Fascinating tour of history with details of some epic conflicts from B.C. to the '70's; presents some VERY interesting observations on democracy and freedoms (of choice, the press, etc.). ( )

A great history of the Western way of war. A riposte to works like Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel and an extension of books like David Landes's The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, et cetera. Hanson believes that there is more than just geographical determinism that made the West "win." (The British title of the book is Why the West Was Won: Carnage and Culture from Salamis to Vietnam; the American title is Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of Western Power.) Each chapter could be pulled from the book and assigned, as Hanson is quite repetitive in places with his thesis. But, this all serves to reinforce it. Basically, the West, since the Greeks, have had some sort of consensual government, a tradition of self-critique, secular rationalism, religious tolerance, individual freedom, free expression, free markets, and individualism. This coupled with wars of annihilation instead of "flower wars" or the like have contributed to Western dominance. Published right before the attacks of 9/11, it was a much ballyhooed (and poopooed) book in the 20-oughts. A classic text of military history that must be dealt with, whether you agree or disagree. ( )

12/4/22

Tedious support of a predetermined conclusion ( )

El autor nos presenta su tesis de que el mundo occidental ha triunfado en la historia con respecto al resto del planeta, especialmente por mantener una cultura que lo hace más apto para vencer en las guerras. Para ello pone, y relata, ejemplos históricos de batallas trascendentales a lo largo de la historia en que ejércitos de valores occidentales se han enfrentado contra otros ejércitos del mundo y han vencido o perdido en función de cómo se hubieran puesto en práctica estos valores en las guerras y los contextos en que se plantearon. Estos ejemplos van desde la batalla de Salamina hasta la ofensiva de Tet, pasando por Gaugamela, Tenochtitlán, Lepanto, Midway... Nueve batallas de uno u otro signo, explicando por qué se ganaron o se perdieron. Resulta un libro entretenido e interesante, aunque la tesis sea discutible debido a la manera de interpretar los hechos. El autor no es cualquiera, sino un renombrado profesor de clásicas en la Universidad Estatal de California. ( )