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Title: On Psychology of Military Incompetence by Dixon ISBN: 0-7126-5889-0 Publisher: Random House (UK) Pub. Date: February, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.8 (5 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Fascinating Historical Studies; Dubious Psychoanalysis
Comment: Dixon expounds his theory that military incompetence is the result, not of "bloody-minded stupidity," but of the psychological weaknesses of otherwise intelligent commanders. The first part of the book discusses several historical examples of gross military incompetence and the character of the commanders involved. So far, so good -- good enough for three stars on this section alone.
But Dixon lost me in the remaining sections of the book, where he bloviates on his theory that bad military command performance is a result of authoritarian commanders, and that their authoritarian makeup is a result of distant and disciplinarian parents, sexual repression, religiosity, and bad potty-training (I am *not* making the last one up.) I suspect his theory that Hitler and Himmler were monsters because they were latent homosexuals would give a modern psychologist kittens.
Not surprisingly, Dixon's evidence is purely anectodal -- there is not a reference to a controlled statistical study in the book -- and he takes full advantage of the opportunity this provides to cherry pick his data. As I read the last portion of the book, I found myself constantly thinking of counter-examples that Dixon conveniently avoided.
It's a shame, because the first part of the book is genuinely worth reading, and Dixon is highly quotable throughout -- even when expounding an otherwise dubious idea.
Rating: 3
Summary: Essential reading in these militaristic times
Comment: Part I was enjoyable as it discussed people, but Part II was bogged down in psychological theory. It picked up again in Part III but needs a Part IV - "How to prevent these loonies from having power"!
Rating: 5
Summary: Not only for Military Types
Comment: I first heard of this book in the Oxford Companion of the Mind. I managed to find a copy and was impressed with the work that Dixon had done on the subject.
Dixon analyses various military campaigns and provides his conclusion to why these ventures failed. various different reasons are cited in each case but there are certain common factors that Dixon isolates. From the Crimea to the blood baths at Somme and Arnhem. Dixon asks how competent officers and soldiers be let down by an inflexible militery guidelines of the period.
For example, Dixon is critical of the class selection of military 'leaders'. "Natural leaders may well have made good captains of a first XV," writes Dixon, "But being good at rugger in no way ensures the best quality of military leadership... Napoleon, Nelson, Wolfe for instance-were men of brain and character, not of huge bodies with dazzling records in the field of sport".
Dixon explains his findings in a clear and lucid manner that is understandable to anyone with a basic knowledge of psychology. The best recomendation I could have for Dixon's book is that his findings do not apply to military campaigns alone. I would reccomend this book to anyone who has ever worked on a film set. Frankly, I would shove this book to any future wannabe producer/director. it could save people a lot of hassle if they applied most of Dixon's findings.
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Title: The Mission: Waging War and Keeping Peace with America's Military by Dana Priest ISBN: 0393010244 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 24 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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