The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Pentagon

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Summary: Pentagon takes the starring role!
Review: This book is both funny and functional -- I use it as a desk reference in my work counselling companies who have to work with, or sell to, the US military, as well as a random excuse to brighten the day.

Moreover, military officers I work with have started to recommend it to colleagues attending the services' staff colleges...not because there are no other reference books, but because this one tells you things that are useful in a way that makes you genuinely interested in learning more.

The Pentagon lore here is well-researched, and provides a terrific foundation for a primer on the parts of the US military with roots in The Building.

Better yet, it's a fine effort to bridge inter-service rivalries: you can read someone poking fun at those Other Guys with the Funny Uniforms and, while nobody's watching, actually appreciate the Other Guys' history, culture and lore.

My favourite parts are the ones about Classified Documents, and the civilian's guide to Missile Defense. Not only are these great examples of how Cateau and Levin make complex topics accessible with clear examples, but I just plain couldn't read these ones aloud to friends without laughing!

Okay, and the quiz on Navy Abbreviations catches even the most avid acronym interpreters!

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Summary: The Pentagon - It's More Mundane Than You Thought
Review: This delightful book imparts great technical and historical data while simultaneously giving your sense of humor a terrific workout. The big, beleaguered building comes alive with purpose and structure thanks to the well-written and thoroughly researched text. Suddenly the geometric monster fits neatly into the tapestry of American foreign policy and the reader is given a window onto the foibles and passions of the thousands of citizens who enter the monolith each day. I highly recommend this fascinating book to anyone who has ever wondered about the importance of the Pentagon, and the impact of the strategies that emanate from it.

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Summary: The Pentagon for the Rest of Us
Review: This funny and informative book will enable you to impress your friends with mystifying acronyms while providing insights into the ironies of the Byzantine blend of bureaucracy, magic, money and macho that fuel the high-tech beehive so appropriately shaped as the world's largest Pentagon. Perfect for the citizen who'd like to know more about how our military is "organized" and "managed" without a night course in government contracting or a trip down the flight path astride a laser guided missile.

Rating:
Summary: The Pentagon for the Rest of Us
Review: Written for the serious buffoon, I'd recommend this book as a lighthearted but informative read for those boring trips down the flight path astride a laser guided missile. Learn from this funny and informative book how to impress your friends with mystifying acronyms while gaining first-hand insights into the ironies of the Byzantine blend of bureaucracy, magic, money and macho that fuel the high-tech beehive so appropriately shaped as the world's largest Pentagon.