Nester (history, St. John’s Univ.; Land of War) does well in relaying the entirety of the U.S. military history, from the first colonial settlements to the present. Arrangement is chronological and progresses through the more important conflicts in American history. The author details the background stories and intriguing tidbits of various wars, such as the differences between U.S. troops and their British counterparts during the Revolutionary War and the psychological casualties in World War II. But he also maintains brevity appropriate for a book of this nature. He pulls no punches; James Madison, George McClellan, Ronald Reagan, and others draw criticism. He also mentions relevant films and literature from different eras, but the recitation of numbers—troops participating on each side and the ones killed, wounded, and missing in action—may feel monotonous at times to some readers. Librarians should also be aware that the book contains a statement that American colonists suffered worse horrors than they inflicted upon their Indigenous, French, and Spanish adversaries. VERDICT A worthy general survey. This should please many readers looking for a single-volume introductory text on U.S. military history, but it includes a controversial sentence about colonists.
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?