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" The best history on what it was like to be a soldier at Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme. Keegan never lets you down. "
- Kent, 2/13/2014
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" John Keegan approaches battle analysis from a different angle: how a battle would have been experienced by various participants. More than any other book this will give you an idea of what it was like to be a participant in historic battles like Waterloo. "
- Nick, 2/6/2014
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" Tactics. Tactics. Tactics. Agincourt, Waterloo and the Somme. "
- Michael, 1/30/2014
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" Fascinating look at what the experience of battle would have been like in a specific area over a long period of time (north west of Europe in 1415, 1815, and 1916). It's light on tactics but very vivid in evoking what a soldier's experience of the battle might have been like. It's quite selective about what it covers (e.g., the first day of the Somme is the longest section of the book, but the rest of the battle hardly gets a page), but still an interesting read. "
- Bryan, 1/28/2014
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" I think even non-military historians might enjoy this book with its careful look at the experience of individual soldiers. Keegan is able to show that even in the world of modern weapons, it remains predominantly a struggle of infantry. Victory continues to remain in the hands of the army that can maintain its moral certainty and not break in the face of tremendous stress. He ends by positing that "traditional" battles may be over because they have become so impersonal, that warfare will revert to a sort of guerilla and resistance style of fighting, because the individual is still important and feels important in those sorts of struggles. "
- Thom, 1/28/2014
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" Great book for it's time, still a very good book now. Keegan tried to give a perspective never before fully given, how war is and was for the soldiers on the line. "
- Ben, 1/27/2014
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" Giving this 3 stars is a little weird. It's hard to like a book like this, but it was interesting, and I thought it was balanced information about a subject I'm generally ill-informed on. The kind of book that is why booklists are good for me and not only just fun. "
- Melanie, 1/22/2014
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" John Keegan tries to examine the factors common to all battles; the demands they place upon leaders and their men for generalship and courage. Keegan looks at three representative battles from british history; the Battle of Agincourt during the 100 Years' War, the Battle of Waterloo which finally ended Napoleon Bonaparte's career, and the Battle of the Somme's attempt to break the stalemate of the war in the trenches at the height (or rather the depth) of World War One. "
- Curtiss, 1/16/2014
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" One of the first analytical studies of battle from ground level. Anyone remotely interested in military history would enjoy it. "
- Chris, 1/12/2014
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" likely to be one of the best ever analysis of warfare. "
- Devon, 1/4/2014
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" Psychological impact/factors of combat and war "
- James, 1/4/2014
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" Excellent book detailing the experience of the individual soldier during 3 different wars covering 3 different time periods. Groundbreaking when first published, still holds up even today in my opinion. "
- Felix, 12/26/2013
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" I read this to understand more of my primary job as a part of the military. While the face of battle has changed from fronts to urban warfare, it was a very good analysis of how war has changed over time. "
- G, 12/3/2013
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" A study of war through the ages, in all its never-ending similarities and horror. "
- Mackay, 10/2/2013
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" Keegan has established the gold standard for military history and historiography. As deeply insightful as it, however, it is not always an easy read, for he goes into fine detail such as a specialist would appreciate. "
- Phil, 9/18/2013
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" I don't really do well with war books that go step by step through strategy, but some of the battles in here were pretty interesting, Waterloo was good. "
- Julie, 4/30/2013
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" My introduction to a phenomenal non-fiction writer and historian. "
- Hubert, 4/12/2013
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" The best most level headed breakdown of potential experiences in battle that is available. All should read it. The first part about the importance of military history may be too heady for those who don't read tons of it. "
- Dr., 8/7/2012
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" Impressive description of how battles where from a combatants point of view. "
- Stephan, 7/26/2012
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" This book changed the way I think about war. The only one I know that tries to get at the experience of battle as lived by soldiers - in various epoch-changing battles through history. "
- Jennifer, 5/2/2012
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" A must read if you are interested in military history. Keegan's breakdown of the three battles provides insight into the trials facing soldiers throughout history. "
- Ajj, 3/13/2012
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" Analysis of key battles by the master historian "
- Rick, 12/16/2011
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