On War (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading) »

Carl von Clausewitz's On War has been called, "not simply the greatest, but the only truly great book on war." It is an extraordinary attempt to construct an all-embracing theory of how war works. Its coherence and ambition are unmatched by other military literature. On War is full of sharp observation, biting irony, and memorable phrases, the most famous being, "war is a continuation of politics by other means.

About the Author
Except for a brief stint in 1812 when he served in the Russian army, Clausewitz spent his whole career, from the age of twelve until his death in 1831, in the Prussian army. He fought in all the major Prussian campaigns against France, and his most fateful experience - the 1806 Battle of Jena-Auerstedt, in which Napoleon destroyed the Prussian army - inspired him to write On War.

Harper's Magazine - Colonel Harry G. Summers, Jr.

Masterful English translation by Professors Howard and Paret. What makes On War so timely is that, unlike most military strategists and theoreticians, Clausewitz did not advocate war or recommend specific courses of action, but merely thought to describe war's character and dynamics.