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How to Fight a War Hardcover – 30 Mar. 2023

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 151 ratings

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An indispensable guide to understanding modern warfare, especially the decisions made by politicians and generals―both good and bad.

Has any war in history gone according to plan? Monarchs, dictators and elected leaders alike have a dismal record on military decision-making, from over-ambitious goals to disregarding intelligence, terrain, or enemy capabilities. This not only wastes the lives of civilians, the enemy and one’s own soldiers, but also fails to achieve geopolitical objectives, and usually lays the seeds for more wars down the line.

Conflict scholar and former soldier Mike Martin takes the reader through the hard, elegant logic to fighting a conclusive interstate war that solves geopolitical problems, and reduces future conflict. In cool and precise prose, he outlines how to orchestrate military forces, from infantry to information, and from strategy to tactics.

How to Fight a War explains the unavoidable, yet seemingly elusive, art of using violence to force your enemies to do what you want. It should be read by everyone seeking to understand today’s wars, as well as those wishing to lead us through the coming decades of conflict.

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"An illuminating and enjoyable account of warfare and guidelines to achieve lasting peace. How to Fight a War is also written in an engaging style, rich in personal and historical anecdote, that lays out complex issues in an absorbing and logical way." -- Financial Times

"Many pundits, journalists, and so-called 'experts' would do well to put down their phones, give their thumbs a rest, and pick up Mike Martin's 'How to Fight a War'." -- Joshua Huminski, Diplomatic Courier

"Essential reading." -- Times Radio

"Colorful, punchy, admirably challenging and clear--essential reading for every soldier, officer and General." -- General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, British Army

"War is abhorrent and complicated. But it is also human. In this easy-to-read book Mike Martin strips away much of its technical characteristics and reminds us that war is determined by some basic tenets that only a fool ignores. How to Fight a War is for statesmen, diplomats and generals to keep by their side when conflict beckons." -- Lieutenant General Douglas Chalmers (CB, DSO, OBE), Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, 2018-2021, and Master of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge

"An outstanding, clearly written and articulated book for both undergraduates and graduates studying strategic or defence studies, not to mention junior to mid-ranking officers, even senior ones." -- Ahmed S. Hashim, Associate Professor of Strategic Studies, Deakin University and Australian Defence College, and author of Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency in Iraq

"Almost all of the wars that have been fought over the last thirty years have been unsuccessful. If the leaders, generals and statesmen had read this book, they might not have been." -- The Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP, Minister for Veterans' Affairs

"The ongoing war of Russian aggression in Ukraine has caught the majority of Western policymakers and the public off guard and laid bare a severe deficit in understanding the fundamentals of modern warfighting and military affairs. This new book will help address this dearth of expertise on military matters in the West by succinctly summarizing the basic principles of war and warfare in layman's terms." -- Franz-Stefan Gady, Senior Fellow for Cyber Power and Future Conflict, International Institute for Strategic Studies

"At a time of high geopolitical worry and risk this book sets out clearly the complex considerations--too often insufficiently assessed--which ought to inform any decision, by anyone, about going to war." -- The Rt Hon. Charles Clarke, former MP, Home Secretary (2004-06)

"What stands out in this wonderfully curated book is the smooth logical flow of complex issues related to "fighting a war". Not just the art of war, based on classic examples from world war campaigns and the most recent Ukraine war, but also the craft of war which has evolved through the ages of civilisation. A delightful work of hard labour, thought and passion." -- Commodore RS Vasan, Indian Navy (Retd), Head of Strategic & Security Studies, Center for Asia Studies Chennai, and Director-General of the Chennai Centre for China Studies

"This is an excellent summary ... almost exhaustive." -- Politique etrangere

"An indispensable guide to understanding modern warfare, especially the decisions made by politicians and generals - good and bad." -- Daily Maverick

About the Author

Mike Martin is Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, where he speaks and writes on conflict. His previous books, also published by Hurst, are An Intimate War; Crossing the Congo; and Why We Fight. He tweets about conflict and geopolitics as @ThreshedThought.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd (30 Mar. 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1787389308
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1787389304
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 21.74 x 2.26 x 14.63 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 151 ratings

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Mike Martin
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Mike Martin is the Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells. He is a former army officer and author, as well as being a War Studies Senior Fellow at King's College London where he speaks and writes on conflict. He tweets @ThreshedThought.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Customers say

Customers find the book provides an insightful introduction to the topic of warfare. It provides a brilliant breakdown of the aims and basic principles of achieving them. The book is written in simple, easy-to-grasp prose, with fascinating facts and examples from conflicts as far back as ancient Persia. Readers describe it as a well-written summary of "How to fight a war" that breaks down a complex and little known process.

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21 customers mention ‘Insight’21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an insightful introduction to the topic. It offers a brilliant breakdown of the aims of war and basic principles of achieving them. The book is an excellent overview of warfare basics, written in simple, easy-to-grasp prose. They find it enthralling and relevant, peppered with fascinating facts and examples from conflicts as far back as ancient Persia. It's the masterful synthesis of thousands of years of insight won, literally, by tears, sweat, and blood. It contributes greatly to the available literature, particularly as it is devoid of many of the other books on the Ukraine war.

"...Peppered with fascinating facts and examples from conflicts as far back as ancient Persia and as recent as last year’s invasion of Ukraine, How To..." Read more

"...It covers everything from the importance of strategic planning and logistics, to the purposes and compositions of a fighting force...." Read more

"...clarifies what's going on in the Ukraine war and offers insights on today's politics and leadership. Read it." Read more

"...As such contributes greatly to the available literature, particularly as it is devoid of many of the acronyms and mil-speak that make some books on..." Read more

21 customers mention ‘Readability’21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and easy to understand. They describe it as a guide that breaks down a complex process into an interesting read. The book provides a great introduction to different aspects of military strategy in a clear and lucid manner.

"...Anyone who has read The Prince will have been stuck by what a straight-talking, practical guide it is to politics in 16th century Italy..." Read more

"...For obvious reasons it's an important read given the state of the world right now, but it will only appeal to a certain group of people - this is..." Read more

"...But that misses the point, it is a well written, readable summary of “How to fight a war”...." Read more

"...Guides you, as a potential leader of a country, to what you need to consider, what you need to prepare for and the huge amount of resources and cost..." Read more

Excellent read
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
Brilliant book which breaks down a complex and little known process (by the layman) into a clear outline of the requirements to fight a success campaign from the top down. So useful to help your understanding of many international issues over the past 20 plus years.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 April 2023
    Mike Martin has acquired a big Twitter following for his expert analysis of the Ukraine war. His fourth book will be a delight to those who are keen to see his analysis at a greater depth than 240 characters allow. The title is reminiscent of Sun Tzu, but Mike Martin’s How to Fight a War is more like a 21st century Machiavelli. Anyone who has read The Prince will have been stuck by what a straight-talking, practical guide it is to politics in 16th century Italy (when politics was not much more than warfare). Taking his lead from the florentine, Martin imagines you, his reader, as the leader of a modern nation-state, and tells you as straightforwardly as he can what you need to know about war, and how you should plan to win one, should it occur. After 80 years or relative world peace, this is a question we are all asking ourselves right now with increasing urgency. This book expertly scratches that itch, with the plain talking of a soldier mixed with the erudite range of a scholar. Martin is of course both, and also a budding politician (currently the Lib Dem candidate for Tumbridge Wells). So he understands warfare as both a technical act (what provisions does a soldier need? what tactics are best for destroying tanks?) and as a political art (he sums it up as a form of communication where the ultimate goal is to change the psychology of the opposing commander). Peppered with fascinating facts and examples from conflicts as far back as ancient Persia and as recent as last year’s invasion of Ukraine, How To Fight A War will tell you everything you need to know about warfare in this increasingly dangerous age.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2023
    This book is obviously not going to be everyone's cup of tea. But if you're interested in an overview of modern warfare, I'd recommend it - it's really good.

    It covers everything from the importance of strategic planning and logistics, to the purposes and compositions of a fighting force.

    The argument that the idea behind warfighting is all about psychology is really compelling - the aim of warfighting is not destruction for its own sake but rather as a means of compelling another to submit to your position. Negotiation, but when words have failed.

    For obvious reasons it's an important read given the state of the world right now, but it will only appeal to a certain group of people - this is certainly not one I'd recommend without question, but if you have any interest in this war business then give it a try - I don't think you'll be disappointed.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2023
    This book absolutely clarifies what's going on in the Ukraine war and offers insights on today's politics and leadership.

    Read it.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2023
    An excellent and timely book, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This is an excellent primer for politicians and military leaders whose experience of military operations has been dominated by peace keeping, counter insurgency or counter terrorism. It could be argued that in terms of content it adds little new to the subject. But that misses the point, it is a well written, readable summary of “How to fight a war”. As such contributes greatly to the available literature, particularly as it is devoid of many of the acronyms and mil-speak that make some books on the subject unreadable to a wider audience. It is a little land centric in my personal opinion, but as in all things that is debatable. The author’s own military background seeps occasionally in to the text. “Bayonets” being a case in point, who else but a Brit. It is well worth a read.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 April 2023
    I’m not from a military background and this might all be obvious to those who are. But this was a most enlightening book on war and more importantly the necessary preparations for war. Guides you, as a potential leader of a country, to what you need to consider, what you need to prepare for and the huge amount of resources and cost you need to reserve for any war, both offensive and defensive. The one takeout for me is the logistics, that is key to winning a war. Have good logistic plans and prioritise taking out your enemies logistic abilities. The first 3/4 of the book focuses on logistics, training, moral, types of armies, and types of warfare. Only in the last 1/4 does it cover the actual fight. If you got the first bit right the second seems is a lot easier. Well that is me now a military expert… Twitter here I come.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 April 2023
    How does that saying go? "Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics." This chap really knows his stuff, and reading about the sheer scale of the logistics involved in fighting a war is mind-blowing. One artillery piece can use an entire shipping container of shells in one morning - imagine the supply lines in a war that goes on for months and years. And this book is not just about logistics - it's about everything involved in making war, from propaganda to chemical weapons, all dealt with coolly and dispassionately in terms of how effective they are in terms of achieving victory. Hence the comparison to Machiavelli - there is little handwringing or moralising here. He takes lots of examples from the current [at the time of writing] conflict in the Ukraine, and it is very clear he is not impressed by the performance of the Russian forces. No suprise to anyone who follows his podcasts, but then you would have to be a dedicated Putin fanboy to think the Russian efforts have been anything short of woeful. A great book, and for all the detail and depth, admirably lucid and easy to read.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • R. Zubrin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading.
    Reviewed in the United States on 8 January 2024
    This book provides an essential foundation for understanding how to win a ear. If only a few people in Washington would read it!
  • MIRO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Manual for decision making at strategic level
    Reviewed in Germany on 11 December 2024
    Great manual for students of military strategy. Top quality print, affordable price.
  • Julie
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book!
    Reviewed in Australia on 11 June 2023
    Mike uses very simple everyday language to illustrate complex warfare principles and strategy so everyday layman like me can understand.
    I can certainly relate to what he says from what I have been reading about the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
    I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in understanding why wars were fought in a certain way.
  • Dale B. Woodhouse
    5.0 out of 5 stars war
    Reviewed in the United States on 25 November 2023
    Outstanding. This book has a lot crammed into it but is so well written it flows. Very informative for the novice and will make arm chair generals think.
  • Mathias
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening
    Reviewed in Germany on 4 June 2023
    This book tells you how much more the is to a war than just shooting at your enemy. War explained in simple words, while making clear its abundant complexity.