War

A compelling vision. Bold leadership. Decisive action. Unfortunately, these prerequisites of success are almost always the ingredients of failure, too. In fact, most managers seeking to maximize their chances for glory are often unwittingly setting themselves up for ruin. The sad truth is that most companies have left their futures almost entirely to chance, and don’t even realize it. The reason? Managers feel they must make choices with far-reaching consequences today, but must base those choices on assumptions about a future they cannot predict. It is this collision between commitment and uncertainty that creates THE STRATEGY PARADOX.This paradox sets up a ubiquitous but little-understood tradeoff. Because managers feel they must base their strategies on assumptions about an unknown future, the more ambitious of them hope their guesses will be right – or that they can somehow adapt to the turbulence that will arise. In fact, only a small number of lucky daredevils prosper, while many more unfortunate, but no less capable managers find themselves at the helms of sinking ships. Realizing this, even if only intuitively, most managers shy away from the bold commitments that success seems to demand, choosing instead timid, unremarkable strategies, sacrificing any chance at greatness for a better chance at mere survival.Michael E. Raynor, coauthor of the bestselling The Innovator's Solution, explains how leaders can break this tradeoff and achieve results historically reserved for the fortunate few even as they reduce the risks they must accept in the pursuit of success. In the cutthroat world of competitive strategy, this is as close as you can come to getting something for nothing.Drawing on leading-edge scholarship and extensive original research, Raynor’s revolutionary principle of Requisite Uncertainty yields a clutch of critical, counter-intuitive findings. Among -- The Board should not evaluate the CEO based on the company’s performance, but instead on the firm’s strategic risk profile-- The CEO should not drive results, but manage uncertainty-- Business unit leaders should not focus on execution, but on making strategic choices-- Line managers should not worry about strategic risk, but devote themselves to delivering on commitmentsWith detailed case studies of success and failure at Sony, Microsoft, Vivendi Universal, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T and other major companies in industries from financial services to energy, Raynor presents a concrete framework for strategic action that allows companies to seize today’s opportunities while simultaneously preparing for tomorrow’s promise.

The Art of Maneuver challenges traditional warfare tactics by emphasizing the importance of strategic maneuvering over brute force. This is a must-read for military strategists and historians, as it provides a unique perspective on warfare that is often overlooked.

Recommendation: Spycatcher is a thrilling firsthand account of the inner workings of espionage and surveillance. Peter Wright's experience as a senior intelligence officer provides unique insights into the world of espionage and makes for an exciting and informative read. Readers interested in the Cold War and intelligence operations will find this book particularly fascinating.

"The Shadow World" would be a fascinating and eye-opening read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and often murky world of the global arms trade. With detailed investigations and revelations about the corrupt and illicit deals that take place in this industry, this book is essential reading for anyone who cares about transparency and accountability in both the public and private spheres. Andrew Feinstein's remarkable and courageous study sheds light on this shadowy world and exposes the shocking links between formal government-backed trade in arms and illicit deals.

He's both feared and admired, respected and despised. Boba Fett is the galaxy's most successful bounty hunter. Now he finds himself the hunted in the oldest game of all: survival of the fittest.

If you're intrigued by stories of enigmatic figures whose legacies have monumental impacts, "The Lost World of James Smithson" is for you. Heather Ewing skillfully captures the multifaceted life of a man whose name is known globally through the Smithsonian yet whose personal story is shrouded in mystery. The book provides a fascinating look at not only his personal history but also the creation of an institution that has become a bastion for knowledge and culture.

During the final years of the Japanese Occupation, Gui-yong and Eum-chun strike gold by finding a love as sweet as sticky rice. But their love for each other and for their secretly adopted daugh- ter is not enough, as they must soon accept the impossible―a mistress moving in to bear Gui-yong the male child deemed necessary in a society still smoldering in Confucianism.

"Power Of The Sword" is a thrilling adventure-filled novel that takes the readers on a journey through history in South Africa. Wilbur A. Smith's vivid descriptions of the goldfields, secret citadels, and the tumultuous war makes it an engaging read for fans of adventure novels. The unique feature of the book lies in its portrayal of the historical events happening in Germany and Abyssinia, making it an excellent pick for those interested in history.

Recommended to those interested in delving deep into the horrors of Soviet camps through the personal accounts of survivors. The author meticulously documents the history of the notorious Gulag system, exploring its evolution under different regimes and its eventual collapse. This is an eye-opening read on one of the greatest atrocities of the 20th century.

Award-winning journalist Elizabeth Becker started covering Cambodia in 1973 for The Washington Post, when the country was perceived as little more than a footnote to the Vietnam War. Then, with the rise of the Khmer Rouge in 1975 came the closing of the border and a systematic reorganization of Cambodian society. Everyone was sent from the towns and cities to the countryside, where they were forced to labor endlessly in the fields. The intelligentsia were brutally exterminated, and torture, terror, and death became routine. Ultimately, almost two million people—nearly a quarter of the population—were killed in what was one of this century's worst crimes against humanity.When the War Was Over is Elizabeth Becker's masterful account of the Cambodian nightmare. Encompassing the era of French colonialism and the revival of Cambodian nationalism; 1950s Paris, where Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot received his political education; the killing fields of Cambodia; government chambers in Washington, Paris, Moscow, Beijing, Hanoi, and Phnom Penh; and the death of Pol Pot in 1998; this is a book of epic vision and staggering power. Merging original historical research with the many voices of those who lived through the times and exclusive interviews with every Cambodian leader of the past quarter century, When the War Was Over illuminates the darkness of Cambodia with the intensity of a bolt of lightning.

"This book is an ideal read for anyone interested in historical fiction that delves deep into the lives of ordinary people. The book's most unique feature is its vast array of characters that it follows, each with their own perspectives. Readers have praised the author's ability to make the city of Alexandria come alive, especially during the war years."

If you're moved by personal accounts of history, “Tommy” draws you deep into the experiences of the British soldiers of World War I. Richard Holmes has masterfully used letters and diaries to craft a vivid tapestry of the era, giving voice to the men and women who lived, fought, and died in the trenches. This isn't just another war story; it's a deeply human account that could change the way you understand resilience and sacrifice.

Recommended for lovers of true historical accounts and war stories, this book provides a horrifying and gritty depiction of the fall of Singapore. With new information from a variety of sources, it captures both the heroism and cowardice of soldiers, as well as the brutality and compassion of the Japanese. Readers may be struck by the forgotten acts of bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, and will gain a deep sense of respect for those who endured unimaginable hardships during this period of history.

Historian Stephen Ambrose reveals the startling fact that the intricate plan for the invasion of France in June 1944 had to be abandoned before the first shot was fired. This history of D-Day reveals the story of brave citizen soldiers;junior officers and enlisted men;who took the initiative to act on their own to penetrate Hitler's Atlantic Wall when they realized than nothing was as they were told it would be. A brilliant retelling of the battles of Omaha and Utah beaches, based on information only now available from interviews with surviving veterans, government archives, and other sources. "A magnificent history...";John Keegan. B&W photos. 655pp. HC

Can we trust France? Apparently not. After more than 200 years of shared history and interests, the U.S.-France marriage looks as if it's ending in an acrimonious divorce. Here is the shocking insider account.In the wake of French behavior at the United Nations, where Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin systematically undermined the efforts of Secretary of State Colin Powell to convince the Security Council to authorize force against Iraq, Americans have at best come to suspect our ally of double dealing, and at worst come to view them as the enemy. Almost daily over the past year, new stories have emerged of how the government of French President Jacques Chirac has sought to undermine the U.S. war on terror, publicly sniping at America and inciting other countries to do the same. What's wrong with France? What's behind their recent perfidy? According to bestselling author Kenneth R. Timmerman, the American public doesn't know half the story. After they read The French Betrayal of America , American anger at France will turn to outrage.Timmerman, who worked as a journalist in France for eighteen years and knows the players on both sides, lifts the veil of Jacques Chirac's scandalous love affair with Saddam Hussein, beginning in 1975, when he took him on a tour of top-secret French nuclear facilities. The French attitude toward the dictator, which seemed to baffle American politicians, was in fact entirely predictable. Put bluntly, it was all about money, oil, and guns. Chirac needed Saddam's oil and Saddam's money, and Saddam needed French weapons and French nuclear technology.Despite this, the relationship between France and America was not only amicable but at times very mutually beneficial. That was until the most recent war on Iraq, where France turned the tables, engaging in dirty diplomacy and helping to sway other European countries to their side. French war coverage was not merely It was viciously inaccurate, skewed, and openly anti-American. Timmerman also presents incredible new evidence of France's duplicity, including the fact that the French stood to gain $100 billion from secret oil contracts they had concluded with Saddam Hussein.The French Betrayal of America raises questions of whether the nuclear cooperation agreements still in force with the French today should be canceled in light of France's behavior. Our security interests no longer converge, and our economic systems increasingly appear to be at loggerheads. The war in Iraq harshly exposed French treachery and their desire to do business with the worst of international tyrants, putting their economy, their international standing, and their relationship with a 200-year-old friend in severe jeopardy.Shocking new revelations in The French Betrayal of AmericaThe French president lied to Bush and to the public about the war in Iraq.President Jacques Chirac had personally told President George W. Bush well ahead of time that France would be at America's side.France urged Saddam to commit genocide.Saddam launched his genocidal campaign against the Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq to make their region "safe" for French oil engineers.France helped build Saddam's long-range missiles and nukes.Based on exclusive access to new documents, provided by Iraq to the United Nations -- that French defense companies were key partners in helping Saddam Hussein perfect the long-range missiles that killed U.S. soldiers in Saudi Arabia in 1991 and rained terror onto Israel.Chirac has blocked cooperation on a high-profile terrorism case.France's top counter-terrorism judge was ordered to stop cooperating with the United States in the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui despite mounds of documents that would have helped the United States to convict Moussaoui of conspiracy to commit mass murder.France illegally sold U.S. military secrets to Saddam Hussein.A prominent French defense company shipped U.S.-designed laser designator pods to Iraq in the 1980s that compromised the most high-tech weapons in the U.S. arsenal.President Mitterrand, a Socialist, became Ronald Reagan's best ally in Europe.The French Betrayal of America reveals the extent of French strategic and intelligence cooperation with the United States at the peak of the Cold War, in areas that will surprise readers on both sides of the Atlantic. The French ran a key agent inside the KGB, whose "cosmic" reach -- right up to the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union -- hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union.President Chirac almost went to jail for corruption.Chirac was on the verge of getting indicted on corruption charges in 1999 until he cooked up an immunity deal with the head of the French Supreme Court, former Socialist foreign minister Roland Dumas. While the French corruption scandals are well known in France, they have rarely been reported in the United States and will alternately shock and amuse American readers.The Bush administration is now offering France the secrets of our national missile defense.The French Betrayal of America reveals the hitherto top secret missile defense cooperation between the United States and France that has taken off at precisely the same time the Chirac government was undermining the United States on Iraq. Meanwhile, United States and French nuclear weapons designers continue to meet to exchange secrets of maintaining our respective nuclear arsenals.

Recommendation: - Delve into the captivating world of the Roman Army, and unlock the secrets of their unrivaled military prowess. Follow the journey from the early Republic to the powerful Imperial legions, witnessing the evolution of tactics, equipment, and training. With engaging illustrations and detailed insights, Chris McNab brings to life the remarkable men and monumental battles that defined Rome's greatest ancient war machine. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the legendary Roman Army, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a fascinating glimpse into the military force that shaped empires.