Rating: 
Summary: Insightful and Interesting
Review: In, On the Origins of War, Donald Kagan both (1) makes a case study of the causes of Ancient Conficts, and more modern ones, and (2) gives his suggestions on how they could have been avoided. These Wars include the Punic Wars and WWII, the Peloponisian War and WWI, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the first war between Rome and Carthage, the Carthigians were given a free hand in Spain upto the Ebro River. When Rome noticed that Carthage was building a mighty army there, Rome gave advance notice that it would probably break its treaty with them, sent a group of ambassadors that insulted Hannibal, but failed to send troops to awe or suppress them. Hannibal reacted by laying siege to an allied city. Rome, who could have reacted and attacked Hannibal in Spain, did nothing. For almost nine months, Hannibal lay siege to this city. Once his siege was successful, Hannibal turned his eyes, and his elephants, towards Rome. The second Punic Wars had begun. After the first World War, the allies forced Germany to sign a treaty which blamed the entire war on them. The Germans were also forced to pay hugely disproportionate reparations, dismember their country, essentially disband their own army, and watch their ally Austria-Hungry be sliced into several new nations. Then, after doing almost everything possible to embitter the Germans, the allies disarmed. Slowly at first, but almost continually until WWII broke out, the Germans rearmed themselves. Hitler accelerated this pace, but he essentially continued the policies of his predecessors. Like Hannibal before him, Hitler then began to attack allies or potential allies of his rival. Hitler attack on Poland, which started WWII, was only attacked after Austria has been "rejoined" with Germany and Czechoslovakia had been conquered. Thus both the Romans and the Allies had been given advance notice that an enemy may be preparing to fight. Rome was given nine months, the Allies were given, at least, six years. Neither, however, seemed to recognize the threat which was coming. In Rome's case, part of this ignorance may have been due to overconfidence after winning the prior conflict. For the Allies, much of their ignorance was based on their horror over the results of the last war combined with an underappreciation for the anger which was swelling in Germany. Now, could either of these wars have been avoided? Kagan seems to think so. He describes the different times and ways both wars could have be prevented. I tend to disagree, in part. My disagreement stems from the unexpected. Kagan, in part, states that if you insult a rival or opponent, you should be prepared for a reaction. However, people plan for things in the future, based on what happened in the past. This is why we study history. Hannibal acted and fought in ways that were almost unheard of during that time. How could the Romans expect Hannibal to cross the Alps with his elephants, when nothing quite like that had occurred in the past. Hitler, as well, acted much more quickly then anyone at that time thought was possible. His own generals were ready to begin a coup starting from the "Sudenland" crisis to the invasion of Austria. Still, agree or not, this book is interesting and insightful. The other sections, dealing with WWI, are also very well done. Personally, I didn't like the Cuban Missile Crisis section, but it was only a small part of the book. Overall, this book is very, very good. For those who question why we should study history, please read this book. For those of you who already enjoy history, "Origins of War" is a good addition to your library.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful and Interesting
Review: In, On the Origins of War, Donald Kagan both (1) makes a case study of the causes of Ancient Conficts, and more modern ones, and (2) gives his suggestions on how they could have been avoided. These Wars include the Punic Wars and WWII, the Peloponisian War and WWI, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the first war between Rome and Carthage, the Carthigians were given a free hand in Spain upto the Ebro River. When Rome noticed that Carthage was building a mighty army there, Rome gave advance notice that it would probably break its treaty with them, sent a group of ambassadors that insulted Hannibal, but failed to send troops to awe or suppress them. Hannibal reacted by laying siege to an allied city. Rome, who could have reacted and attacked Hannibal in Spain, did nothing. For almost nine months, Hannibal lay siege to this city. Once his siege was successful, Hannibal turned his eyes, and his elephants, towards Rome. The second Punic Wars had begun. After the first World War, the allies forced Germany to sign a treaty which blamed the entire war on them. The Germans were also forced to pay hugely disproportionate reparations, dismember their country, essentially disband their own army, and watch their ally Austria-Hungry be sliced into several new nations. Then, after doing almost everything possible to embitter the Germans, the allies disarmed. Slowly at first, but almost continually until WWII broke out, the Germans rearmed themselves. Hitler accelerated this pace, but he essentially continued the policies of his predecessors. Like Hannibal before him, Hitler then began to attack allies or potential allies of his rival. Hitler attack on Poland, which started WWII, was only attacked after Austria has been "rejoined" with Germany and Czechoslovakia had been conquered. Thus both the Romans and the Allies had been given advance notice that an enemy may be preparing to fight. Rome was given nine months, the Allies were given, at least, six years. Neither, however, seemed to recognize the threat which was coming. In Rome's case, part of this ignorance may have been due to overconfidence after winning the prior conflict. For the Allies, much of their ignorance was based on their horror over the results of the last war combined with an underappreciation for the anger which was swelling in Germany. Now, could either of these wars have been avoided? Kagan seems to think so. He describes the different times and ways both wars could have be prevented. I tend to disagree, in part. My disagreement stems from the unexpected. Kagan, in part, states that if you insult a rival or opponent, you should be prepared for a reaction. However, people plan for things in the future, based on what happened in the past. This is why we study history. Hannibal acted and fought in ways that were almost unheard of during that time. How could the Romans expect Hannibal to cross the Alps with his elephants, when nothing quite like that had occurred in the past. Hitler, as well, acted much more quickly then anyone at that time thought was possible. His own generals were ready to begin a coup starting from the "Sudenland" crisis to the invasion of Austria. Still, agree or not, this book is interesting and insightful. The other sections, dealing with WWI, are also very well done. Personally, I didn't like the Cuban Missile Crisis section, but it was only a small part of the book. Overall, this book is very, very good. For those who question why we should study history, please read this book. For those of you who already enjoy history, "Origins of War" is a good addition to your library.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting overview of major wars
Review: Kagan describes skillfully the beginnings of 4 major wars in this essay which also includes a section of the Cuban missile crisis. The sections are straight forward and carefully thought-out. Every student of diplomacy should consider Kagan's findings.
Rating: 
Summary: A reminder of how we are born to relive the past
Review: Kagan wrote this the same year that bin Laden declared war on Western civilization with his fatwa to kill the infidel no matter where he finds him. This is a wonderful book to understand the history of mankind's desire to avoid war at any cost, even when it means that the consequences of doing so means that millions will die in the pursuit of peace.
Whether it is Chamberlain's claim that he had delivered "peace in our time" in his appeasement of a madman by the name of Hitler, or Kennedy's encouragement of Soviet aggression by his incredible weakness in dealing with a Khrushchev who saw him for the phony weakling that he was, this book drives home the fact that the bad guys will win if the good guys don't stand up.
Robert Kagan obviously learned a lesson in writing "Paradise and Power" versus this book by Donald Kagan by cutting to the chase and understanding that the attention span of most Americans is the average length of a sitcom. If you want to understand why we have to keep learning history's lessons generation after generation, this is the book to buy. The peace movement is responsible for the deaths of more humans than any of the tyrants who filled the gas chambers, launched the bombs, starved the innocents, or invaded their neighbors. Kagan does a great job of showing how this has been the case since recorded history, and unfortunately we are too illiterate to understand this in an era when terrorists are identified by some euphemism like "freedom fighter" or dissident.
This book should be mandatory reading for any teenager in high school as an alternative to the politically correct nonsense that they are graded on and forced to read in schools across the country. Not to mention those who sit in their lounge chairs watching such inanities as "Friends" or equally idiotic nonsense.
This is a great book, but not a one day read if you pay close attention to the massive research and detai it encompasses. Hopefully this will be condensed into something that is more approachable by the average reader.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Study of the Origins of War
Review: Mr. Kagan compares the origins of four wars, the Peloponnesian War, the First World War, the second Punic War, the Second World War and a crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, that did not lead to war. Mr. Kagan main point is that most countries involved in these wars had no real want or need of war, and indeed, the steps taken by the leaders to avoid war often lead to war. He recommends an aggressive foreign policy approach in which potential adversaries clearly know your intentions. His description of the Cuban Missile Crisis in particularly instructive. American's military strength is far greater than the Soviet Union but President. Kennedy is a very indecisive, always afraid of miscalculation. First, the Bay of Pigs was a flop and an embarrassment. President Kennedy then tries to show Khrushchev how tough he was in Vienna but comes across as very weak. Mr. Kennedy then takes no action on the Berlin Wall. Khrushchev is now certain that Kennedy can always be pushed and so sends missiles to Cuban. War was only avoided because of Americans "great military strength that brought safety in the crisis." Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Study of the Origins of War
Review: Mr. Kagan compares the origins of four wars, the Peloponnesian War, the First World War, the second Punic War, the Second World War and a crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, that did not lead to war. Mr. Kagan main point is that most countries involved in these wars had no real want or need of war, and indeed, the steps taken by the leaders to avoid war often lead to war. He recommends an aggressive foreign policy approach in which potential adversaries clearly know your intentions. His description of the Cuban Missile Crisis in particularly instructive. American's military strength is far greater than the Soviet Union but President. Kennedy is a very indecisive, always afraid of miscalculation. First, the Bay of Pigs was a flop and an embarrassment. President Kennedy then tries to show Khrushchev how tough he was in Vienna but comes across as very weak. Mr. Kennedy then takes no action on the Berlin Wall. Khrushchev is now certain that Kennedy can always be pushed and so sends missiles to Cuban. War was only avoided because of Americans "great military strength that brought safety in the crisis." Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: fine reading, informative and at times chilling
Review: On the Origins of War is an extension on the "great" wars we learned about in college history. A fine and entertaining read for those of us who had forgotten many of the aspects of the Punic, Peleponessian and World Wars. However, most compelling and downright disturbing are the pages dedicated to the Cuban Missile Crisis. If you want to understand how fallible and truely weak our leadership can be, I have found no better example than of the sobering reality you will experience after reading the chapter. There is a bit of comparisons and questions by the author on the wars and almost war he covers in the book; however the reader is able to see quite readily the parallels and lessons to be learned without the authors help. A book to be read.
Rating:
Summary: fine reading, informative and at times chilling
Review: On the Origins of War is an extension on the "great" wars we learned about in college history. A fine and entertaining read for those of us who had forgotten many of the aspects of the Punic, Peleponessian and World Wars. However, most compelling and downright disturbing are the pages dedicated to the Cuban Missile Crisis. If you want to understand how fallible and truely weak our leadership can be, I have found no better example than of the sobering reality you will experience after reading the chapter. There is a bit of comparisons and questions by the author on the wars and almost war he covers in the book; however the reader is able to see quite readily the parallels and lessons to be learned without the authors help. A book to be read.
Rating:
Summary: Very Nice
Review: Rather than a look at wars in themselves, this is a select history of the events leading up to four particular conflicts, and to one, the Cuban missle crisis, than did not result in direct aggression. The events leading to the disastrous Peloponesian War between Athens and Sparta, and the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome are drawn from ancient history. The origins of 1st and 2nd World Wars serve as the modern counterpoint, as does, in a different fashion, the Cuban episdode during the Cold War. Kagan ultimately finds Thucydides' ancient and eloquent appraisal to be relevant to moderns. That the author elects to not rely on examples from other times or places does not really hamper the thesis. The broader message that Kagan develops concerns the inclinations of large states in relation to one another. That this remains a major feature of the geopolitical landscape makes this book (regretably) relevant.
Rating:
Summary: If we could really learn from history it might start here
Review: Rather than a look at wars in themselves, this is a select history of the events leading up to four particular conflicts, and to one, the Cuban missle crisis, than did not result in direct aggression. The events leading to the disastrous Peloponesian War between Athens and Sparta, and the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome are drawn from ancient history. The origins of 1st and 2nd World Wars serve as the modern counterpoint, as does, in a different fashion, the Cuban episdode during the Cold War. Kagan ultimately finds Thucydides' ancient and eloquent appraisal to be relevant to moderns. That the author elects to not rely on examples from other times or places does not really hamper the thesis. The broader message that Kagan develops concerns the inclinations of large states in relation to one another. That this remains a major feature of the geopolitical landscape makes this book (regretably) relevant.
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