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On War (Oxford World's Classics) Abridged Edition

by Carl von Clausewitz (Author), Beatrice Heuser (Editor), Michael Howard (Translator),
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 687 ratings
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On War is one of the most important books ever written on the subject of war. Clausewitz, a Prussian officer who fought against the French during the Napoleonic Wars, sought to understand and analyze the phenomenon of war so that future leaders could conduct and win conflicts more effectively. He studied the human and social factors that affect outcomes, as well as the tactical and technological ones. He understood that war was a weapon of government, and that political purpose, chance, and enmity combine to shape its dynamics.

On War continues to be read by military strategists, politicians, and others for its timeless insights. This abridged edition by Beatrice Heuser, using the acclaimed translation by Michael Howard and Peter Paret, selects the central books in which Clausewitz's views on the nature and theory of war are developed. Heuser's introduction explains the originality of Clausewitz's ideas, his education and background, and summarizes his key theories, while explanatory notes provide further information on the historical examples Clausewitz cites.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0199540020
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0199540020
  3. Edition
    Abridged
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    June 15, 2008
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    7.67 x 0.63 x 5.16 inches
  8. Print length
    336 pages
  9. See all details
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About the Author

Beatrice Heuser, Professor, University of the German Federal Armed Forces, Munich. Michael Howard, Emeritus Professor of Modern History, Oxford University and Yale University.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Abridged edition (June 15, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199540020
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199540020
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.67 x 0.63 x 5.16 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 687 ratings

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  1. Michael Howard

    Michael Howard

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  2. Carl von Clausewitz

    Carl von Clausewitz

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  3. Beatrice Heuser

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  4. Peter Paret

    Peter Paret

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    Peter Paret is Professor emeritus of the Institute for Advanced Study. Among his works on military history and on European culture in the 18th to the 20th century are a biography, Clausewitz and the State, now in its fourth expanded edition, and the translation, with Michael Howard, of Clausewitz’s On War. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the American Philosophical Society and recipient of its Thomas Jefferson Medal, an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics, and an Honorary Member of the German Clausewitz Society. The German government has awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit.

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
687 global ratings
Terrible... A waste of money.
1 Star
Terrible... A waste of money.
Amazon should remove this version from their inventory. It only contains the first 4 volumes, pages do not align with the table of contents, and it is inadequate for scholarly use (it was clearly printed from a .txt file and sold as a book). My photo shows a comparison of this book (161 pages) next to a legitimate edition of On War (896 pages). Legitimate copies of On War exist on Amazon, but this is not one.
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Top reviews from the United States

Brent D. Gardner, CLU, ChFC
5.0 out of 5 stars To know why...
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2005
Verified Purchase
...leaders do what they do, read what they read.

I sought this book out because a mentor told me that it was required reading in virtually all military schools and war colleges. Many leaders have military experience, and are likely to have read this at some point. Moreover, those that give military advice to people like the President of the United States are going to have read this, and it will have an impact on their decisions and thinking.

As others have noted, this book is not an easy read. This book is the kind that one should read from start to finish, and then read it again, because even those of us with high retention will learn more the second time through.

If one enjoys reading history, this book should be on the short list to read, because war has been a very important part of world history, and if the news are any indicator, wars aren't about to stop any time soon.

While I'm thinking about it, please make sure you thank those that fight for the cause of freedom and liberty, at every opportunity.
9 people found this helpful
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J. Hauck (Guerrilla Reader)
5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable Insights From a Professional Officer During the Napoleonic Age - Still Relevant Today
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2017
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Review of: "On War Paperback – January 21, 2012," by Carl von Clausewitz (Author).

On War (Vom Kriege) is a book on war and military strategy by Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831), written mostly after the Napoleonic wars, between 1816 and 1830, and published posthumously by his wife Marie von Brühl in 1832. It has been translated into English several times as On War. On War is actually an unfinished work; Clausewitz had set about revising his accumulated manuscripts in 1827, but did not live to finish the task. His wife edited his collected works and published them between 1832 and 1835. His 10-volume collected works contain most of his larger historical and theoretical writings, though not his shorter articles and papers or his extensive correspondence with important political, military, intellectual and cultural leaders in the Prussian state. On War is formed by the first three volumes and represents his theoretical explorations. It is one of the most important treatises on political-military analysis and strategy ever written, and remains both controversial and an influence on strategic thinking. The edition currently under review, although three books, is condensed from those volumes.

The book contains a wealth of historical examples used to illustrate its various concepts. Frederick II of Prussia (the Great) figures prominently for having made very efficient use of the limited forces at his disposal, though Napoleon is perhaps the central figure.

According to some strategists, the "general message" of the book was that "the conduct of war could not be reduced to universal principles." Among many strands of thought, three stand out as essential to Clausewitz's concept:

1. War must never be seen as having any purpose in itself, but should be seen as an instrument of Politik - a German word that conflates the meanings of the English words policy and politics: "War is not merely a political act, but also a real political instrument, a continuation of political commerce, a carrying out of the same by other means."
2. The military objectives in war that support one's political objectives fall into two broad types: "war to achieve limited aims" and war to "disarm" the enemy: "to render [him] politically helpless or militarily impotent."
3. All else being equal, the course of war will tend to favor the party with the stronger emotional and political motivations, but especially the defender.

The text under review is 161 pages and set in size 8 or so font. This should not, however, detract from the buyer's interest. This text is packed with the essentials of von Clausewitz's works and for the price is a very good deal. Well done at five stars.
4 people found this helpful
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Ian J. Miller
4.0 out of 5 stars Very thoughtful, but not the easiest to read
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2023
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This is a classic book, and one of the three main books on military theory. Clausewitz takes a different view than most, and while he spends quite a lot of time on strategy and tactics, these are not what he is mainly interested in. Most people will think Clausewitz is out of date, and of course some of the references to battles are of specific battles where the then-used tactics no longer specifically apply. This is because now, from WW 1 at least, armies do not seek specific battles in a specific spot, but rather they look for weaknesses in a long front-line. That is because motors permit much faster movement. However, when you read his thoughts on how wars start, how they progress, and what it takes to finish them, then look at the current situation in Ukraine you will see it is not completely out of date. It is also of considerable historical interest. Clausewitz' analysis of the aftermath of the Battle of Borodino is of particular interest. While Napoleon won it, according to Clausewitz it was not a complete victory because he lost too many of his own troops to offer a strong pursuit. Instead, he thought if he took Moscow he would win, or at least force the Russians to the negotiating table. He was wrong.
The book covers a lot of territory, and it was evidently published by Clausewitz' wife after his death. I do not know whether it was the German or the translation, but the book reads in long sentences that are a bit convoluted. In my opinion, German sentence structure with its compound words and the tendency to put verbs at the end of a sentence requires the sentence to be reconstructed completely, and the translator needs to be a writer of English, and I don't think this translator was. To follow this it is necessary to pay attention, so to speak. A further problem is it follows Clausewitz' thoughts, and these tend to wander, and with conditional clauses within conditional clauses it can be tough to follow. As to how dated the book is, read it and watch what eventuates in Ukraine.
5 people found this helpful
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Tim
5.0 out of 5 stars 200 Years Old - and Still Relevant Today!
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2015
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I'm amazed at how much I am enjoying this book! I was afraid I wouldn't be interested, or find it too esoteric, too focused on military matters.

It is well translated and written, and while it is very clear and 'easy' to read, it also requires a thoughtful reading process to understand where he's coming from, the times he lived in, but most of all, how his systematic explanation of the PHILOSOPHY of war works.

As a writer, this is exactly the kind of information I needed and it is amazing to me that many of his keen observations and experiences are so compelling and can be applied to warfare today! This will give much more credibility to my some of my characters, and explains a lot about our current and ongoing failures in our political theatre when it comes to the 'war' we are waging.
7 people found this helpful
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Madhur
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read in 30s
Reviewed in India on April 21, 2021
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Product was delivered in excellent condition, thanks to amazon packing.
This book is classic and reader may interprete it accronding to their subjective experiences of life.
2 people found this helpful
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Andrej Urosevic
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic must read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2021
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The book delivers exactly what you would expect.
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Christine Mambourg
5.0 out of 5 stars Super
Reviewed in France on December 23, 2020
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Parfait arrivé vite
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Bruce
4.0 out of 5 stars Karl Von Clausewitz on War
Reviewed in Australia on January 21, 2023
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Translation of the iconic book by Von Clausewitz on War from the 17th century. Not the easiest read, but still interesting and a worthwhile read.
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Border Reiver
5.0 out of 5 stars On War (Von Clauswitz)
Reviewed in Italy on November 25, 2016
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Poco da dire qui - se non di sottolineare il piacere di rileggere un testo che non perde attualità nonostante il passaggio del tempo. Un libro "essenziale" per chiunque vuole comprendere perché non avremmo mai pace.
One person found this helpful
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