War and Power

Who Wins Wars—and Why

By: Phillips Payson O'Brien

Narrated by: Theo Solomon

A bold, revisionist study of modern warfare, showing that military victory is rooted not in large armies and decisive battles, but in the full spectrum of economic, political, and social power—"vital reading for anyone grappling with America’s uncertain place in today’s global order” (Alexander Vindman, New York Times–bestselling author of The Folly of Realism)

For nearly two centuries, international relations have been premised on the idea of the “Great Powers.” As the thinking went, these mighty states—the European empires of the nineteenth century, the United States and the USSR during the Cold War—were uniquely able to exert their influence on the world stage because of their overwhelming military capabilities. But as military historian Phillips Payson O’Brien argues in War and Power, this conception of power fails to capture the more complicated truth about how wars are fought and won.

Our focus on the importance of large, well-equipped armies and conclusive battles has obscured the foundational forces that underlie military victories and the actual mechanics of successful warfare. O’Brien suggests a new framework of “full-spectrum powers,” taking into account all of the diverse factors that make a state strong—from economic and technological might, to political stability, to the complex logistics needed to maintain forces in the field.

Drawing on examples ranging from Napoleon’s France to today’s ascendant China, War and Power offers a critical new understanding of what makes a power truly great. It is vital reading in today’s perilous world.

Critic reviews

“As wars rage across the world, Phillips O’Brien offers powerful insights into the past, present, and future of war and power. This book is vital reading for anyone grappling with America’s uncertain place in today’s global order.”—Alexander Vindman, New York Times–bestselling author of The Folly of Realism

“Phillips O'Brien is always fantastic. Heterodox. War and Power is a really interesting book.”—Paul Krugman

“Phillips O'Brien is one of the keenest observers of modern strategy, and his new book takes a deep historical look at the evolution of warfare and its implications for conflicts like the ongoing one in Ukraine.”—Francis Fukuyama, author of Liberalism and Its Discontents

“Phillips O’Brien is the rare historian who has something trenchant to say to students of contemporary warfare. As he points out in this important book, the character of war evolves, but some of the underlying truths, particularly from the Second World War, are still very much with us.”—Eliot A. Cohen, author of The Hollow Crown

An eye-opening broad pallet of interwoven topics.

After finishing, I sent this book to a military friend to figure out if everybody in the military would endorse or reject this analysis.
I would be so satisfied to learn this is the way the US military has operated for 100 years.
I’ve never had much interest in military history, and this is not so much a military history book as it is an illumination of the components needed to win a war. However, there is some very useful history in the process.
The best book I’ve read this year. Urgently recommended.

Excellent Analysis

This is a brilliant look at grand strategy. I wish more of our leaders would read this book.