Rounding up the theme of war is a book that undoubtedly speaks volumes about the topic. An anthology of a 100 battles, Richard Overy’s War is a book like no other I’ve read. I’ll admit that I was initially lost on how to navigate it as I was mostly reading it as an e-book and then an audio book, but Richard Overy’s War is actually best kept on your book-shelf, a reference for some of the best epics in history and a constant companion when you want a fresh breath of inspiration. When you come to read about a 100 different battles, pacing is everything.

This may be a short review but one of my favorite parts of Overy’s War is the categorization. Highlighting key areas that have highlighted the underdog story including Leadership, Innovation and Courage in the face of failure, the battles play an important role in reminding us of human traits that have lasting implications, even outside of war. These are traits that have defined our present day through enabling succession of the victor and erasure of losing narratives. Of course, these cannot be seen as black and white stories. Many times Overy speaks in favor of the victor, celebrating their tactics for victory. I’ve always tried to be a bit sympathetic for the attempts and novelties of those who lose, yet are faced with insurmountable odds.

The other thing I appreciated about the book was that at the end of the day, we have to acknowledge that many of the lessons learnt can only be applied back to the artifice of war. For example, deception in social practice is not only undesirable but also unhealthy. Yet, these war leaders had to master domain traits to be able to execute successful tactics and claim victory. The domain of war is so unique and specialized that some people live their whole lives just within the military realm.

Reading about a 100 battles is not really everyone’s casual reading but reading one battle when you’re bored is definitely interesting. I’d recommend adding this to your book collection as a friendly and readable window to the world of war and conflict, for your reliable reference.

Here are my ratings:

Readability: 4/5

Intellectual Stimulation: 4/5

Perspective Shifting Capability: 3/5

Would I Recommend? – Not as a one-time read