Must read by anyone who wants to take their organization from where it is now to where it could be in the future. Elusive words, I know, but Collins does such a great job explaining what it takes to make it from just being good enough to actually doing things well all of the time. Challenging material, but there are pieces that anyone can use if they put some thought into them.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Books - Fahrenheit 451
I had forgotten how much I loved this book. Kristen brought it home from school last week and I devoured it in a weekend. The underlying message, 60 some years after the idea was first penned, is still relevant today. That we are drifting away from one another and not talking or thinking about the real important issues in life is so true. Something which will have to be looked at be each individual and confronted in order to not turn into the society that would rather burn than think. Interesting.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Strategic Coercion: Concepts and Cases
Edited by Sir Lawrence Freedman
a series of good essays on coercion. Includes history and early 21st Century examples from the real world. Excellent background source for writing about coercion.
Coercion breaks down into two main elements:
1) Compellence -- demand of an action -- initiation of an action which ceases immediately when the opponent responds.
2) Deterrence -- demand of inaction -- what must not happen and the consequences; then waiting indefinitely.
Coercion then exists on a continuum from consent to control.
Good, theoretical work.
a series of good essays on coercion. Includes history and early 21st Century examples from the real world. Excellent background source for writing about coercion.
Coercion breaks down into two main elements:
1) Compellence -- demand of an action -- initiation of an action which ceases immediately when the opponent responds.
2) Deterrence -- demand of inaction -- what must not happen and the consequences; then waiting indefinitely.
Coercion then exists on a continuum from consent to control.
Good, theoretical work.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Book -- The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire
Luttwak's excellent piece on Romean grand strategy from the 1st Century A.D. to the 3rd.
There are some outstanding maps. What brings the book to life is that I have stood on many of the locations that he details in the book. I love this about history.
The ideas on border defense and the rationale behind an expanding and then contracting empire are intriguing.
The link between client states and deterrence is an interesting concept that deserves further study.
Great piece to re-read.
There are some outstanding maps. What brings the book to life is that I have stood on many of the locations that he details in the book. I love this about history.
The ideas on border defense and the rationale behind an expanding and then contracting empire are intriguing.
The link between client states and deterrence is an interesting concept that deserves further study.
Great piece to re-read.
Book - War, Strategy and Intelligence
Michael Handel
Interesting source for different viewpoints on the subjects in the title. Each of the essays emphasizes the limitations on the rational conduct of war.
Clausewitz in the Age of Technology, Diplomatic Surprise, and Strategic and Operational Deception are three of the best essays in the book.
Interesting source for different viewpoints on the subjects in the title. Each of the essays emphasizes the limitations on the rational conduct of war.
Clausewitz in the Age of Technology, Diplomatic Surprise, and Strategic and Operational Deception are three of the best essays in the book.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace
Luttwak -- classic work, by the American strategist.
Great descriptions of the levels of strategy. Talks about the strategy of technical, tactical, operational and Theater strategy levels of war with the back drop of a scenario possible in the future.
Good chapter on whether or not strategy can up useful.
Great descriptions of the levels of strategy. Talks about the strategy of technical, tactical, operational and Theater strategy levels of war with the back drop of a scenario possible in the future.
Good chapter on whether or not strategy can up useful.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Geopolitics, geography, and strategy
Colin S. Gray & Geoffrey Sloan
Outstanding grouping of pertinent essays from the late 1990s about the coming century and the idea of geostrategy and its implications for national policy. A good reference book as most of the essays are not found on the internet.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Finding relevant books to read
This can be a real chore. Speed reading, of which I am an acolyte, is the key to finishing and finding. However, I have slowed down over the years and need to re-acquire the skills.
Check this link out for current reading: http://www.history.umd.edu/Bio/sumida_publications2006.html
One in particular here that I am looking at adding to the library is Decoding Clausewitz: A New Approach to On War (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2008); selected title, U.S. Marine Corps Professional Reading Program, master sergeant/first sergeant, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel to general (current); selected title, U.S. Marine Corps War College list of top ten military books published 2000-2010 (from the above listed website)
Check this link out for current reading: http://www.history.umd.edu/Bio/sumida_publications2006.html
One in particular here that I am looking at adding to the library is Decoding Clausewitz: A New Approach to On War (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2008); selected title, U.S. Marine Corps Professional Reading Program, master sergeant/first sergeant, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel to general (current); selected title, U.S. Marine Corps War College list of top ten military books published 2000-2010 (from the above listed website)
Friday, January 20, 2012
Greatness -- both military and human in general
"To know what on can do on the basis of the available means, and to do it; to know what one cannot do, and refrain from trying; and to distinguish between the two--that, after all, is the very definition of military genius, as it is of human genius in general."
Martin van Creveld in Command in War, page 102.
Martin van Creveld in Command in War, page 102.
Command in War - van Creveld
Outstanding book. I will need to blog this one in parts and pieces. Not sure if it is one that I wish to own yet, but I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it the last day or two.
From page 96, regarding Napoleon at Jena,
Thus Napoleon at Jena had known nothing about the main action that took place on that day; had forgotten all about two of his corps; did not issue orders to a third, and possibly a fourth; was taken by surprise by the the action of a fifth; and, to cap it all, had one of his principle subordinates display the kind of disobedience that would have brought a lesser mortal before a firing squad. Despite all these faults in command, Napoleon won what was probably the great single triumph in his career.
The book is about command through the ages and how the span of control (modern term) has changed the nature of the commander and the commanded's relationship on the battlefield.
Lesson learned from ch 3 -- Napoleon as a strategist reached a new level in that he "no longer attempted to keep the bulk of his forces concentrated under his own hand." (pages 96-97) What makes this possible? Van Creveld asserts that this decentralisation in command came about because of a number of innovations in the staffing of his armies. Not to mention that his commanders felt, more or less, at ease with operating with a commander's intent and some ambiguity. (page 97)
The question becomes what enabled this new way of warfare to be so successful. Van Creveld attempts to answer this in the person of Napoleon's genius, the large span of control (eight corps reporting directly to the Emperor, through Berthier) and the speed and decisiveness that all of this helped make possible. (pages 98-99)
Very interesting study.
From page 96, regarding Napoleon at Jena,
Thus Napoleon at Jena had known nothing about the main action that took place on that day; had forgotten all about two of his corps; did not issue orders to a third, and possibly a fourth; was taken by surprise by the the action of a fifth; and, to cap it all, had one of his principle subordinates display the kind of disobedience that would have brought a lesser mortal before a firing squad. Despite all these faults in command, Napoleon won what was probably the great single triumph in his career.
The book is about command through the ages and how the span of control (modern term) has changed the nature of the commander and the commanded's relationship on the battlefield.
Lesson learned from ch 3 -- Napoleon as a strategist reached a new level in that he "no longer attempted to keep the bulk of his forces concentrated under his own hand." (pages 96-97) What makes this possible? Van Creveld asserts that this decentralisation in command came about because of a number of innovations in the staffing of his armies. Not to mention that his commanders felt, more or less, at ease with operating with a commander's intent and some ambiguity. (page 97)
The question becomes what enabled this new way of warfare to be so successful. Van Creveld attempts to answer this in the person of Napoleon's genius, the large span of control (eight corps reporting directly to the Emperor, through Berthier) and the speed and decisiveness that all of this helped make possible. (pages 98-99)
Very interesting study.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Son of Neptune
Read this one on Kindle in November 2011. Great read, but ultimately formulaic. Riordan engages his readers, but the interactions between the characters become trite at times. I continue reading for the stories that he writes, but the characters leave me wanting more.
Battle scenes and action are purely driven for movies, it seems, because the hurt that is doled out is light-hearted at best. Chronicles had more death and destruction and therefore is the ultimate in reality writing for the young adult.
Battle scenes and action are purely driven for movies, it seems, because the hurt that is doled out is light-hearted at best. Chronicles had more death and destruction and therefore is the ultimate in reality writing for the young adult.
Travel Books - Richard Paul Evans
The Christmas Box
The Christmas Box Miracle
The Gift
The Letter
Read all them on a long weekend at the Whitaker's house in Provo. Quick reads and hard to put down. Recommend these books to put a smile on your face and warm your heart about the human condition.
The Christmas Box Miracle
The Gift
The Letter
Read all them on a long weekend at the Whitaker's house in Provo. Quick reads and hard to put down. Recommend these books to put a smile on your face and warm your heart about the human condition.
The Secret History of the American Empire
John's Perkin's account of his days post Economic Hit Man. Interesting read. Very conspiratorial throughout. Much of it reads like a paranoia infused take on the global economy, until you start to realize, "Hey, I heard about that," or ask yourself questions like, "Why is it fair that my Nikes cost $85.00 and the people that stitch them together get paid $2.00 a day." Which leads to the highly intellectual question, "How many pair of shoes can be put together in one day, by one person?" Disturbing.
His final thoughts surround the idea that our children and our grandchildren will inherit the Earth, no matter how we leave it to them, and it is about time that we stand up and do something to actually leave all of the children something worth having in the end.
Great read, highly recommended. Well written and adequately researched.
His final thoughts surround the idea that our children and our grandchildren will inherit the Earth, no matter how we leave it to them, and it is about time that we stand up and do something to actually leave all of the children something worth having in the end.
Great read, highly recommended. Well written and adequately researched.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War
Robert Coram's book on Boyd. This is the one to own.
Each chapter is a stand alone tome on his career and how to make waves and make a difference without caring who you upset.
That sounds horrible, but a singular vision, like Boyd had, only comes along once in a generation: or less.
Need to find the other-side, but there are some great leadership lessons and some great work-ethic lessons to be learned in his life, and demise.
Each chapter is a stand alone tome on his career and how to make waves and make a difference without caring who you upset.
That sounds horrible, but a singular vision, like Boyd had, only comes along once in a generation: or less.
Need to find the other-side, but there are some great leadership lessons and some great work-ethic lessons to be learned in his life, and demise.
Where Eagles Dare
Excellent good fun. Found a fresh printing at Aldi for AUD$3.00.
Watch the movie too. The plot and the book and exquisitely intertwined. MacLean wrote them both at the same time in something like seven weeks.
Stellar action. The book is actually less violent and Smith is a real man's hero.
Read this first as a kid when I was all into stuff like, A Man Called Intrepid and Sage.
Worth a re-read. One day novel.
Now for more MacLean.
Watch the movie too. The plot and the book and exquisitely intertwined. MacLean wrote them both at the same time in something like seven weeks.
Stellar action. The book is actually less violent and Smith is a real man's hero.
Read this first as a kid when I was all into stuff like, A Man Called Intrepid and Sage.
Worth a re-read. One day novel.
Now for more MacLean.
The Help
Seriously. I read it. Won't see the movie. Ever.
The book is good, but not poignant enough. To Kill a Mockingbird is the seminal book to read. Because it was written in time-context.
The Help is written out of time, in the 21st Century about the 1960s. The author admits cultural and factual mistakes in time and place, but that is the beauty of the book in some ways: it suspends belief and you want to follow the characters. You want them to succeed. You want them to fail, if you've read it you know what I mean here.
Worthwhile, library book.
The book is good, but not poignant enough. To Kill a Mockingbird is the seminal book to read. Because it was written in time-context.
The Help is written out of time, in the 21st Century about the 1960s. The author admits cultural and factual mistakes in time and place, but that is the beauty of the book in some ways: it suspends belief and you want to follow the characters. You want them to succeed. You want them to fail, if you've read it you know what I mean here.
Worthwhile, library book.
the power of one
Recommended by Edwin 'Bodie' Bodenheim and gifted from same.
Excellent read. Not one that I would have run into otherwise. Other than 'Cry, the Beloved Country' (Alan Paton) have I forayed into South African literature. Well, maybe history of the Boer War, but that is a different subject and viewpoint all together.
A bit vulgar in some instances and the POV of the young protagonist seems to be a bit over-blown for his age in the early stages of the novel, but a compelling story and growth-narrative nonetheless.
Thanks Bodie!
Excellent read. Not one that I would have run into otherwise. Other than 'Cry, the Beloved Country' (Alan Paton) have I forayed into South African literature. Well, maybe history of the Boer War, but that is a different subject and viewpoint all together.
A bit vulgar in some instances and the POV of the young protagonist seems to be a bit over-blown for his age in the early stages of the novel, but a compelling story and growth-narrative nonetheless.
Thanks Bodie!
Rifleman Dodd (Death to the French)
Classic. Written about the Napoleonic Wars Peninsular Campaigns of Wellington from the POV of a private that is cut-off from his unit, but continues to fight the best that he knows how. Years of training and fighting have made him singular of purpose. He will never know the effects of his actions on the campaign, but he will forever know the effects his actions have had on himself and those with whom he ran during those wintery months along the front.
See Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls for a companion novel. Forester and Hemingway met up at some point during the genesis of their novels and the parallels are similar, although the subject matter is 100 years apart.
See Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls for a companion novel. Forester and Hemingway met up at some point during the genesis of their novels and the parallels are similar, although the subject matter is 100 years apart.
Power, Faith, and Fantasy
Half-way through Orem's book on America's long relationship with the Middle East. Excellent background so far into this multi-faceted and deep relationship. Finished about 7 January 2012. Great read on the extensive background of America's involvement with the "Middle East".
Highly recommended for a quick background study on the macro-level of individual American's involvement, to include governmental policies in the region. Much of the story revolves around missionary zeal, in the beginning, and transitions to commercial interests as the decades roll on. This is the pivotal point. Commerce strains and ultimately stains the relationship between America and the Middle East.
Highly recommended for a quick background study on the macro-level of individual American's involvement, to include governmental policies in the region. Much of the story revolves around missionary zeal, in the beginning, and transitions to commercial interests as the decades roll on. This is the pivotal point. Commerce strains and ultimately stains the relationship between America and the Middle East.
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