Strategy

The Indirect Approach

By: B.H. Liddell Hart

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

This is the classic book on war as we know it. During his long life, Basil H. Liddell Hart was considered one of the world's foremost military thinkers - a man generally regarded as the "Clausewitz of the 20th century".  

Liddell Hart stressed movement, flexibility, surprise. He saw that in most military campaigns dislocation of the enemy's psychological and physical balance is prelude to victory. This dislocation results from a strategic indirect approach. Reflect for a moment on the results of direct confrontation (trench war in World War I) versus indirect dislocation (Blitzkreig in World II). Liddell Hart is also tonic for business and political planning: Just change the vocabulary and his concepts fit.

(P)2019 Tantor

Written in the beginning of WW2

Loved the examples in the first two thirds and the concepts in the last third. He had a good analysis of WW2 even being in the middle of it as he wrote.

still a good book

As pointed out, this is the first, not second, edition. that means the anecdotes from WWII are not present, and another later chapter that covered the indirect strategy in WWII was not there. However, there were no huge chunks missing in the analysis of general strategy, and it is, overall, quite complete. Even though it's the first edition, it's still well worth a listen!

Wow, absolutely brilliant!

Fantastic exploration of the psychological aspects of asymmetric warfare! I didn’t realize how extensively Hitler used covert infiltration prior to engagements.

Great book.

I have no doubt that the PRC is an avid student of Hart and is actively working to destroy the moral foundation of our Nation.

Good book and fine reading

Liddell Hart’s work is well-known to most students of strategic studies. This is his most famous work. It is worth noting, however, that it is an earlier version than the one most commonly available to purchase. This one concludes with the result of World War Two in doubt, and does not include the supplements on other wars written by others that are available in the more recent version. Overall, however, the narration is good and the analysis is sound.