Rating: 
Summary: A superb analysis tool
Review:
This book is one you keep, and take down from the shelf every
so often, to refresh the mind. It contains profound truths about
why folly endures in government, and is every bit as relevant
today as when it was first published.
Ms. Tuchman first of all defines folly in government carefully,
giving three conditions that must be met: the course of action
must have been objected to as counter productive at the time
it was being implemented; an alternative course must have
been available at the time; and the policy must have been that
of a group that lasts beyond the political career in office of the
individual group members.
In the rest of the book, she analyzes one example of folly after
another, ending with the Vietnam War policy of the U.S.
Government, which in the light of her three conditions, we can
now see as obvious folly. Whether the Iraq war will turn out to
be yet more folly in Tuchman's definition remains to be seen. I
hope not, but the situation does not look promising.
But she just does not just single out the U.S. Government for its
follies. She has many example, and after we have read a few
of them, we can soon think of others. The folly committed by
the British government that led to the loss of the American
colonies makes for sober reading. And of course, British
policy toward Ireland just after America became independent
was just as stupid, although she doesn't cover that particular
folly. The British concluded that it was the existence of colonial
administrations in America had led to the American Revolution, and
so they abolished the elected parliament in Dublin in 1802, a
parliament that had been in existence for four hundred years.
This policy eventually led to the loss of Ireland too. There are
many more follies I could mention.
The book is a superb tool for analyzing both current and
historical events. We can confidently expect more government
folly. The book admittedly can be overwhelming in its detailed
analysis at times, especially when dealing with the Vietnam
War, but no serious student of global affairs should be without
it.
Rating:
Summary: Telling lessons from the past for the future
Review: A marvellous book. People looking for a synopsis of the book can get that from the other reviews. I'd like to take exception to A.Bowdoin Van Riper's contention that nothing useful can be gleaned from the book in respect of understanding history. I would have thought that illustrating how folly in its variety of manifestations operates in forming governments' policies is a very useful lesson of history. It is precisely in the manner that Tuchman illustrates how folly - a very human condition - comes into play that lessons for the future can and should be learnt. Her definitions of folly are much more intellingent and pertinent than this reviewer gives credit for.As for the reviewer who dismisses this as 'liberal', well ... what can you say to the wilfully blind that might open their eyes? Nothing.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting book, that pits one against a powerful sandman
Review: As a student of history, western civilization and our founders for over 30 years and one who loves to read just about anything I can get my hands on that evaluates and states an opinion about our past. I found the information contained within Tuchman's book interesting. A few of the more significant political and philosophical opinions shared by her and quite a few of her insights will undoubtedly remain in the back reaches of my mind, to be called upon again at the appropriate time for some article I write, opinion I give or paper I submit. In addition her book which talks about the March of Folly, that so many in government make, could never be more representative of our current mess with this administration. It is a terrible loss that Tuchman could not have written this book after the Clinton-Gore erra which would have been the icing upon the cake of her entire theory. Of course the old saying, "believe half of what you read and only a third of what you hear" would be well remembered when reading anyones book. I found that somewhere in the text,while she was writting about the Popes, I lost interest in her tales because they just seemed to go on and on and on and the information was dull that I would wake up, mark the page, and go do something else just to get my focus back. It seemed to drag on and on, sort of like the way I felt when reading "It takes a Village." There was so much irrelevent verbage, that could have been removed, which would have made the book half it's original size. That would have been a Godsent and still kept the most important information still in tact. Even though I would certainly recommend it to the student of U.S. Hisotry or of Western Civilization, I could not wait to get to finale in the last three pages and get the punchline. That was there in spades and summed it all up very nicely. But after a while I just wanted to be done with it. A good healthy opinionated read of the problems with corruption, bad government, ego, power and political stupidity.
Rating:
Summary: HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
Review: As the old adage goes, those who refuse to learn history are doomed to repeat it. The March of Folly brings this message back to the forefront and although written in 1984 is as cogent a read as ever. Barbara W. Tuchman eloquently discusses the bizarre propensity of governments throughout history to pursue policies contrary to their own interests. Mind you, this is not a pacifist book but rather one that begs governments to beware of the reckless pursuit of policy that might prove to be dangerous. And, yes, I admit right readily that hindsight is 20-20. Beginning with the Trojans and their acceptance of the Trojan Horse to benighted Papal policy during the renaissance to Britain's stupidity during the American Revolution to questionable American policy during the Vietnam war, The March of Folly invites the reader to consider the fact that as things change in historic chronology apparently nothing else does. Given our current war policies and efforts in Iraq, The March of Folly is a very poignant read and we must confess, regardless of our political leanings, that the potential for history to repeat itself yet again is considerable. Who knows, there may yet be a sequel titled The March Continues.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: Barbara Tuchman distills an awesome ammount of information to provide the reader with an account of the seemingly inevitable inability of the powerful to curb their appetites even when they know their actions are counterproductive and sometimes dangerously foolish. Mrs. Tuchman is one of the few writers of history that makes history read like today's news magazines. Job well done.
Rating: 
Summary: In Noble Pursuit of History
Review: Barbara Tuchman has a way of viewing history as few can. Instead of falling back on just "telling of a story," Tuchman does what few historians are able to pull off without sounding self-rightious. She gives us a comentary. Kind of like the "color-man" while listening to a sporting event, Tuchman examines the idea of "folly," or the persistent pursuit of a policy by government or those in power that is "contradictory to their own interests." Since a topic like this could take volumes, the author chooses 4 primary historical examples: the Fall of Troy, the breakup of of the Holy See in the 16th century, the British monarchy's vain attempt to keep the American colonies, and America's own arrogant persistence during the Vietnam War. The fault in this book is that this subject matter can be pretty exhausting even with the only 450 page book. The examples used are valid and make sense. The author finds something different within each one that allows us to see the many levels of government folly. However I found the chapters dealing with the six terrible popes to be mind-numbing. Perhaps it's due to the fact that this history is not examined extensively in current day curricula like the American Revolution and Vietnam, but I think this section was tedious and repetitive. Also, within the Vietnam chapters, Ms. Tuchman tends to reveal her adoration towards Kennedy--like many historians of her era--and her disdain of the Johnson and Nixon administrations. This can distort her objective examination of the topic in some areas, but if it is noticed and ignored, the rest of the study is outstanding. Some may read these excerpts and label them as "liberal" but they are ignorant of history. In any event the book is an excellent supplement to studying Machiavellian politics. The governments' "wood-headedness" towards policy that is counter to anything rational (as well as contrary to respected voices of reason) is something that all ordinary members and voters of a democratic society ought to take heed of. The example of Troy is used simply as an example of how Homer and the Greeks had foreseen and probably experienced, the lack of reason when pursuing particular policy. This is usually done because those in power are so consumed by power and what it brings, that their arrogance and ignorance blinds them. Without carrying this review too far into the book's wonderful and biting commentary, I will just say that this book is recommended, but not for those that have no real experience with intellectual historical study. Some areas will be interesting, such as the Vietnam chapters, but otherwise the book would dull the amateur historian. But if you do wish to challenge yourself and your understanding of how power corrupts and destroys after it corrupts, then "March of Folly" will be admired. All politicians should be forced to read this book. Kind of like a supplement instructional manual for their job...paid for by taxpayers. Within 100 years, they might actaully learn something.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to the usual standard
Review: Barbara Tuchman is a first-rate writer and historian whose books I have much enjoyed. For some years now I have been meaning to get a copy of "The March of Folly," since it is a book which greatly appeals to me in its concept. To look at the history of modern man (since about 1,000 BC) and take examples of real foolishness on the part of a number of key governments, and try to see why they so acted, strikes me as a wonderful idea for a book. However, I can now say, somewhat reluctantly, that "The March of Folly" is not up to the standard of Tuchman's earlier books. I find this curious indeed and have been wondering for some time why it is so. Firstly, the writing is not up to par and I can only put this down to sloppy editing. Some of the oddest phrases in the book are so un-Tuchman like, that I imagine they have been written by a researcher and, for whatever reason, have managed to sneak by both the author and her editors. Tuchman is usually crisp and succinct. Some of this text is laborious and redundant; it's most surprising. Perhaps this first fault leads to the second, although not entirely. In "The Guns of August" and "The Proud Tower," Tuchman seems to be in very complete command of both her history and her sources. In "The March of Folly," one begins to wonder if she has not strayed too far afield and is rather unsure of her ground. So it appears to me, especially with reference to the beginning of the book, where she discusses both the siege of Troy and then the Papacy during the Renaissance, when she seems very shaky indeed. Or it may be that this apparent instability is founded on limited research and that that has been allowed to come through in the book. Whatever the reason, I find that the book does not live up to its promise, either conceptually or authorially. The sections on the American Revolution and the Vietnam War are interesting in themselves, but one wonders at times, given the detail involved in both cases, if Tuchman is not actually off the rails. The fact that there is no stated plan at the beginning of the book (chapters and sub-headings and synopses, I mean) makes me wonder indeed, just how much of a plan she had. So I think you can read this book for its individual content (i.e., if you happen to be interested in the particular periods covered), but the disappointment overall is that the really first-rate text that one might have expected, does not materialise. I will say that the essay at the end is very Tuchmanesque and is a brave attempt, quand même, to tie the threads of the book together. Yet I'm unsure of just how far she can get away with a text that smacks so readily of invention and understudy, and in my opinion, the epilogue is hardly sufficient, by itself, to save the whole. I suppose it is just possible that she and I both got carried away by the title.
Rating:
Summary: Studying History Can Be Frustrating
Review: Barbara Tuchman was probably getting frustrated by the time she wrote March of Folly. Because anyone who studies history learns early on just how much of human history is, well, folly. In this work, Ms. Tuchman focuses on four graphic examples of it. Sometimes the fabulous human follies actually works out (such as the American Revolution which worked out well enough for us if not for the British!) but most times it doesn't, such as Viet Nam. Nowhere will you find such a clear, relatively brief, yet very accurate and readable history of how the U.S. found itself stuck in that debacle than in this fine work. Many will be surprised how far back our involvement went, and that it wasn't all Lyndon Johnson's fault...although our involvement was brought to its inevitable climax (and failure) under his watch. So if you aren't interested in the other three "follies" Tuchman examines (Troy, The causes of the Protestant Reformation, The "loss" of America by the British) then, as another reviewer has suggested, read it for the Viet Nam part alone. So how many of you think we're headed into a "folly" in Iraq? Hmmm - I see the show of hands is just about even. Which also goes to prove (once again) how easy it is to find folly when you have the luxury of hindsight. Nevertheless, Tuchman implores us to continue to try to learn from the past.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining history at its best
Review: Barbara Tuchman's The March of Folly certainly is an interesting and informative book. I give this excellent book 5 stars even though there are a few concerns I had on a few of her assertions and a wish for more detail in other areas.
One strength of the book is Tuchman's effort to define "folly" with a strict criteria and then compare events from history to that criteria. Basically she defines "folly" as the pursuit of policy against self-interest in the face of evidence contradicting the wisdom of the policy. Further, the "folly" must be counter-productive and the decision of a group rather than an individual. The "folly" must continue despite dissenting voices and articulated options or alternatives.
The chapters on the Renaissance Popes was very entertaining and decadent. Tuchman takes the reader through the papacy of Sixtus IV (from the powerful della Rovera family)who expanded the college of Cardinals to meet his policitical ends; Innocent VII who indulged his son and promoted the rise of the Borgia and Di Medici families in the papal court; Alexander VI who would have to be considered as the worst pope in history due to his total conversion of his religious office into a secular worldly power; Julius II (another della Rovera) who was a warrior pope and the patron of Michaelangelo; Leo X (a di Medici) who used the papacy for indulgence and gain of his Florentine family; and Clement VII who became the virtual prisoner of Emperor Charles V after the invasion and conquest of Rome.
The story of these 6 popes is a wild tale full of murder, treachery, theft, bribery, sexual depravity, and power politics. In short, the Papacy had become a secular state during this period and Realpolitic was the driving philosophy rather than a church concerned with Christianity. Tuchman indicates that a rising voice of discontent was developing, which erupts with the resistance of Martin Luther in protest against the sale of indulgences. It is on this point that I wish Tuchman had written more. The development of resistance and rebellion against Catholicism needed more explanation and historic development to parallel the decadence and worldly pursuits of the papacy. These six popes seemed insulated to the point that only secular power politics and self aggrandizement were within their range of concerns and actions. Whereas as a group they certainly practiced "folly" in terms of the credibility of the Catholic church, they each pursued rational behaviors if survival in a world of warring states and gain from office are seen as the overiding concerns of these 6 men. The Catholic papacy had drifted away from it's Christian mission and taken on new missions more realistic for a secular state. Thus the "folly" was embedded in organizational drift.
The chapters on the loss of the American colonies by the British better fit Tuchman's thesis on the nature of "folly". In these chapters miscalculations, pride, and minimization of dissenting information and voices certainly led to a break between Britian and the Colonies that was initially desired by neither party.
The chapters on the war in Vietnam certainly document the gradual fall into this crisis over the Presidencies of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. Tuchman does a good job of explaining how the French had practiced unfair dominance on their Vietnam colony, setting the stage for rebellion against western domination; how DeGaul pressured the United States to support the French in Vietnam in return for France's participation in NATO; how the United States interpreted interactions in Vietnam through the prism of the Cold War as compared to the Vietnamese who saw the conflict as a war of independence.
After reading all the wonderful examples given by Tuchman; what is the answer as to how to avoid "folly"? Tuchman sees pursuit of power as a force that sets the stage for folly. Power means that the interests of one group is advanced over the interest of another creating a competitive dichotomy of concerns and interests. Tuchman also sees vested interests contrary to the larger principles as a force that initiates "folly". Personal incompetence in persons with power allows mission drift and creates the furtile soil on which others can play for personal gain rather than collective gain. Excessive power frequently leads to disorder and injustice in many cases but a powerful central force that maintains mission goals over personal gain would also seem to be necessary. Conceptual stagnation when mental flexibility is needed also leads to "folly", primarily because adaptive leadership to new and changing conditions is absent. Tuchman gives examples of situations where policy is based on outdated principles and that when contrary information arises, the policy becomes more rigid rather than more flexible. Error is to be expected. Persistence in error is the path to "folly".
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference for anybody studying dysfunctions
Review: Great text for studying dysfunctions from a societal, institutional, or organizational perspective. Difficult reading if you want to read it with a cup of tea in hand. Tuchman does well with her definition of "folly" which is an extension of the definition of "dysfunctional."
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