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Title: The Lessons of Terror : A History of Warfare Against Civilians by Caleb Carr ISBN: 0-375-76074-1 Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks Pub. Date: 11 March, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.33 (9 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A thoughtful presentation, should be read by everyone
Comment: This book, by a trained miliatry historian, lays out a case for the avoidance of terror against civilian populations. It then goes on to define terror in ways I had never considered.
Particularly disturbing are several discussions about the consistency with which indiginous military trained by an outside invader turn on that selfsame invader after the invasion is over. ( Sound familiar? Mujahadeen anyone?)
The early sections on the tactics of the Roman Empire were quite revealing, particularly given the parallels with modern practice.
Well worth the time.
Rating: 4
Summary: Objective and Worthwhile Overview
Comment: First: Good quality trade paperback; well-spaced and readable
typeface; useful index and bibliography; sturdy binding. Make
sure you order the Revised And Updated version from 2003.
Carr provides much useful information and perspective on the
murderous effect that war has always had on "noncombatants".
Writing clearly (if rather dryly) he describes how such massacres - intentional or otherwise -
have effected the evolution not only of warfare's goals but of mankind's concept
of how to define and therefore somehow limit what war actually is.
I found Caleb Carr's effort here extremely valuable. He provides
much perspective. It would be petty to gnaw and nit-pick over some of the specific examples
Carr utilizes in advancing his basic idea. Carr has enough dash to make sure he instigates
both left and right on his way to the finale--good for him.
You will find some of those ideologues fuming in earlier reviews.
Carr displays clear-eyed common sense in his analysis of war's
lack of distinction between soldier and civilian in its consequences and even its strategies.
His comparison of terrorism with slavery and piracy were alone worth the time spent reading.
This is a short read but a most worthwhile one. Make up your own mind - just look over the introduction. Carr's objectivity and knowledge of military history will provide you with a valuable and useful primer on the nature of terrorism and how
it relates to war's human nature. He does not offer any convenient explanations or easy solution. I look forward to hearing more from him on this topic.
Rating: 1
Summary: Turgid Prose and Poor Research
Comment: As the author admits, this book started out as an essay. What he neglects to mention is that he converted it into a book, not by adding new material, but by repeating various combinations and permutations of the original material over and over again.
In and off itself this would merely make the book boring. What makes it actively distasteful to me are the glaring historical inaccuracies. To name just three, he displays a minimal understanding of General Grant's tactical and strategic ability, he implies that Winston Churchill was responsible for the sinking of the Lusitania and he quotes a casualty figure of 100,000 for the bombing of Dresden. Any serious historian, or even anyone who followed the David Irving libel suit would know that the true figure was approximately 20,000.
The author may well have a valid point in this book, but if so it is obscured by turgid prose and discredited by poor research.
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Title: The Devil Soldier : The American Soldier of Fortune Who Became a God in China by Caleb Carr ISBN: 0679761284 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 11 April, 1995 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Alienist by Caleb Carr ISBN: 0553572997 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr ISBN: 0345427637 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 27 May, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Killing Time by Caleb Carr ISBN: 044661095X Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 January, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Who Killed Daniel Pearl? by Bernard Henri Levy ISBN: 0971865949 Publisher: Melville House Publishing Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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