About the Book
Two leading authorities--an acclaimed historian and the outstanding battlefield commander and strategist of our time--collaborate on a landmark examination of war since 1945. Conflict is both a sweeping history of the evolution of warfare up to Putin's invasion of the Ukraine, and a penetrating analysis of what we must learn from the past--and anticipate in the future--in order to navigate an increasingly perilous world.
In this deep and incisive study, General David Petraeus, who commanded the US-led coalitions in both Iraq, during the Surge, and Afghanistan and former CIA director, and the prize-winning historian Andrew Roberts, explore over 70 years of conflict, drawing significant lessons and insights from their fresh analysis of the past. Drawing on their different perspectives and areas of expertise, Petraeus and Roberts show how often critical mistakes have been repeated time and again, and the challenge, for statesmen and generals alike, of learning to adapt to various new weapon systems, theories and strategies. Among the conflicts examined are the Arab-Israeli wars, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the two Gulf Wars, the Balkan wars in the former Yugoslavia, and both the Soviet and Coalition wars in Afghanistan, as well as guerilla conflicts in Africa and South America. Conflict culminates with a bracing look at Putin's disastrous invasion of Ukraine, yet another case study in the tragic results when leaders refuse to learn from history, and an assessment of the nature of future warfare. Filled with sharp insight and the wisdom of experience, Conflict is not only a critical assessment of our recent past, but also an essential primer of modern warfare that provides crucial knowledge for waging battle today as well as for understanding what the decades ahead will bring.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
About the Author :
General David Petraeus is a retired United States Army general and widely respected as a leading warrior intellectual. He graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and earned a PhD from Princeton University. He served for thirty-seven years in the US Army, culminating his time in uniform with six consecutive commands as a general officer, five of which were in combat, including Command of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He then served as director of the CIA. He has held academic appointments at six universities and is a senior fellow and lecturer at Yale. He is a prominent commentator on contemporary security issues, military developments, and global affairs.
General David Petraeus is a retired United States Army general and widely respected as a leading warrior intellectual. He graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and earned a PhD from Princeton University. He served for thirty-seven years in the US Army, culminating his time in uniform with six consecutive commands as a general officer, five of which were in combat, including Command of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He then served as director of the CIA. He has held academic appointments at six universities and is a senior fellow and lecturer at Yale. He is a prominent commentator on contemporary security issues, military developments, and global affairs.
Andrew Roberts is a biographer and historian whose books include the New York Times bestsellers Churchill: Walking With Destinyand Napoleon: A Life (winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize), Masters and Commanders, The Storm of Warand Salisbury: Victorian Titan(winner of the Wolfson Prize for History), among others. His most recent book, The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III, was published in November 2021. Roberts is a Fellow of the Royal Societies of Literature and the Royal Historical Society, and a Trustee of the International Churchill Society. He is currently Visiting Professor at the Department of War Studies at King's College, London, and the Roger and Martha Mertz Visiting Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
General David Petraeus is a retired United States Army general and widely respected as a leading warrior intellectual. He graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University. He served for 37 years in the US Army, culminating his time in uniform with 6 consecutive commands as a general officer, 5 of which were in combat, including Command of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He then served as Director of the CIA. He has held academic appointments at six universities and currently is a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Yale. He is a prominent commentator on contemporary security issues, military developments, and global affairs. He is currently a Partner in a major investment firm and chairs that firm's Global Institute.
General David Petraeus is a retired United States Army general and widely respected as a leading warrior intellectual. He graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University. He served for 37 years in the US Army, culminating his time in uniform with 6 consecutive commands as a general officer, 5 of which were in combat, including Command of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He then served as Director of the CIA. He has held academic appointments at six universities and currently is a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Yale. He is a prominent commentator on contemporary security issues, military developments, and global affairs. He is currently a Partner in a major investment firm and chairs that firm's Global Institute.
Robert Fass is a veteran actor and twice winner of the prestigious Audie Award for the year's best narration. He has earned many Earphones Awards and AudioFile magazine "Best of the Year" accolades.
Review :
"Conflict is a deep examination...Huge in scope but exacting in focus, this is a fascinating read."
-- "Barnes&Noble.como"
"Conflict is remarkably readable...Conflict is the best one-volume study of conventional warfare in the nuclear age. It sets a new benchmark in understanding modern war."
-- "Wall Street Journal"
"Elegantly written and persuasively argued, Conflict is a hugely important book that explains why wars are still being fought and lost, what we can learn from them."
-- "The Telegraph (London)"
"Not since Clausewitz' On War has a book provided so much insight into the nature of warfare. Deeply researched, brilliantly constructed and thoroughly entertaining."
-- "Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (Ret.)"
"Their arguments are consistently well grounded and based on vast experience. A must-read for military historians and strategists."
-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"
"There is much to learn from this book. Not only will it be studied by military officers for generations to come, it will also be enjoyed by those who simply appreciate military history."
-- "General Sir Nick Carter GCB CBE DSO, former UK Chief of Defence Staff, former deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force, Commander of Regional Command-South in Afghanistan, and Commander of 20th Armoured Brigade in Iraq"
"This is a book to read and discuss. We must not allow its lessons to lie inert within its cover."
-- "Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster, US Army (Ret.), 25th US National Security Advisor"
