Review: On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis

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BAKU - What does the Athenian expedition to Sicily, Alexander the Great at the Indus, Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon, Hitler at the border of Russia and Lyndon Johnson in Vietnam have in common? On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis explains how all these leaders were blinded by their past tactical achievements and deceived themselves that they had the capabilities to meet their expectations, and so ended up humiliated, defeated or dead.

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[hussainpainter]

I find the part involving logistics and strategy more interesting than the actual combat

[andrewdunham]

I like to note that Yi Sun Shin was a Korean admiral. Just to clarify.

[songio]

Thanks so much, Shirvan, especially for your naming all the great strategists from outside the West. Opening our perspective is always a wonderful contribution.

[guilhermesstrueb]

Now i will get better at Europa Universalis.

[HistoryMarche]

Incredibly good video. Wonderful work Shirvan!

[papulrocks]

What the book points out is the mistakes of these emperors when they were at their peak. Every conqueror in the world, be it small or big had to use strategy. Every battle brings unique situations and tests human thinking to overcome it. Also our history is largely made up of hero/king worship, but 99% of military tactics was devised by the generals of a king and he always consulted & took their advice. A battle is a combined effort and not a one man show like our movies keep representing.

[boopbro]

I understand why Gaddis primarily focused on the West; it's what he *knows*. But are there any similar books written by Asian authors that focus on the East?

[vishmonster]

Argh! I just bought this a few days ago, pure timing.

[eliasfrahat]

War isn't just numbers and equipments

Now a good strategy and the mistakes of my enemies will be the reason why I will most likely win a war

[olympus.-mobilegaming]

I wanted to buy that book for some weeks, thanks for the review👍

[Brandonhayhew]

History lessons always teaches you, never do what they did, or repeat their mistakes.

[hnam]

The importance of mental flexibility is pretty obvious, but I am interested to learn more how the author utilizes the specific examples that you mentioned

[likeisbutawalking]

seems like hindsight rationalization, that is, those who succeeded get kudos and those who failed get all the blames while there may have been other factors in play.

[AbuSousPR]

I was amazed at the end of the video... that you've provided a critical assessment; this is a blind spot that all western intellects falls into.

They are ignorant that the west just caught up with the east only recently ... which is only in the last few hundred years. I was about to write a comment exactly as the one you stated at the end. I was shocked that you have articulated it... even better than i would have done it. Bravo Sir ... Bravo 🙋‍♂️

He had a big blind spot .... by the way ... this is true when you talk about any thing... especialy philosophy or sciences ...

I was floored when you've mentioned Khalid Ben Alwaleed. This dude destroyed to empires with in less than 14 months... he didn't loose a battle..

See the battle of Walaja in southern Iraq and Yarmouk

Also you forgot to mention Hannibal

Good video man

[crystalwaters]

Where’s geopolitics of south East Asia part 2?

[huiarama]

You guys are wonderful. Thank you for this....

[Matala]

Sheervan, you should ink the Asian version!! We all would buy that book!!

[yougetonthathorseyougottar]

Thanks. Now that I know this, I can take measures to ensure that my own Grand Strategy doesn't get fucked up.

[Dragons_Armory]

Well, will be getting this book now. Stoked to get into it.

And thank you for pointing out the heavy western centric world view on strategy and geoplitics. Whenever they tries to apply that to a global standard but in the same breath cannot name figures from the Middle East and the Far East means that they are operating with giant blindspots. Most of the military history in the west has been Europe and Japan focused.

[arafatkazi]

Where one can find such a fine physical map?