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Strategy: A History

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Strategy: A HistoryStrategy: A History Winner: W. J. M. Mackenzie Book Prize Selected as a Financial Times Best Book of 2013In Strategy: A History, Sir Lawrence Freedman, one of the world's leading authorities on war and international politics, captures the vast history of strategic thinking, in a consistently engaging and insightful account of how strategy came to pervade every aspect of our lives. The range of Freedman's narrative is extraordinary, moving from the

Strategy: A History

Winner: W. J. M. Mackenzie Book Prize

Selected as a Financial Times Best Book of 2013In Strategy: A History, Sir Lawrence Freedman, one of the world's leading authorities on war and international politics, captures the vast history of strategic thinking, in a consistently engaging and insightful account of how strategy came to pervade every aspect of our lives. The range of Freedman's narrative is extraordinary, moving from the surprisingly advanced strategy practiced in primate groups, to the opposing strategies of Achilles and Odysseus in The Iliad, the strategic advice of Sun Tzu and Machiavelli, the great military innovations of Baron Henri de Jomini and Carl von Clausewitz, the grounding of revolutionary strategy in class struggles by Marx, the insights into corporate strategy found in Peter Drucker and Alfred Sloan, and the contributions of the leading social scientists working on strategy today. The core issue at the heart of strategy, the author notes, is whether it is possible to manipulate and shape our environment rather than simply become the victim of forces beyond one's control. Time and again, Freedman demonstrates that the inherent unpredictability of this environment-subject to chance events, the efforts of opponents, the missteps of friends-provides strategy with its challenge and its drama. Armies or corporations or nations rarely move from one predictable state of affairs to another, but instead feel their way through a series of states, each one not quite what was anticipated, requiring a reappraisal of the original strategy, including its ultimate objective. Thus the picture of strategy that emerges in this book is one that is fluid and flexible, governed by the starting point, not the end point. A brilliant overview of the most prominent strategic theories in history, from David's use of deception against Goliath, to the modern use of game theory in economics, this masterful volume sums up a lifetime of reflection on strategy.

'This is the paperback version of what is one of the most thorough histories of strategic thinking' - Military History

'I include this to show that it is possible to find a genuinely new insight on finance by reading beyond the obvious.' - Professional Investor

'Stunning reviews in hardback' - The Bookseller

'Professor Freedman teaches War Studies at King's College, and was the official historian of the Falklands War. His book is the type of work you dive into, reread, underline, and ponder. And I did just that, making copious notes while being watched by the guy sitting next to me. He leaned over and pointed at the book. 'Excellent choice, sir. Couldnt pick a better book.'' - Ancient Rome Refocused, Rob Cain

'The book is a masterly and definitive account of strategy.' - David Lorimer, Network Review

'Rich in detail and deeply contextualising, this book is not only the longest but also the most diverse work in recent years on the evolution of strategy ... This book belongs with the classics in the field of strategic studies ... it provides a huge fund of information about the concept of strategy. It is first and foremost its historical depth that requires Freedman's work to be included in every library of status.' - Marcel Berni, Reviews in History

'[Freedman's] books manage to delight the experts yet are still comprehensible to the general reader, a rare skill in this genre. On this occasion, he has produced what is arguably the best book ever written on strategy.' - Washington Post

'Magisterial... wide-ranging erudition and densely packed argument.' - The Economist

'This is a book of startling scope, erudition and, more than anything, wisdom.' - Financial Times

'Comprehensive, vigorous survey of strategy and its evolution...A lucid text that raises questions while answering others' - of great value to planners, whether of an advertising campaign or a military one.Kirkus Reviews

'Sir Lawrence Freedman's 750-page magnum opus, Strategy: A History, is encyclopedic, although not alphabetical, a pleasure to dip into here and there...There are grand strategies set forth in several of the greater works covered by Freedman, but Strategy: A History holds the reader to the strategic level, a subset of grand strategy.' - New Criterion

'Strategy: A History is easily the most ambitious book that I have read in many years... With a book of this scope anybody can find something to disagree with but nobody can come away from this book without feeling enriched and intellectually challenged. It will live on as a classic.' - Mark Stout, War on the Rocks

'Strategy: A History, is an ambitious and sprawling book by a British military historian who has written widely, and very well, about nuclear and cold war strategy, the Falklands War, and contemporary military affairs, among other subjects... With admirable candor, Freedman tells us that he received the contract for this book in (gulp!) 1994, and that he made a 'number of false starts' with the manuscript. Considering the daunting scope of the subject, this is entirely understandable. Considering the wisdom and analytical brilliance he brings to bear on that subject, it's been well worth the wait.' - The Daily Beast

'Tour de force... Unusually thoughtful and clearly written, Freedman's dense tome is a serious academic study in political theory, but it has crossover potential and will attract readers interested in military planning, strategic systems, and the nature of power.' - Publishers Weekly starred review

'A vast exploration of strategy... full of surprises, and marked by unsurpassed erudition. It also is witty and reminds us that he in the world who knows most about strategy may be the one who is the most unimpressed with it.' - National Review

'An erudite, encyclopedic study that will surely become a standard reference in the discipline.' - strategy + business

'A fascinating review of the tools available to all of us to create agile, informed and interesting decisions.' - Sheridan Jobbins, the World Economic Forum blog

'Lawrence Freedman shows here why he is justly renowned as one of the world's leading thinkers about strategy, which he defines as the central art of getting more out of a situation than the starting balance of power would suggest.'' - Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Harvard University and author of The Future of Power

'A marvelous grand tour of the meaning, implications, and consequences of strategic thinking through the ages and in multiple contexts. Freedman is a master of the subject and unsurpassed in his ability to unravel the twists and turns of strategic complexities and paradoxes.' - Robert Jervis, Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics, Columbia University

'This is a wonderful book' - a comprehensive yet deeply considered summation of the very nature of strategy by the premier social scientist of the subject. Strategy: A History is lucid and dispassionate, sometimes rueful, often ironic, always informative.Philip Bobbitt, author of The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History

'This substantial, comprehensive, hermeneutic work examines the various dimensions and history of 'strategy,' which Freedman defines as 'the art of creating power'...this very ambitious exploration provides readers with a useful introduction to the field of strategic studies.' - CHOICE

'[Freedman's] books manage to delight the experts yet are still comprehensible to the general reader, a rare skill in this genre. On this occasion, he has produced what is arguably the best book ever written on strategy.' - Washington Post

'Magisterial... wide-ranging erudition and densely packed argument.' - The Economist

'This is a book of startling scope, erudition and, more than anything, wisdom.' - Financial Times

'Comprehensive, vigorous survey of strategy and its evolution...A lucid text that raises questions while answering others' - of great value to planners, whether of an advertising campaign or a military one.Kirkus Reviews

'One the most significant works in the fields of international relations, strategic studies, and history to appear in recent years.' - Foreign Affairs

'Sir Lawrence Freedman's 750-page magnum opus, Strategy: A History, is encyclopedic, although not alphabetical, a pleasure to dip into here and there...There are grand strategies set forth in several of the greater works covered by Freedman, but Strategy: A History holds the reader to the strategic level, a subset of grand strategy.' - New Criterion

'Strategy: A History is easily the most ambitious book that I have read in many years... With a book of this scope anybody can find something to disagree with but nobody can come away from this book without feeling enriched and intellectually challenged. It will live on as a classic.' - Mark Stout, War on the Rocks

'Strategy: A History, is an ambitious and sprawling book by a British military historian who has written widely, and very well, about nuclear and cold war strategy, the Falklands War, and contemporary military affairs, among other subjects... With admirable candor, Freedman tells us that he received the contract for this book in (gulp!) 1994, and that he made a 'number of false starts' with the manuscript. Considering the daunting scope of the subject, this is entirely understandable. Considering the wisdom and analytical brilliance he brings to bear on that subject, it's been well worth the wait.' - The Daily Beast

'Tour de force... Unusually thoughtful and clearly written, Freedman's dense tome is a serious academic study in political theory, but it has crossover potential and will attract readers interested in military planning, strategic systems, and the nature of power.' - Publishers Weekly starred review

'A vast exploration of strategy... full of surprises, and marked by unsurpassed erudition. It also is witty and reminds us that he in the world who knows most about strategy may be the one who is the most unimpressed with it.' - National Review

'An erudite, encyclopedic study that will surely become a standard reference in the discipline.' - strategy + business

'A fascinating review of the tools available to all of us to create agile, informed and interesting decisions.' - Sheridan Jobbins, the World Economic Forum blog

'Lawrence Freedman shows here why he is justly renowned as one of the world's leading thinkers about strategy, which he defines as the central art of getting more out of a situation than the starting balance of power would suggest.'' - Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Harvard University and author of The Future of Power

'A marvelous grand tour of the meaning, implications, and consequences of strategic thinking through the ages and in multiple contexts. Freedman is a master of the subject and unsurpassed in his ability to unravel the twists and turns of strategic complexities and paradoxes.' - Robert Jervis, Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics, Columbia University

'This is a wonderful book' - a comprehensive yet deeply considered summation of the very nature of strategy by the premier social scientist of the subject. Strategy: A History is lucid and dispassionate, sometimes rueful, often ironic, always informative.Philip Bobbitt, author of The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History

'This substantial, comprehensive, hermeneutic work examines the various dimensions and history of 'strategy,' which Freedman defines as 'the art of creating power'...this very ambitious exploration provides readers with a useful introduction to the field of strategic studies.' - CHOICE

SPECIFICATIONS:

Author:Lawrence Friedman - Лоуренс Фридман

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Language:English

Publication Date:2015

Number of pages:768 pst

Format:Paperback

Width:156 mm / 6,1'

Height:233 mm / 9,2'

Weight:1106 g

ISBN:9780190229238

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Jerry D. Chapman
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
A quality mouse for everyday users
Size: Standard
I was tired of using a mouse with cheap switches. The only choice was to upgrade to a Gaming Mouse with switches made to last. I don't do much gaming except solitaire. The mouse is comfortable to grip. The buttons are easily reached. The size is much better than a compact mouse. The surfaces that you touch have a light grain, not slick like others. It is easy to adjust the mouse speed and know the computer will respond when you press the buttons. The thumb rest is a nice design and adds a little to its footprint to make it glide even easier. The battery cover is magnetic and easy access to the one battery. I needed Bluetooth to not have a wireless dongle stuck in my laptop. It ruined one from hitting my leg. A well made mouse even if you are not a gamer.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2026
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Dave
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 4
Works good, looks nice. Chews through batteries
Size: Standard
I'm not a huge gamer, but in general it's a pretty nice mouse. The mouse movement is rather fluid and it glides smoothly on my mouse pad. Don't have any issues with connectivity, but I do have the dongle very near the mouse. You can customize how the colors rotate with the Razer program on your desktop. There are several buttons you can customize as well and change how long before it goes to rest mode. I also like that I can accidently bump it and it won't wake my pc from sleep mode (though sometimes I do have to jiggle it around a bit for it to wake my pc up). I love the shape of it alot and the thumb rest, very comfortable in my hand. My only complaint is that I am chewing through batteries like crazy. I feel like I have to replace them about once a month. Will probably invest in rechargeable batteries. But this is a great option for anyone who is looking for a better quality gaming mouse without spending $100+
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Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2026
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VetPilot
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
High Quality and Operability - Great!
Great mouse! Not only good, but feels and operates as well as, or better than a Microsoft mouse, and a lot more reasonable! Comes with AAA batteries, the USB transceiver is stored inside the battery compartment (good when packing and traveling), and a white support strap lays down below the installed batteries so that it is easier to remove them when its time to change the battery. Be sure to go into Control Panel/Mouse and make any click-speed or mouse movement adjustments to your liking. I plan on buying another one of these for my second HP laptop. The USB transceiver is immediately responsive and you will see a red laser at the bottom of the mouse.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
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Yaya
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Works Perfect, No Installation Needed, Perfect Size, and Wonderful Price!
Several months ago when the keys on my laptop mouse pad started to go out, I was really irritated because I have gotten so used to using the mouse pad that I was worried that I wouldn't be able to work as efficiently using a wireless mouse. I knew that it would only be a few days before the keys got to the point that I wouldn't be able to use them and started looking on Amazon for a wireless mouse that I might possibly be able to stand using on a daily basis. I spotted the AmazonBasics Wireless Mouse and thought that it wouldn't be that great because it was way cheaper than most of the other wireless ones that I could find. I went ahead and placed my order because I needed something and thought that if it didn't work that well, I wouldn't be out of that much money. When it arrived, I was happy to see that it was a tad bit smaller than other ones that I have used with desktops in the past since I have small hands. I opened the package, popped in some batteries, plugged the nano receiver into my USB slot, and it was working instantly. I thought that it would take some time to install ( I did not read much on it when I purchased it honestly, I just needed one quick!), but was SO happy to see that it needed nothing to be installed. I have been using this wireless mouse for about a year and half now and I have recommended it to SO many people who were looking for one. I work at home on my laptop 7 days a week and anywhere between 12 - 18 hours a day. I only have to change the batteries about once every two months (sometimes it will go a little longer and sometimes a little bit less - not sure on why though). This mouse has worked flawlessly since the day of purchase and I was SO wrong to think that because it was cheaper than the others that it wouldn't work as well. There has never been a time where it disconnected from the computer or that there was any issue using it. A few times when it has needed the batteries changed and I wait a few days, there is a tiny lag - but that is all my fault. The AmazonBasics Wireless Mouse has a little red indicator light that lets you know when the batteries are getting low and need to be changed. I like that feature so that I'm always aware of when they need to be changed. Since I travel a lot, this mouse is great because it doesn't take up a lot of space in the laptop bag. I also never have to worry about losing the nano receiver because once you remove the little door to the battery area, there is actually a space that the nano receiver clicks into making it perfect for travel. If you are in the market for a great wireless mouse, I would recommend the AmazonBasics Wireless Mouse because it has been through over a year of my all day, everyday use and still works just like the day that I purchased it!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2015
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Joe Watanabe
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★★★★★ 5
It works and is well priced.
This mouse works as well as much higher-priced brand-name items. It fits well in the hand. The durability is very good. Considering the price compared to other brand names, this is a very good value.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026

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