War in Human Civilization by Azar Gat (PDF)

Description

Why do people go to war? Is it rooted in human nature or is it a late cultural invention? How does war relate to the other fundamental developments in the history of human civilization? And what of war today – is it a declining phenomenon or simply changing its shape?In this truly global study of war and civilization, Azar Gat sets out to find definitive answers to these questions in an attempt to unravel the ‘riddle of war’ throughout human history, from the early hunter-gatherers right through to the unconventional terrorism of the twenty-first century.In the process, the book generates an astonishing wealth of original and fascinating insights on all major aspects of humankind’s remarkable journey through the ages, engaging a wide range of disciplines, from anthropology and evolutionary psychology to sociology and political science. Written with remarkable verve and clarity and wholly free from jargon, it will be of interest to anyone who has ever pondered the puzzle of war.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This is truly a “shock and awe” book! Once again, Azar Gat will stun and amaze you with 800 pages of pure intellect to the Nth degree! I was always very impressed by his other books on war. Yet, with 28+ years of active duty military service and a personal library of 1000+ books on various military subjects – I have NEVER been more impressed by such a comprehensive interdisciplinary treatment on the “enigma of Warre”. This book seamlessly blends psychology, sociology, archeology, anthropology, and history, along with a myriad of other relevant disciplines to provide the most extensive examination on the general theme of war that I have ever experienced. I am now totally convinced that all senior military officers should only study the broad scope of war from such a well-informed interdisciplinary approach {long before they delve into any details with the devil). This book is anything but a `same-old-same-old’ standard perspective of war. This book will force a truly open-minded reader to reassess every facet of war – and every predisposition encountered about war. I believe that this book is “the” seminal document to begin a reeducation and reassessment of our all of our so-called `modern-day’ beliefs, motives, policies, strategies, operations and tactics about war. This book should be a mandatory read for all senior officials at the Whitehouse, DOD, DoS,DNI, NSA, CIA, FBI, and ALL intelligence agencies. This book should be a mandatory read at every service staff college and war college. Get it – read it – read it again and again – and you will ponder new perspectives about the riddle of war for years to come.

⭐This is by far the best book on the subject I’ve read. The author’s approach is refreshingly holistic, combining insights from fields as diverse as anthropology, evolutionary biology, psychology, archaeology, economics, history, and International Relations theory. The book is extremely objective, relying on data (qualitative and quantitative) gathered from the social sciences and the author does not waste any space attempting to moralize, justify, or be subjective in regards to the topic of war. Dr. Gat is a mostly a realist for sure, and presents war as it is in human nature and throughout human history. The book is readable and interesting yet at the same time very thorough. I’ve read a lot of books- academic and non-academic- in the social sciences, but this is the book that has had the most impact on my understanding of the grand scheme of human nature and human civilization. A word to those who are expecting a book on strategy and specific battle tactics- those are not to be found in here. This book focuses on the big picture, on the phenomenon of war. As with everyone else who has reviewed this book, I believe this book to be a true masterpiece and recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about war, and the connection between war and other aspects of human civilization and history.

⭐This is a stunning study of one of the biggest engagements of the human race: War. The arc of war is long, crooked and thanatotic. The never-likely but always hoped-for result, Mr. Gat argues, is peace, stability and progress — until the next war at least. It’s a big book on big subject, but it can be digested in small repasts. It deserves its accolades. ##

⭐I learnt much reading this book. I also think it showed that the writer actually has military experience and knows what he is talking about.The book itself should be split into two parts. The first part dealing with prehistoric and the second civilized warfare. Much of what he describes as primitive warfare we would call crime. I thought his comments about how civilization has actually reduced warfare fascinating.

⭐nteresting subject, but the reader gets lost by several repetitions and recaps, at the end of the book, I felt that I got lost in the recaps

⭐WAR has the shortest title but is one of the largest books I own. It is packed with information and well-written. A wonderful book to dip in any time to learn something new and unexpected.

⭐profoundly stimulating

⭐I had a bit of time over the holidays so I read two new massive tomes on warfare, Gat’s and one by Max Boot. Gat’s stunningly comprehensive work is so good that it manages to make other 500+ page books seem positively lightweight and journalistic in comparison. This treatment of the history of war and warfare, or ‘human belligerency’ as Gat puts it, would overwhelm the non-specialist (it clocks in at about 820 pages), if it weren’t for the author’s ability to synthesize material, sum up scholarship and, last but not least, write some of the clearest and most lucid prose I’ve seen in the social sciences in ages. He makes forays into evolutionary theory, state formation, antiquity, technology and the rise of science, prehistory, the transition to agriculture, democratic peace theory, etc. The chapter on tribal warfare (in Agraria and Pastoralia, as Gat puts it) is — as the saying has it — worth the price of admission alone. His careful demolition of radical Rousseauist idealism is equally fascinating, but he is no simplistic, knee-jerk Hobbesian.Gat is philosophically astute as well as deep; he knows history as well as theory; and he even treats, if briefly, the question of the causes of war. Above all, the book is animated by his personality: one can surmise that, yes, he’s quite intellectual, but his is a mind that is always probing, curious and interesting. (There’s a picture of the author on the back flap. He is youngish but he has bags under his eyes. He must read and write around the clock. I for one am grateful.) This is my book of the year.

⭐Azar Gut has written the definitive account of the origins of war in human society. Its in the genes or, rather, the propensity toward and choice of violence to attain one’s goals is in the genes but we also have ‘negotiation genes’ and ‘peaceful coexistence genes’ (my description not the author’s). We can, if we choose to, control our choices but controlling the choices of others is a different matter. Possibly we all evolve together or not at all.This work represents a combination of history, prehistory, anthropology, psychology and political science. A truly amazing book.

⭐Delighted.

⭐The above just about sums it up – but this is no easy read and seems to repeat itself at times.Gat also has a bit of an obsession with the ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma’ and the ‘Red Queen’ concepts but this does not detract from the fundamental nature of the book as a descriptor of war and its causes through history.If you are looking for an ‘easy read’ then this is not for you but if you are looking for the standard academic work and one that will provide an excellent source of reference with a bibliography for further reading then this is money well spent.

⭐Well worth reading, if somewhat depressing about the human condition. A massive amount of information and well presented, aside from the propensity for run-on sentences and unnecessarily long words where short ones would do. If you are interested in the long sweep of history, pretty much a “must read”.

⭐Excellent book. Comprehensive, extensively researched and the most complete work I have ever found regarding the development of “war” throughout history.

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