Boyd

The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War

By: Robert Coram

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

John Boyd may be the most remarkable unsung hero in all of American military history. Some remember him as the greatest US fighter pilot ever - the man who, in simulated air-to-air combat, defeated every challenger in less than 40 seconds. Some recall him as the father of our country's most legendary fighter aircraft - the F-15 and F-16. Still, others think of Boyd as the most influential military theorist since Sun Tzu. They know only half the story.

Boyd, more than any other person, saved fighter aviation from the predations of the Strategic Air Command. His manual of fighter tactics changed the way every air force in the world flies and fights. He discovered a physical theory that forever altered the way fighter planes were designed. Later in life, he developed a theory of military strategy that has been adopted throughout the world, and even applied to business models for maximizing efficiency. On a personal level, Boyd rarely met a general he couldn't offend. He was loud, abrasive, and profane. A man of daring, ferocious passion and intractable stubbornness, he was that most American of heroes - a rebel who cared not for his reputation or fortune, but for his country.

©2002 Robert Coram (P)2016 Tantor

Outstanding

An inspiring life story of one of the best military strategist in history and his incessant battles against a military bureaucracy that resisted change. The contributions he made were tragically juxtaposed with his abysmal efforts as a father and husband.

The second half of the book, where we learn about the origins of Boyd's theories and their fundamental principles, I found to be more compelling, though the subject matter requires a lot of secondary reading to fully appreciate. The OODA Loop can be a powerful tool if understood.

On pure literary value, the stories that fill this book entertained me and never felt the pace drag.

Critique: the author goes to great lengths, through tone, word choice, etc., to paint Boyd as the white knight and everyone opposed to him as enemies. In reality nothing is ever this cut and dry. The Pentagon and Generals seemed almost mystical in their disdain for the well-being of servicemen. Then again, this depiction may be entirely accurate and lacking undue bias.

John Boyd a true maverick of the 29th century

I feel like anyone who is interested at all in aviation, more specifically military aviation should learn about this man. What a career and life he had.

The performance was done well too.

Excellent, significant, and entertaining!

Excellently written and superbly read story of one of the most significant figures in military history.

Remarkable!

"Be somebody - or do something!" A great visit with a lightning bolt of American history.

The Book Boyd Would Have Written If He Could

Very will written and narrated, though more hagiography than biography. Boyd's life is divided into a three act structure that connects WW2 and the Korean War to every military conflict of the US since then, and every chapter is devoted to framing Boyd as the interminably righteous hero fighting a corrupt and indifferent bureaucracy.

Much of this is accurate to my impression, but a significant and repeated pattern is that Boyd comes into conflict with a superior officer and an even more superior officer or official comes to his rescue. This seems to paint a narrative of Boyd being one, important and focal, but still only one piece in a larger narrative of cultural shift within the military following Vietnam. That the book does little to address why and how Boyd secured support from high officials (beyond arguing that he was obviously right and people not blinded by careerism obviously supported him) and what their role in the cultural shift was suggests a more nuanced, larger picture than the one man versus the world narrative the book presents.

Indeed, it seems to be Boyd's failure to appreciate and operate on a higher level that leads to much of the suffering and tragedy of his life - making enemies where it was unnecessary and failing to take opportunities to gain political capital at little cost. That the book seems as blind to this dimension as Boyd was is perhaps an artifact of it being a biography rather than a history, and indeed being a biography of this particular man.

But then, I probably wouldn't have picked up and read straight through "A History of Cultural Conflict Within the US Defense Establishment of the Late 20th Century" the way I did "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War."

Colonel John Boyd: Disruptor & Leader

Colonel John Boyd changed far more than just the Air Force. His passion & work as told here will enlighten, entertain, and galvanize leaders deciding which path they will take at the fork in the road.

awesome book

This book gripped me from the start. I will surely listen to it again...John Boyd - the hero!

Excellent

Extremely insightful, less of a deep dive into his various works and telling the story of his life, it discusses the details of the many projects and difficulties he encountered and overcame.

Incredible!

Wow, integrity and desire in one heck of a story. Should be a required book for all us.

Neccessary PME

This needs to be read or listened to by any military officer or strategists. Sad that the Marine Corps only really brings up his name for the OODA Loop when he did much more.