" This book is a critique of the American dream as currently imagined: global military supremacy, gluttonous pursuit of happiness and politicians that kowtow to public greed to ensure longevity in congress. The most interesting and important argument Bacevich makes, in my view, is that congress has ceded its role as a counterbalance to presidential power. It's not the best-written book--Bacevich makes a lot of unsubstantiated claims that should be passed off as his own opinion rather than accepted analysis and the counterarguments he makes in the conclusion could be better defined-- however, it is a very interesting, scary and coherent take on national security policy, American culture, and the challenges of the next generation. "
— Maya, 2/5/2014