The Art of War (West Point Military Library)

Rating:
Summary: historically dense, but still a classic
Review: Jomini dominated the military strategy scene for most of the 19th century, surpassing even Clausewitz, who did not achieve great fame and was not too widely read outside of Germany until the 20th century. American military thought was dominated by this Swiss strategist, and The Art of War was required reading at West Point--nearly all the Civil War generals were read in Jomini, and Grant was rumored to have carried a copy in his pocket during the Virginia campaign. Jomini's work is not exactly the easiest of reads, especially since it assumes more than a working knowledge of the wars of Europe, particularly of Napoleon, and is loaded with historical examples. Too, its discussion of geometric forms and lines and points and the like can sometimes be confusing. Nevertheless, some of the history can be skimmed (skipped if you're desperate), and reading will still be profitable. For much of the strategy is delineated in concrete form separate from the historical case studies. In essence, Jomini's strategy comes down to concentration against the enemy's decisive points, preferably placing one's entire force against fractions of the enemy's. It is essential not only to understanding modern military thought generally (Jomini influenced other strategists--Mahan, for example) but also to understanding the American Civil War. While maneuvers such as Pickett's Charge seem no less pointless, the reasons for them become much more lucid.

Rating:
Summary: A lot of theory
Review: Jomini joined this group of 19th century writers who tried to benefit from their experiences on the Napoleonic battlefields to gain a certain reputation and probably make a better living. Like Clausewitz, he was not among the most glorious generals of these wars but had enough insight to teach to others (at least to attempt this). The result is not completely useless and many of his thoughts are valuable but they remain very theoretical. In addition, this theory mainly applies (when not erroneous) to armies of that time and then doesn't reach the level of a theory on the art of war itself. The main interest I find to this book is to get an idea on what people of that time could be thinking about the art of war given the exceptional warlike era they went through a few years before writing these kind of studies.

Rating:
Summary: "War does not make one great"
Review: Said an other eastern philospher, which seems to sum up Sun's thesis that true leadership is achieveing your nation's goals without resorting to war. what is fansinating in this work though is the degree that western and eastern armies differ. While many eastern armies were crushed by the abstract and seemingly faceless beast of the western style (Rome's legions, the British empire, ect.) the West has had trobule countering both the stuborn and flexable nature of Eastern fighting "an army is like a snake, attack its head and the tail will strike you. attack its tail and its head will strike. attack the center and both the head and the tail will strike" (the Persians learned that the hard way at Marthon). The crux of Tzu is that of understanding human nature and how it effects an army. Like general Shermen, he believed that an army has a "soul" and that it is not the death of men or lose of men that win or lose wars, but rather the presivation or devestation of this "soul".
Another point he hits on is the use of unconventinal tatics. Intreastingly, I first came across his work in Once an Eagle, where Sam (the hero) goes to China (in the 40's) and sees first hand the extent that Tzu is revlent in today's world.

Rating:
Summary: A classic of military thinking
Review: The Civil War group I belong to structured an entire weekend seminar for hobbyists around Jomini. He's not exciting reading, but his influence on military thinking was profound. The tactics of the American Civil War grow organically out of Jomini and those who interpreted him (especially Mahan, who was one of the principle instructors at West Point prior to the war and an influence on an entire generation of officers who served on both sides).