Told through the thrilling narratives of Prüfer, Yale, Aaronsohn, and Lawrence during the Great War in the Middle East, Lawrence in Arabia gives us an account of "great game" competition for influence, western deception, and insight into the contemporary origins of ongoing conflicts in the region. Lawrence's contributions in the Arab revolt here provide a classic example of the upper limits of engagement and influence, but with this comes a corresponding warning about the long-term effects of exploiting relationships for political gain at the nation-state level.

Gripping novel telling the story of the Battle of Gettysburg told through Generals from both sides. Brilliantly describes what the war meant and what it was about, and revealed to me that we haven't since reconciled the divisions that resulted in the deaths of well over a half million people. A rather unpleasant reminder of the necessity to understand the drivers of instability, systems of oppression, and power dynamics when striving to achieve political end states.

Honest, direct, and sometimes scathing, Tom Ricks provides an absolutely essential critique of General Officer leadership since World War II. This captivating and well-researched historical analysis captures breakdowns in the US civil-military dynamic and narrates the trends in prevailing military ideology within the context of the senior Generals of the day. Only by learning from the missteps of past generations can we avoid the strategic myopia, complacency, and misplaced exceptionalism that often weakens our utility as an instrument of national security. Must read.