America and Guerrilla Warfare

Rating:
Summary: A Good Theoretical Analysis
Review: Although the book can be a slow read, the author's intent was to analyze the situations and discuss its implications in modern warfare theory. Anthony Joes is an expert on the military and international relations. Having met and spoken with Dr. Joes many times, I understand and appreciate the standpoint that he takes and why he has those viewpoints. If you are looking for a book detailing combat experiences and substantial action, try something else. I recommend this book if your interest lies in understanding what guerilla warfare really is and what it accomplishes. Anthony Joes has written several books on a variety of subjects. I recommend all of them to anyone interested in learning more about U.S. Military theory.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Theoretical Analysis
Review: Although the book can be a slow read, the author's intent was to analyze the situations and discuss its implications in modern warfare theory. Anthony Joes is an expert on the military and international relations. Having met and spoken with Dr. Joes many times, I understand and appreciate the standpoint that he takes and why he has those viewpoints. If you are looking for a book detailing combat experiences and substantial action, try something else. I recommend this book if your interest lies in understanding what guerilla warfare really is and what it accomplishes. Anthony Joes has written several books on a variety of subjects. I recommend all of them to anyone interested in learning more about U.S. Military theory.

Rating:
Summary: Misleading title and poor history
Review: I read the first two chapters and then returned the book because it was so bad. While I expected a book examining guerilla warfare with analysis and comments on the guerrilla and counterinsurgency strategies, it was only a sophmoric recitation of events that involved guerillas at some point. For example, in Chapter 1 about partisans during the American Revolution, he spent less than about 5 pages actually discussing the impact of the guerillas, who they were and how they operated. In Chapter two, he spends about 7 pages on Southern guerillas in the Civil War, and then launches into about a 40 page tirade against the South, the Southern military, Southern leaders, and the cause of Southern secession. In a book that is supposed to discuss guerilla warfare, the auther even feels compelled to spend two pages making his case that the primary cause of the war was slavery (an issue which is still debated). There are 1500+ page books on this war, where authoritative historians don't even attempt to divine the "root" cause. This is just the ramblings of somebody on various historic events; that they have anything to do with guerilla warfare is purely accidental.