How to Make War (Fourth Edition): A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century - James F. Dunnigan

Dunnigan's War

J.F. Dunnigan's How to Make War (H2MW) is an essential piece for all those who make war and who study war. Part history and part instruction manual, H2MW not only gives the reader an insight into modern warfare, but also the book illustrates the manner in which current innovations came to pass. From the historical impact of body armor to the tactical application of the hand grenade, H2MW is a great reference for those that study or operate in battle-space.

That's certainly NOT a peaceful text...

Amazing book. Every "military freak" (or let's say, enthusiast of this topic) must read it! Updated database of all types of modern warfare all over the world. Written in a simple however accurate language with a bit of joke will never get you bored. Dunnigan has collected a detailed knowledge about both the weaponry and strategy or tactics. This book will really make you understand how do people make wars nowadays. Then you can sit down and think WHY do they do it at all.

Dunnigan is the best

Not only is it extremely informative, but Dunnigan takes a potentially dry topic and makes it fun. Provocative thinking, excellent writing.

Astonishingly comprehensive and well informed

This is just the book I was looking for to get an introduction to modern warfare. It is comprehensive, thoughful, and insightful. Dunnigan is not afraid to provide an educated opinion where precise data is not available.

The book is full of facts and detailed information about weapons and systems, and the various armed forces, but also covers broader issues like leadership and even the effect of military spending on the economy and what is the real source of military strength.

I was blown away by the amount of information and insight packed into just over 600 pages. I have no military experience so I am not in a position to verify the accuracy of everything in the book but in the areas I do know about he was spot on (computers, in the chapter on cyberwar).

Good for Wargamers - Veterans Need Not Apply

Mr. Dunnigan is an respected authority on wargames and military simulations, having produced more than one hundred (mostly manual) games between the late 1960's and early 1990's. The rise and complexity of computer and video games has mostly left him behind, however, in producing profitable products in recent years. This book is best suited for a reader interested in wargaming or as a basic introduction to broad military topics. If you already own the Updated Third Edition (1983), very little substance has changed in the Fourth Edition. The post-9/11 war on terrorism and current war in Iraq are not covered in any useful detail. In fact, lessons from the first Gulf War are not explained much at all. The "How to Make War" editions are written very much from the perspective of a wargamer and to a lesser extent a civilian historical and military analyst. Mr. Dunnigan is not a military professional and did not command men and machines in combat as a career soldier, sailor or airmen. His insights are good and in many cases spot on, but an experienced reader will quickly realize that the book superficially covers most topics and never really explains the psychology, politics, and specialization behind the numbers. It portrays an idealized and romantic view, akin to Tom Clancy`s fiction, by simplifying the issues into mathematical analysis and technical explanations of systems. John Keegan's books do a much better job of giving readers a good understanding of men at war and how they win. Mr. Dunnigan's writing style may also put some readers off, as he tends to lecture and ramble. Given his expert stature in the wargaming community, this professor to pupil style is easily understood. In summary, this book makes a good introduction for non-professional military readers and in particular wargamers.