Some good coverage of the Counterinsurgency Field Manual (FM 3-24) and the politics around development of it (which included finding a way to lose less in Iraq). Interesting to see how institutional change happens in the Army -- slowly and then all at once -- with the people pushing for change initially resisted, then conflict, then put in charge (to make their own mistakes later).

Especially relevant given that we're finally drawing a line under Afghanistan and getting out, a decision which should have happened in 2001 or latest 2002. ( )

Saw the author on CNN. the book is vast and dense in spots but does offer some tidbits worth reading about the war and the way its changed. ( )

I think this is an amazing book. Not only does it cover most of the history of the Iraq- and Afghanistan wars, which are important enough in themselves.
It also provides a compellingly written case study of organizational culture and what it takes to change it. As such, the book is relevant for everybody involved with managing or changing large, tradition-focussed, conservative organizations.
On top of it all, it covers important aspects of knowledge management in large organizations; and the US armed forces being a fairly transparent and well documented outfit, there is ample literature available to read in connection with this book. ( )