While readable enough, and containing quite a few interesting insights, this survey of how assorted societies coped (or didn't) with the experience of defeat in war is marred by a certain lack of thesis. I also suspect that if you're already conversant with the Confederacy, the French Third Republic, or Wilhelmine/Weimar Germany you're likely to be less than impressed; or come away with the conclusion that the instances of these three societies are different enough to not be especially comparable. Call it the curse of general history; just enough information to confuse the neophyte but not enough analysis to keep the attention of the specialist. ( )