Rating: 
Summary: A course on reductionism.
Review: The author is a professor in Fresno State's Dept. of Foreign Languages and Literature and writer for the National Review.com. The book is a compilation of his writings regarding the 9/11 crisis for which I assume he was already paid, but for which he has evidently decided to seek further remuneration as the country is recognizing the anniversary of the tragedy (sorry Prof., I didn't buy the book). Most, if not all, of this book is easily available free on-line. As a person who was caught up in some of the tragedy of that day, I can't say that I feel good about anyone who seems to be seeking a profit on this crisis. I didn't see a notice on the book that profits were for charity, such as to the victims.The author is entitled to his opinions, but his arguments tend to be shallow and lazily written. His manner of presentation leads me to wonder if he is not a professor of reductionism instead of classics. Contrary to his presentation, for example, the U.S. did not enter the First World War due to the sinking of the Lusitania, which occurred nearly two years (and at least two other ocean liner sinkings) before Mr. Wilson asked for a declaration of war. The Lusitania is a better example of the American people remaining level headed. Furthermore, the U.S. was not alone in leaving "both Germany and Japan in smoldering ruin" as he oddly concludes in one of his early chapters. This is an important point since the author thesis is that the U.S. can dismiss international relations and assistance. But, his examples are all based on events that contradict his thesis and there are other examples in his writings. The author sees as wimpish the contention of some to seek European and Arab support for military action on Europe and the Middle East soil. In fact, that is exactly what the U.S. did before entering Afghanistan. This, to me, is most troubling about the book. The author may want to argue for U.S. unilateralism, but why not truthfully note that his position is without recent and relevant historical precedence. He could admit that his position is unique, but some how worthwhile. Perhaps the author believes that the Spanish-American War (a case of U.S. unilateral action) was an act of American altruism and proper foreign policy. In fact, unilateralism in foreign action has been rejected by Wilson, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Nixon to name a few presidents of diverse ideologies. Throughout the chapters that I read, the author worried not about facts, but only for his opinions to be accepted as the facts. He takes the old rhetorical approach of loudly repeating his opinions as facts, giving no credence to alternative views, and personalizes his criticism of those with whom he disagrees. This is hardly the approach of a university professor. I don't know Prof. Hanson's background, but he writes like a person who has not served in the military. He seems to have no problem placing others, including inevitably civilians, in the line of fire. I only apologize if I am in error about the author's military experience, but his manner of arguing rings similar to those I have known who speak of the military with little experience. I recommend saving your money, read the author on line if you must, but first swallow a grain of salt.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The chapter on General Sherman was great - but then he was one of my ancestors and I could be biased. The chapters are acollection of essays and do vary considerably.
The other chapters were almost all were flawed because Hanson's polemic is based on much better understanding of the Classics and, to some degree, the West than the contemporary world or Islam. Sometimes this is clear because either the reasoning or overly broad conclusions are visible to a careful reader. Other times the neo Con bias informs the selection and presentation more subtly.
Overall more pompous than profound.
Rating: 
Summary: Life changing book
Review: This book clearly articulates the mal-education of the vast majority of us college-bound types. My girlfriend won't even read it--her supposedly liberal, open-minded attitudes about people and ideas are plainly false, just as mine were. I felt no small amount of shame as I read some of the essays. But I made it through it and with any luck you will, too.
Rating:
Summary: Profound, witty, audaciously incorrect and well-written
Review: This is a really great book--penetrates the psycho-babble and punditry that serves as analysis of the problem of radical islam. Hanson is unapologetic; he is a military historian and professor of the classics with a deep understanding of the West, and a long view of history and warfare. If you read the introduction, you will be hooked on his style, which is unpretentious--it makes you realize that much of the analysis on terrorism, even be learned and experienced people, is just wrong. More importantly, it will cost more lives in the future. He convincingly compares the dithering before the Second World War to the high-society Euro-intellectuals of the day--people (unfortunately) like Colin Powell, who, upon the U.S. attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan commented that we might strike deals with the "moderate" Taliban. This of course begs the question--What is a moderate Taliban? That's like saying a "moderate Nazi." Sometimes, the shortest route to end the bloodshed is to obliterate your foe, and that is what he calls for--reducing the specter of al qaeda and the Taliban to a realistic threat. In the process, he takes a lot of hot air out of the chattering classes, college professors and policy wonks. Still, this is not a polemic and it is well written--comparable in depth to Robert D. Kaplan, Donald Kagan or Robert Kagan--if you like them, you will like him. Because this is a series of editorials, there tends to be a little repeating, but still a well-deserved five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: The Martial Plan, or Pox Woguli
Review: This is propaganda; pity there isn't a more positive word for it, for these calls to arms are as substantial and thought-provoking as they were timely at their original publication. It's not easy to convert good columns into a good book. Hanson wisely packages these essays as being of a specific place and time, rather than trying to conflate and inflate them into a single piece of bigthink. The pieces have aged well. Hanson is full of praise for our military, and full of threats for our enemies. The news media emphasized our mistakes, but the American military and diplomatic achievement in Afghanistan was remarkable. What the lumbering Soviet army couldn't do in eight years, a few units of American sea, air and air-mobile forces did in three months. With plenty of help from local friendlies, which the Sovs also didn't have much luck keeping. His historical satires, in which he mocks the hypothetical responses of contemporary liberals to great moments of decision in our past, are savagely funny. The high-handed dim-wittedness that he puts in the mouths of Ted Koppel and Peter Jennings in response to the Doolittle Raid are laugh-out-loud hilarious, depending on your POV. Hanson has also read his Bernard Lewis and Samuel Huntington, and incisively details the now-familiar reasons that Islamic lands are so backward and resentful of the West. It's a lesson that can't be learned too thoroughly, especially when so many other voices insist upon their negative faith in America the Bad. Consensual, secular self-government is unglamorous, but is still a rare gift from history. He makes many appeals to our own martial past, as well as the deeper, wider Western past, invoking Lepanto, Thermopylae, and Marathon in addition to Pearl Harbor and Okinawa. He execrates the American Left hot and strong, and deservedly so. In contrast to the amoral, irony-crippled, ideology-addled elites, he posits a sturdy, plucky yeomanry, good and true and brave and morally unblinkered. This is more problematic, as I didn't find it very hard to find 'ordinary working folks' who wanted no part of the war, and who also thought the Israelis were getting what they deserved in the wave of suicide bombings. But it was indeed instructive to see the psychic indigestion *some* people got from viewing all those American flags flying everywhere that autumn. Toward the end, his columns drift into speculation about what to do about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program. The sitzkrieg that developed after the conclusion of the Afghanistan war seemed to give the lie to the urgency of that problem, though the reasons Hanson advanced were still current among proponents of military action to remove Saddam. So this is that journalistic rarity, a collection of columns that is of lasting value. Inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Rare first impression history
Review: Today, with all the arguments for and aghinst the war in Iraq, on the eve of the Iowa caucus where all the canidates can agree on is their lothing of the president we tend to lose sight of the horrible, and evil attack that claimed over 3,000 of our country men. Hanson's book is critical to see that the current self-hating attiude of America liberals is far deeper rooted than the current occupition of Iarq. Hanson wrote his work in real time, as we prepared to go into Afganistan and bring to justice those that are enemies not only to America and the west but to their own people as well; the greatest killer of muslims is muslims. Hanson hits this fact while also asking why we left Hussian in power to begin with, why we give the PLO-a terrioist organization-over 100 million a year to nation build and only see it spent aghinst Isreal. while reading this, I also picked up Richard Nixon's No More Vietnams, an intraging look at how we lost a war we should have won. Although, as another reviewer pointed out, Hanson tends to simplify the middle east (a much more complete view can be found in Benerad Lewis)and is a neocon, his book shows the seperation that is forming in America between the classes in how they view America and the world. as a senior in high school prepareing to enlist, I found that Mr Hanson's view of the world is simplistic; however, it is not wrong. what is worng are the self proclaimed humanists like Gore Vidal who apolgize for Bin Lidan, who make excueses for murders and who condemm those that seek to bring them to justice. So, for the readers who see it now, understand that the book is a look at a segment of the American psych in 2002 and, thus, is useful to learn about our national character and the willingness of America to use force. ($20 says the adminstration read this book:)
Rating:
Summary: His writings "ring true!"
Review: Victor Davis Hanson combines the historical perspective of the scholar with the practical, down to earth experiences of the common man. [He's a classical historian and a farmer.] The result is a narrative that "rings true." His book helped me come to terms with what is happening in our world because I understand better the thinking and motivations of the players. He answers the questions - why is terrorism happening?, and why are we doing what we're doing to defeat it? He gave me a clearer understanding of the beliefs of the Islamic Fundamentalist Fascists, what is at stake for our society and why we need to protect and defend our way of life. He also reminded me of the goodness in our country - of the values including: integrity, moral courage, fairness, respect, responsibility, compassion which we hold dear. While our country isn't perfect, he again reminded me that there's no place else I would want to live. I shared his book with members of a book club I belong to, and one person said, "If the administration had made the case for defending ourselves like Mr. Hanson did, I would have had a greater understanding and appreciation for the actions our country has taken since 9/11." I purchased a second copy of this book so I could pass it around to book club members, church members and friends. It is truly an OUTSTANDING book!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Makes Perfect Sense
Review: Victor Davis Hanson expressed in words all the feelings I had in my mind and heart about the attack on September 11, 2001. His explanations of events and the defense of our citizens is one hundred percent on target. If you read this book and fundamentaly disagree with any of its principal themes then you should look at yourself and reconsider calling yourself "American"
Rating:
Summary: Makes Perfect Sense
Review: Victor Davis Hanson expressed in words all the feelings I had in my mind and heart about the attack on September 11, 2001. His explanations of events and the defense of our citizens is one hundred percent on target. If you read this book and fundamentaly disagree with any of its principal themes then you should look at yourself and reconsider calling yourself "American"
Rating: 
Summary: Trenchant and rather opinionated views on the current War
Review: Victor Davis Hanson first came to prominence about 15 or so years ago, when he published a book on Greek warfare that included a forward by eminent British historian John Keegan. The book revised what was known about Greek warfare somewhat, and was considered very good. Since then he's been a military historian, and chronicler of the experience of farming, and written on Greek culture and history. Of late, however, Hanson has branched out and become something of a social critic and pundit, opining on a series of things. He has a sharp tongue, a sharper wit, and a nasty ability to deflate the reputations of those he sees fit to target. This latest, short volume, is a compilation of columns he wrote, mostly for National Review Online, in the four months immediately following September 11 of last year. They are by turns incisive, penetrating, bitingly humorous, and entertaining, with the occasional one that's irritating. The one I liked the least was the author purporting to interview an ancient Greek soldier as if he were still alive, and just retiring, about the war in Afghanistan. All of the General's responses are actual quotes from something the man wrote. I didn't feel the article was successful, mostly because the questions and answers didn't quite match, as if this were a print version of the Conan O'Brien bit where he conducts the fake interviews with people, and they say outrageous things. That being said, I enjoyed the book a great deal, and would recommend it.
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