011
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I think "The Mind of War" is a very good, well-written narrative of the accomplishments and life's work of John Boyd. It's a no-nonsense account of what you "need to know" about Colonel Boyd. That being said, I enjoyed (even more) Coram's more recent "Boyd: How a Fighter Pilot Changed the Art of War." Where Hammond concentrates on Boyd's ideas, theories, and career, Coram's book focuses on the man. Hammond presents Boyd in a strict narrative account; relating the progression of events surrounding Boyd's various accomplishments. However, Coram offers much more detail (and dialogue) regarding each and every important aspect of Boyd's discovery process and career. It's not so much the "what," but the "how" and the "why" that is somewhat missing from Hammond's book. Although I enjoyed both, I read Coram's "Boyd" almost straight through from beginning to end. Ideally, one should read both if you have an interest in the man (which every American should); but I think Coram's is the more interesting read.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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inkpod
5.0 out of 5 stars John Boydの軌跡と残したものの記録
Reviewed in Japan on May 19, 2017
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第２次世界大戦以降の戦闘機のコンセプトを一変させ、その後は世界の陸戦の考え方を根底から覆した、アメリカの生み出した破滅的な天才であり、変人ジョン・ボイド大佐の軌跡とその戦略の概要を分かりやすい文章で記載されている。
ぜひ、邦訳してくれないかなぁ。もう少し彼の功績を広めた方がいいと思う。現代日本の宿痾に対する解決策のヒントもここにあるかもしれないし。
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Andysh08
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opener
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2013
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Excellent self help book, you can use the principles in life, family and business. Everyone should read it it help you in many ways.
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Gengis Khan
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
EXCELLENT
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