An Encyclopedia of Battles : Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 b.c. to the Present

Rating:
Summary: This is a "must have" reference for all history buffs!
Review: I ran across the first edition of this book over 25 years ago while in high school and still consider it one of my most valued references. The current edition covers the history of warfare up to 1985, and a new edition would be great, but it is still an incredible resource. Every battle of any significance from the dawn of recorded history is represented by an entry, 99 of which are accompanied by a small map. The battles are listed in alphabetical order, but the author helpfully lists the chronologically preceding and following battle of a campaign or war at the end of each entry, so that you can easily place each battle in its historical context. There are also separate entries for each war which lists all the battles for which there is an entry in the book. The individual battle descriptions are sometimes terse and lacking detail, but for the most part, the key strategic, political, and tactical issues are addressed. Summaries of losses in personnel and equipment are usually included. But don't get the impression that this is a dry, boring tome of dates and statistics! This book is a great pleasure to read. Each vignette is well-written and often includes the fascinating little tibits of humanity that make the history of man's terrible penchant for conflict such a compelling subject of study.

Rating:
Summary: Time Eater
Review: This book is an excellent reference book, providing a number of quick and easy ways to find out about a given battle. It has rarely failed me, and then in inconsequential battles which I could not find elsewhere. It has generally provided me with the information I needed in a precise and comprehensive form.
But the problem is that at the bottom of each article is a reference to the battle preceding and the battle following. I just naturally have to look them up and then the ones before and after those. Then I get distracted and read the article preceding or following the one I had sought and go off following those battles and wars. Thus I spend half and hour to two hours when I just wanted to find one bit of information. It is delightful to do so, but the book is a very effective time eater.

Rating:
Summary: Time Eater
Review: This book is an excellent reference book, providing a number of quick and easy ways to find out about a given battle. It has rarely failed me, and then in inconsequential battles which I could not find elsewhere. It has generally provided me with the information I needed in a precise and comprehensive form.
But the problem is that at the bottom of each article is a reference to the battle preceding and the battle following. I just naturally have to look them up and then the ones before and after those. Then I get distracted and read the article preceding or following the one I had sought and go off following those battles and wars. Thus I spend half and hour to two hours when I just wanted to find one bit of information. It is delightful to do so, but the book is a very effective time eater.