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Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict
The most successful film franchise of all time, Star Wars thrillingly depicts an epic multigenerational conflict fought a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But the Star Wars saga has as much to say about successful strategies and real-life warfare waged in our own time and place. Strategy Strikes Back brings together over thirty of today’s top military and strategic experts, including generals, policy advisors, seasoned diplomats, counterinsurgency strategists, science fiction writers, war journalists, and ground‑level military officers, to explain the strategy and the art of war by way of the Star Wars films. Each chapter of Strategy Strikes Back provides a relatable, outside‑the‑box way to simplify and clarify the complexities of modern military conflict. A chapter on the case for planet building on the forest moon of Endor by World War Z author Max Brooks offers a unique way to understand our own sustained engagement in war-ravaged societies such as Afghanistan. Another chapter on the counterinsurgency waged by Darth Vader against the Rebellion sheds light on the logic behind past military incursions in Iraq. Whether using the destruction of Alderaan as a means to explore the political implications of targeting civilians, examining the pivotal decisions made by Yoda and the Jedi Council to differentiate strategic leadership in theory and in practice, or considering the ruthlessness of Imperial leaders to explain the toxicity of top-down leadership in times of war and battle, Strategy Strikes Back gives fans of Star Wars and aspiring military minds alike an inspiring and entertaining means of understanding many facets of modern warfare. It is a book as captivating and enthralling as Star Wars itself.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
About the author
Max Brooks
88 books7,273 followersMax Brooks is The New York Times bestselling author of The Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z. He has been called ”the Studs Terkel of zombie journalism.“
Brooks is the son of director Mel Brooks and the late actress Anne Bancroft. He is a 1994 graduate of Pitzer College. His wife, Michelle, is a screenwriter, and the couple have a son, Henry.
Brooks is the son of director Mel Brooks and the late actress Anne Bancroft. He is a 1994 graduate of Pitzer College. His wife, Michelle, is a screenwriter, and the couple have a son, Henry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 31, 2018
So looking at the cover you might think this book will just be some schlocky, trying-too-hard to shoehorn stuff into the Star Wars gravy train book with cursory, strained analogies to justify the title. But this book is anything but that. Edited by Max Brooks (of World War Z and Zombie Survival Guide fame), this book's entries are contributed by some of the finest military experts in the field. Just as impressively, they have an excellent command of the Star Wars canon to illustrate their points.
For the most part I think these essays were very effective in communicating their points through the medium of Star Wars, a medium which now transcends generations, languages, and national borders ever since Star Wars Conquered the Universe. This cultural lingua franca can make important, though often technical and complex military topics, understandable to the voting public and policy makers, allowing for more informed decisions to be made.
For instance, the first entry is about the Case for Planet Building on Endor, obviously a a parallel for Afghanistan. It lays out both the political and moral reasons for sending aid and encouraging development on the forest moon, arguments that are equally applicable for Afghanistan. By putting the issue into a context that people are more familiar with the arguments to support rebuilding become more meaningful.
The book also tackles such important topics as having a sliver of a population bear the burden for military conflicts, the difficulty of effective weapon systems acquisition, the importance of boots on the ground, hybrid warfare, institutional organizational inertia, and counter insurgency strategy to name a few. Most are written using Star Wars as a point of reference of the topic, but a few are written in universe and they are delightful.
Like any anthology the entries run the gamut from really good to sort of ok. But Brooks does a good job editing the entries and the vast majority of the essays are both entertaining and insightful. A great read for someone who enjoys Star Wars or military policy.
For the most part I think these essays were very effective in communicating their points through the medium of Star Wars, a medium which now transcends generations, languages, and national borders ever since Star Wars Conquered the Universe. This cultural lingua franca can make important, though often technical and complex military topics, understandable to the voting public and policy makers, allowing for more informed decisions to be made.
For instance, the first entry is about the Case for Planet Building on Endor, obviously a a parallel for Afghanistan. It lays out both the political and moral reasons for sending aid and encouraging development on the forest moon, arguments that are equally applicable for Afghanistan. By putting the issue into a context that people are more familiar with the arguments to support rebuilding become more meaningful.
The book also tackles such important topics as having a sliver of a population bear the burden for military conflicts, the difficulty of effective weapon systems acquisition, the importance of boots on the ground, hybrid warfare, institutional organizational inertia, and counter insurgency strategy to name a few. Most are written using Star Wars as a point of reference of the topic, but a few are written in universe and they are delightful.
Like any anthology the entries run the gamut from really good to sort of ok. But Brooks does a good job editing the entries and the vast majority of the essays are both entertaining and insightful. A great read for someone who enjoys Star Wars or military policy.
March 7, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss for review. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
The professed goal of this book is to make military strategy “interesting and accessible” to the average reader, and they definitely accomplished that. Some of the essays are really insightful and draw thought-provoking parallels between Star Wars and modern military protocol, while others read more like awkward fanfiction; overall, though, I did gain a better understanding and increased appreciation for the art of war.
The professed goal of this book is to make military strategy “interesting and accessible” to the average reader, and they definitely accomplished that. Some of the essays are really insightful and draw thought-provoking parallels between Star Wars and modern military protocol, while others read more like awkward fanfiction; overall, though, I did gain a better understanding and increased appreciation for the art of war.
June 23, 2018
The best essays in this book make you reflect on Star Wars in new ways, with the writers showing sharp insights into this fictional universe and its implications. To give one example, Jim Golby's essay makes a brief but quite observant point about Luke Skywalker's actions in Return of the Jedi that I had never considered or heard discussed much, in years of Star Wars fandom. There are only some minor hiccups here and there where I thought an author maybe had gotten something slightly wrong about the universe, but I was generally impressed with the level of SW analysis (The Clone Wars animated series is discussed surprisingly often!).
Similar insights are here to be had on military and strategic matters, with the book succeeding in engaging a layman like me in themes such as toxic and over-centralized leadership, the importance of rapid-deploying expeditionary forces, fleet and naval command structure, among others. I would say that, because the book embraces a goal of accessibility for a layperson like myself, the insights on military affairs are shallower than what you will take away in just new ways to think about Star Wars. What I mean is that the Star Wars fan will come away with more learned than the military thinker.
While I had a good time with the collection, some themes are discussed more than once (the civil-military divide mainly). There are also some pieces where I felt the author was sort of spinning their wheels. In particular there are a couple pieces written from an in-universe perspective (with a fictional narrator), and some of them just seemed like cut-and-dry summaries of the Galactic Civil War. A small handful of other inclusions did feel somewhat perfunctory as well, so there is a bit of unevenness to the book. Admittedly, this is a difficult sensation to avoid in an anthology.
I would give a star rating of 3.5 out of 5 if allowed. For many readers looking for thoughts on Star Wars it will be closer to 4 stars. For military strategy professionals hoping for deeper dissections of military strategy, however, I suspect it may be closer to 3 stars.
Similar insights are here to be had on military and strategic matters, with the book succeeding in engaging a layman like me in themes such as toxic and over-centralized leadership, the importance of rapid-deploying expeditionary forces, fleet and naval command structure, among others. I would say that, because the book embraces a goal of accessibility for a layperson like myself, the insights on military affairs are shallower than what you will take away in just new ways to think about Star Wars. What I mean is that the Star Wars fan will come away with more learned than the military thinker.
While I had a good time with the collection, some themes are discussed more than once (the civil-military divide mainly). There are also some pieces where I felt the author was sort of spinning their wheels. In particular there are a couple pieces written from an in-universe perspective (with a fictional narrator), and some of them just seemed like cut-and-dry summaries of the Galactic Civil War. A small handful of other inclusions did feel somewhat perfunctory as well, so there is a bit of unevenness to the book. Admittedly, this is a difficult sensation to avoid in an anthology.
I would give a star rating of 3.5 out of 5 if allowed. For many readers looking for thoughts on Star Wars it will be closer to 4 stars. For military strategy professionals hoping for deeper dissections of military strategy, however, I suspect it may be closer to 3 stars.
August 16, 2018
[I received a copy of this book through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.]
A collection of essays relating real-world strategies to examples from the ‘Star Wars’ franchise. As usual with this kind of book, some were good, and some not so good, and there were a few that didn’t do much for me, and/or seemed to repeat themselves (as well as be repeats of others). Still, I found it interesting, and a good starting point for more reading, since many of the essays don’t only rely on Star Wars, but also on actual strategy theories (Clausewitz, modern strategy-related articles, and so on).
Having only watched the movies, and not the animated Clone Wars series (and not having laid my hands on more than a couple of books from the former SW extended universe), I can’t speak for the accuracy (or not) of the essays discussing, well, other aspects of SW. From what I know, though, these essays are fairly accurate in their interpretation and depiction of the chosen excerpts from the movies.
Rating: 3.5 stars. Apart from the couple of points I made above (mostly the redundancy), I think it’s more interesting in terms of Star Wars than in-depth military strategy, and I’d have appreciated seeing more examples of real-world situations contrasted with the SW ones.
A collection of essays relating real-world strategies to examples from the ‘Star Wars’ franchise. As usual with this kind of book, some were good, and some not so good, and there were a few that didn’t do much for me, and/or seemed to repeat themselves (as well as be repeats of others). Still, I found it interesting, and a good starting point for more reading, since many of the essays don’t only rely on Star Wars, but also on actual strategy theories (Clausewitz, modern strategy-related articles, and so on).
Having only watched the movies, and not the animated Clone Wars series (and not having laid my hands on more than a couple of books from the former SW extended universe), I can’t speak for the accuracy (or not) of the essays discussing, well, other aspects of SW. From what I know, though, these essays are fairly accurate in their interpretation and depiction of the chosen excerpts from the movies.
Rating: 3.5 stars. Apart from the couple of points I made above (mostly the redundancy), I think it’s more interesting in terms of Star Wars than in-depth military strategy, and I’d have appreciated seeing more examples of real-world situations contrasted with the SW ones.
January 20, 2018
The Military’s Astounding Appreciation of Star Wars
It’s fairly well known that 392,000 Britons listed Jedi as their religion in the 2001 census. Less well known perhaps, is that the US Army School for Advanced Military Studies refers to its graduates as Jedi Knights. Strategy Strikes Back proves that the military is at least as obsessed with the Star Wars saga as the general public is – only it goes further, in many ways taking it far more seriously. The military analyze the scenes and debate the merits of choices as if they were real. They compare what Yoda did to what Carl Clausewitz would have said. They train on tales of Star Wars. Far from smirking at it, the military has adopted it. Enough to fill a book of strategic analysis.
Strategy Strikes Back is a remarkable collection of 28 short essays by mostly high ranking military men and women from the US and Australia. They all proudly derive military lessons from Star Wars. The Foreword is by one Stanley McChrystal.
Here’s the bottom line analysis on Yoda: “The downstream result of Yoda’s leadership failure to maintain a nonpartisan, apolitical Jedi ethic was a slow-motion, amputation of the Republic’s security arm from its political body. Yoda bears culpability in this tragedy” (M.L. Cavanaugh, Modern War Institute, West Point). This is Star Wars for grownups.
There is repeated, severe criticism of Darth Vader, who, despite being the senior commander, never issues a single Mission order. Instead, he enmeshes himself in minor distractions, interferes in ops, joins his fighters in space rather than command from HQ, and kills his own officers at will. He accepts no other voices and inspires fear rather than loyalty. Darth Vader strikes out as a military man.
The Empire itself is a racist, stifling hierarchy that is asking for dismemberment in the eyes of military strategists. It refuses to negotiate, prefers killing to compromising and tolerates no ideas from below. Its officers are all humans, despite the trillions of other beings available to it. And if that weren’t racsist enough, all those officers speak with British accents. They show no camaraderie, the sign of doom to come. None of this is news to Star Wars fans. But the fact the military is paying this close attention is.
Various authors draw lessons from the errors of Grand Muff Wulfhill Tarkin and the rise to power of Chancellor/Emperor Sheev Palpatine. It was Palpatine who issued Order 66 that set the whole Republic tumbling. Creating the Death Star and using it to blow apart the planet Alderaan was the strategic error that consolidated and mobilized the rebellion. These are lessons for grunts – and the grunts have internalized them all before they even enlist. Star Wars is not mocked – it is a tool.
The overarching theme is that timeless lessons are doomed to be repeated. Republics become empires, beget democracies, mutate to aristocracies, slide into dictatorships, which are overthrown by republics. The Star Wars saga exhibits it all, in a truly well thought if not remarkable “history” that didn’t start at the beginning. It has survived decades of additions and insertions to all of its eras to remain consistent, cohesive and believable.
-There is a wonderful chapter on weapons, and how the Jedi, wielding simple, “old school “ lightsabres, always beat the Sith, with their modern, high tech, multiblade lightsabres. Movie fans polled in 2008 voted lightsabres the number one weapon in movie history, followed by Dirty Harry’s gun and Indiana Jones’ bullwhip. The Deathstar rated 9th. Author (Lt. Col. Rtd.) Dan Ward’s take – keep it simple. Complexity is a recipe for failure.
-The Jedi and the Profession of Arms (on the decline and fall of the Jedi) has direct lessons for American military today, as do several other chapters. Author Steve Leonard (Modern War Institute, West Point) sets out what we all kind of know – expensive weapons systems restrict soldiers and leave them vulnerable to the more nimble, simply armed rebels. The Deathstar, the ultimate unmanageable weapon, was a disaster waiting to happen, he says.
-Theresa Hitchens’ (Center for International and Security Studies) analysis of where the Empire’s strategy failed is classic. She takes it all literally, examining strategies in terms of Sun Tzu and how militaries are always fighting the last war.
-“That war is inextricably linked to honor and fear makes the shackles of hubris even more powerful,” sums up most of what’s always been wrong. That’s from The Logic of Strategy in Space, by Steve Metz (US Army War College of Strategic Studies Institute). The military understands. Diplomacy always beats war. Negotiation has priority. Figuring out how to live peacefully is paramount.
-In Why Military Forces Adapt, Army Major Chuck Bies shows all but total disrespect for The Phantom Menace, which even suspension of disbelief does not justify. It is a sharp and refreshing departure from the Star Wars fandom of many other chapters. He destroys. In a fun way.
-The recitation of the US Army manual’s definition of toxic leadership rings true not only of Emperor Palpatine but also of Donald Trump. But that (wisely) goes unsaid.
-Even the endnotes tend to be unusual, citing such scholarly authorities as Wookieepedia.
The editors organized the book perfectly, going from the easy to digest aspects of the saga to the heavy analysis of larger issues demonstrated in it. It prepares you for the heavier analysis that each chapter achieves over the previous one in a steady progression of deeper concepts. You would expect no less from military strategists.
Strategy Strikes Back is actually an unexpected must-have for the serious Star Wars collector.
David Wineberg
It’s fairly well known that 392,000 Britons listed Jedi as their religion in the 2001 census. Less well known perhaps, is that the US Army School for Advanced Military Studies refers to its graduates as Jedi Knights. Strategy Strikes Back proves that the military is at least as obsessed with the Star Wars saga as the general public is – only it goes further, in many ways taking it far more seriously. The military analyze the scenes and debate the merits of choices as if they were real. They compare what Yoda did to what Carl Clausewitz would have said. They train on tales of Star Wars. Far from smirking at it, the military has adopted it. Enough to fill a book of strategic analysis.
Strategy Strikes Back is a remarkable collection of 28 short essays by mostly high ranking military men and women from the US and Australia. They all proudly derive military lessons from Star Wars. The Foreword is by one Stanley McChrystal.
Here’s the bottom line analysis on Yoda: “The downstream result of Yoda’s leadership failure to maintain a nonpartisan, apolitical Jedi ethic was a slow-motion, amputation of the Republic’s security arm from its political body. Yoda bears culpability in this tragedy” (M.L. Cavanaugh, Modern War Institute, West Point). This is Star Wars for grownups.
There is repeated, severe criticism of Darth Vader, who, despite being the senior commander, never issues a single Mission order. Instead, he enmeshes himself in minor distractions, interferes in ops, joins his fighters in space rather than command from HQ, and kills his own officers at will. He accepts no other voices and inspires fear rather than loyalty. Darth Vader strikes out as a military man.
The Empire itself is a racist, stifling hierarchy that is asking for dismemberment in the eyes of military strategists. It refuses to negotiate, prefers killing to compromising and tolerates no ideas from below. Its officers are all humans, despite the trillions of other beings available to it. And if that weren’t racsist enough, all those officers speak with British accents. They show no camaraderie, the sign of doom to come. None of this is news to Star Wars fans. But the fact the military is paying this close attention is.
Various authors draw lessons from the errors of Grand Muff Wulfhill Tarkin and the rise to power of Chancellor/Emperor Sheev Palpatine. It was Palpatine who issued Order 66 that set the whole Republic tumbling. Creating the Death Star and using it to blow apart the planet Alderaan was the strategic error that consolidated and mobilized the rebellion. These are lessons for grunts – and the grunts have internalized them all before they even enlist. Star Wars is not mocked – it is a tool.
The overarching theme is that timeless lessons are doomed to be repeated. Republics become empires, beget democracies, mutate to aristocracies, slide into dictatorships, which are overthrown by republics. The Star Wars saga exhibits it all, in a truly well thought if not remarkable “history” that didn’t start at the beginning. It has survived decades of additions and insertions to all of its eras to remain consistent, cohesive and believable.
-There is a wonderful chapter on weapons, and how the Jedi, wielding simple, “old school “ lightsabres, always beat the Sith, with their modern, high tech, multiblade lightsabres. Movie fans polled in 2008 voted lightsabres the number one weapon in movie history, followed by Dirty Harry’s gun and Indiana Jones’ bullwhip. The Deathstar rated 9th. Author (Lt. Col. Rtd.) Dan Ward’s take – keep it simple. Complexity is a recipe for failure.
-The Jedi and the Profession of Arms (on the decline and fall of the Jedi) has direct lessons for American military today, as do several other chapters. Author Steve Leonard (Modern War Institute, West Point) sets out what we all kind of know – expensive weapons systems restrict soldiers and leave them vulnerable to the more nimble, simply armed rebels. The Deathstar, the ultimate unmanageable weapon, was a disaster waiting to happen, he says.
-Theresa Hitchens’ (Center for International and Security Studies) analysis of where the Empire’s strategy failed is classic. She takes it all literally, examining strategies in terms of Sun Tzu and how militaries are always fighting the last war.
-“That war is inextricably linked to honor and fear makes the shackles of hubris even more powerful,” sums up most of what’s always been wrong. That’s from The Logic of Strategy in Space, by Steve Metz (US Army War College of Strategic Studies Institute). The military understands. Diplomacy always beats war. Negotiation has priority. Figuring out how to live peacefully is paramount.
-In Why Military Forces Adapt, Army Major Chuck Bies shows all but total disrespect for The Phantom Menace, which even suspension of disbelief does not justify. It is a sharp and refreshing departure from the Star Wars fandom of many other chapters. He destroys. In a fun way.
-The recitation of the US Army manual’s definition of toxic leadership rings true not only of Emperor Palpatine but also of Donald Trump. But that (wisely) goes unsaid.
-Even the endnotes tend to be unusual, citing such scholarly authorities as Wookieepedia.
The editors organized the book perfectly, going from the easy to digest aspects of the saga to the heavy analysis of larger issues demonstrated in it. It prepares you for the heavier analysis that each chapter achieves over the previous one in a steady progression of deeper concepts. You would expect no less from military strategists.
Strategy Strikes Back is actually an unexpected must-have for the serious Star Wars collector.
David Wineberg
December 26, 2023
The concept of using situations from Star Wars to illustrate actual strategic principles is a brilliant one, and it was well executed. I was doubtful of the military professionals Star Wars knowledge, but (with a few exceptions) they proved their bona fides with detailed tactical examples. On the whole it made for a fun and educational read!
May 25, 2019
Absolutely brilliant idea. The lessons presented in the book allow a layman easier access to the often times complicated field of strategy. By using Star Wars as the background opens the field up to a greater understanding without the need for extensive historical reading.
January 5, 2019
I had a bad feeling about this when the opening chapter, written by General McChrystal, refers to the saga as "Stars Wars." I wish I had trusted my instincts.
The book veers between shallow quotes of the Star Wars saga and a particularly embarrassing genus of military-focused fanfiction. I believe most of the egregious errors in lore and tone lie at the feet of the editor. One chapter posits that the Empire's fleet strategy failed because it lacked mid and small-sized picket or patrol ships (it didn't.) Another castigates the Rebel leadership for lacking a set of professionalized ground forces (they didn't.) I am almost impressed that the volume, which mixes new canon and Expanded Universe content with almost gleeful abandon, managed to go over 200 pages without a mention of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
While its treatment of the Star Wars saga is shallow and disappointing, the references to well-known real world military thinkers such as Clausewitz, Mahan, and von Moltke the Younger are decently well-deployed. However, this doesn't do enough to endear me to the collection.
The book veers between shallow quotes of the Star Wars saga and a particularly embarrassing genus of military-focused fanfiction. I believe most of the egregious errors in lore and tone lie at the feet of the editor. One chapter posits that the Empire's fleet strategy failed because it lacked mid and small-sized picket or patrol ships (it didn't.) Another castigates the Rebel leadership for lacking a set of professionalized ground forces (they didn't.) I am almost impressed that the volume, which mixes new canon and Expanded Universe content with almost gleeful abandon, managed to go over 200 pages without a mention of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
While its treatment of the Star Wars saga is shallow and disappointing, the references to well-known real world military thinkers such as Clausewitz, Mahan, and von Moltke the Younger are decently well-deployed. However, this doesn't do enough to endear me to the collection.
March 10, 2018
This is one of the most interesting, fun, and thought-provoking books on strategy.
Ever.
Max Brooks has made strategy interesting and relatable by gathering a collection of authors and their essays to cover a wide range of topics with a surprising amount of sophistication.
If you’ve ever struggled through Clausewitz or Sun Tzu, pick up this book and enjoy.
I guarantee you will.
Ever.
Max Brooks has made strategy interesting and relatable by gathering a collection of authors and their essays to cover a wide range of topics with a surprising amount of sophistication.
If you’ve ever struggled through Clausewitz or Sun Tzu, pick up this book and enjoy.
I guarantee you will.
April 25, 2018
Military strategies compared to Star Wars are the theme of the 28 essays within Strategy Strikes Back. Focusing on both past warfare and the wars to come, it is comprehensively researched and annotated.
I have to say that only reviewers will have the patience to read a foreword, a preface and an introduction all in one book. You can probably skip all three though I’m going to quote the Introduction later. The remaining book is split into four sections: Society and War, Preparation for War, Waging a War, and Assessment of War. There is also an epilogue.
I selected this book solely because of one of its authors, Max Brooks. I adored his World War Z book (not so much the movie though the visuals were awesome—who can forget the zombies climbing the city’s walls). Unfortunately, he only pens the introduction and first essay. However, he included some profound thoughts on why an average person should care about military strategy. As he states “to be blunt, war impacts everyone [...] from the language we speak to the land we live in to the god we choose or don’t choose to worship.” Using Star Wars as an easily understood analogy was another co-writer’s idea he actually used when tasked with training South Koreans in military strategy.
The essays vary widely in style. Some read like dissertations, others like pop culture fandom. Most are written in third person. One is written in first person by the “esteemed historian of the Galactic Civil War”, who I assume is fictional.
There are a few errors within. Saying that Leia caused woman to be taken more seriously in leadership roles may be arguably true. Saying that she influenced Wonder Woman is absurd when she predates Leia by more than three decades in comics. In contrast, some things that sound unbelievable are actually true like the chapter note referencing Wookieepedia, which is the actual name of the Star Wars wiki.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Strategy Strikes Back. But it isn’t for everyone, readers should be familiar with Star Wars but not too familiar or the duplicate descriptions of battle scenes will become tiresome. I enjoyed the essays that included less Star Wars and more current or future war strategies and weapons. How is the clone army’s swarm mindset being replicated with US military drones? How did the Soviets and US militaries spend millions exploring Jedi mind tricks like Anakin’s floating fruit over a banquet table? Yes, more please. Some other essays droned on and on like the classic military strategy texts described by Max Brooks in the Introduction as “total snoozefests”. So difficult to rate, this book is. (You knew I had to do it somewhere in this review). For Star War nerds (you know who you are) or war fanciers, 5 stars. For all others, 3 stars. So 4 stars overall.
Thanks to the publisher, University of Nebraska/Potomac Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy.
I have to say that only reviewers will have the patience to read a foreword, a preface and an introduction all in one book. You can probably skip all three though I’m going to quote the Introduction later. The remaining book is split into four sections: Society and War, Preparation for War, Waging a War, and Assessment of War. There is also an epilogue.
I selected this book solely because of one of its authors, Max Brooks. I adored his World War Z book (not so much the movie though the visuals were awesome—who can forget the zombies climbing the city’s walls). Unfortunately, he only pens the introduction and first essay. However, he included some profound thoughts on why an average person should care about military strategy. As he states “to be blunt, war impacts everyone [...] from the language we speak to the land we live in to the god we choose or don’t choose to worship.” Using Star Wars as an easily understood analogy was another co-writer’s idea he actually used when tasked with training South Koreans in military strategy.
The essays vary widely in style. Some read like dissertations, others like pop culture fandom. Most are written in third person. One is written in first person by the “esteemed historian of the Galactic Civil War”, who I assume is fictional.
There are a few errors within. Saying that Leia caused woman to be taken more seriously in leadership roles may be arguably true. Saying that she influenced Wonder Woman is absurd when she predates Leia by more than three decades in comics. In contrast, some things that sound unbelievable are actually true like the chapter note referencing Wookieepedia, which is the actual name of the Star Wars wiki.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Strategy Strikes Back. But it isn’t for everyone, readers should be familiar with Star Wars but not too familiar or the duplicate descriptions of battle scenes will become tiresome. I enjoyed the essays that included less Star Wars and more current or future war strategies and weapons. How is the clone army’s swarm mindset being replicated with US military drones? How did the Soviets and US militaries spend millions exploring Jedi mind tricks like Anakin’s floating fruit over a banquet table? Yes, more please. Some other essays droned on and on like the classic military strategy texts described by Max Brooks in the Introduction as “total snoozefests”. So difficult to rate, this book is. (You knew I had to do it somewhere in this review). For Star War nerds (you know who you are) or war fanciers, 5 stars. For all others, 3 stars. So 4 stars overall.
Thanks to the publisher, University of Nebraska/Potomac Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy.
November 11, 2019
Having both a professional and personal interest in strategy (especially military strategy), I have read a variety of books on this topic that run the gamut from well-written and thought provoking works to a motley collection of essays about random pursuits that claim to be "strategic" (using the term very, very loosely). To my great pleasure as a Star Wars fan from youth, this book falls solidly into the former category. Although contributions come from authors with varying backgrounds like science fiction writers and professional Soldiers, each section is well written and argued whether you agree with their particular point or not. Having served multiple tours with the American Army in South Korea like this book's main editor and conceiver, I can understand how using a fictional conflict like Star Wars to discuss strategy with foreign military counterparts (in this case South Korean) would be easier than drawing upon something that is either alien to them (the American Civil War) or to us (the Samurai Invasions). This is a must read book for anyone who is serious about strategy. The fact many people of my generation and profession are Star Wars fans is just a bonus. While one could argue fiction lacks the depth and breadth encapsulated in real conflicts so is not worthy of critical examination; my counterpoint would be because even well written fiction lacks the depth and breadth of real conflict it provides enough context to spur recommendations and debate while leaving enough open to interpretation to foster creativity and present different perspectives. Real conflict does need to be studied to create or keep current strategists relevant which is why history education is so important, but that does not negate the value of critically examining fiction. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in military or political strategy, military planning, operational design, deterrence theory, counterinsurgency, or the future of warfare (we will have Vulture Droids before you know it).
July 1, 2022
Loved this book of short essays which were a perfect blend of Star Wars mythology and Strategic Studies written by science fiction writers and professional strategists. Some essays were written with Star Wars as a reference while others were written “within the world”. For example, the first essay is about a Senator appealing for civilization building on Endor with the Ewoks with a clear parallel to Afghanistan. It made me enjoy the movies more as I thought about the back story, strategic considerations (or lack thereof), and consequences of events and characters.
It’s broken up into four parts 1) society and war, 2) preparations for war, 3) waging war, and 5) assessment of war. All offering plenty of wisdom to chew on when it comes to leadership, judgement, evaluation, and how to think through problems as an institution. My favorites were “Why We Need Space Marines”, “The Jedi and the Profession of Arms”, and “Darth Vader’s Failed Counterinsurgency Strategy”.
Fans of Star Wars and those in the military will benefit most from reading it but I think conscientious citizens should consider perusing the essays that catch their eye. The US (and the world) has not seen the end of war so having a understanding of fundamental concepts will prove useful.
It’s broken up into four parts 1) society and war, 2) preparations for war, 3) waging war, and 5) assessment of war. All offering plenty of wisdom to chew on when it comes to leadership, judgement, evaluation, and how to think through problems as an institution. My favorites were “Why We Need Space Marines”, “The Jedi and the Profession of Arms”, and “Darth Vader’s Failed Counterinsurgency Strategy”.
Fans of Star Wars and those in the military will benefit most from reading it but I think conscientious citizens should consider perusing the essays that catch their eye. The US (and the world) has not seen the end of war so having a understanding of fundamental concepts will prove useful.
October 14, 2018
Checked this one out on Kindle, and after a long wait, got to read and finish it. Long story short, gonna have to buy the actual book, for it is worth rereading. This book combines analysis of Star Wars (characters, actions,etc) with analysis of military strategy. Each chapter is a short but very insightful article that offers and understanding of military strategy in a way that would astound Clausewitz ( who is referenced in this book as seriously as the Star Wars novels...and that is legitimate, serious citations).
Many of the contributors are noted military leaders, from several 4 Star Generals/Admirals, to noted military academics to well-known and respected writers. It covers seriously, timeless military matters (counterinsurgency strategy, the role of military/civilian relations, the dependence on technology to solve military problems, toxic senior leadership), but does so in ways that would enthrall the basic Star Wars fan.
This book would be a must read for intro-level strategy courses, and probably some advanced military education classes as well. The audiobook, especially if they can get some of the authors...wow. A must read.
Many of the contributors are noted military leaders, from several 4 Star Generals/Admirals, to noted military academics to well-known and respected writers. It covers seriously, timeless military matters (counterinsurgency strategy, the role of military/civilian relations, the dependence on technology to solve military problems, toxic senior leadership), but does so in ways that would enthrall the basic Star Wars fan.
This book would be a must read for intro-level strategy courses, and probably some advanced military education classes as well. The audiobook, especially if they can get some of the authors...wow. A must read.
April 25, 2018
My one-star general stealthily glided into my work area. I sensed his presence behind me and turned to hear his recommendation to have a look at this book. I accepted the task; no choke hold required.
Like the Force, good strategic concepts permeate across the boundaries of time, space and imagination. What an innovative approach. So many good themes for the modern warrior to relate to, from a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.
As a test, I was curious to see how AI might be considered, with the likes of C3-PO and R2-D2. I was happy to encounter the Chapter 6 discussion about General Grievous and the programming of swarming vulture droids to counter the Jedi. I was really happy with all the chapters. The Emperor will be pleased with my newfound enthusiasm for describing strategic concepts.
Admittedly, I had only recently finished reading John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" and was primed to use this new book in my classroom and written concepts for 21st century students of air and space power.
Congratulations, Team.
Like the Force, good strategic concepts permeate across the boundaries of time, space and imagination. What an innovative approach. So many good themes for the modern warrior to relate to, from a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.
As a test, I was curious to see how AI might be considered, with the likes of C3-PO and R2-D2. I was happy to encounter the Chapter 6 discussion about General Grievous and the programming of swarming vulture droids to counter the Jedi. I was really happy with all the chapters. The Emperor will be pleased with my newfound enthusiasm for describing strategic concepts.
Admittedly, I had only recently finished reading John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" and was primed to use this new book in my classroom and written concepts for 21st century students of air and space power.
Congratulations, Team.
August 20, 2020
A big disappointment. I am a Soldier and like Star Wars, and thought this might be an interesting read. Instead I got a collection of essays that try to cram contemporary strategic problems for the US DoD into the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars is not a particularly strategic place. It's hard to imagine that the Jedi, the empire, the republic, or the rebels could possibly succeed by behaving as they do. Star Wars is much more about heroes and villains than about galactic warfare. This book sounded like a fun idea, but I think that there wasn't enough meat here to make a good book. I also think it suffered by being collected. Several of the articles could have been viewed as some clever levity alongside more academic essays in a military journal, but they lose that quality when gathered with so many similarly themes essays.
Only one essay struck me as being really good (but not great) and it dealt with learning and adaptation. It was mainly successful in skewering the lack of strategic thought and behavior in Star Wars rather than offering any real insights into strategy.
Star Wars is not a particularly strategic place. It's hard to imagine that the Jedi, the empire, the republic, or the rebels could possibly succeed by behaving as they do. Star Wars is much more about heroes and villains than about galactic warfare. This book sounded like a fun idea, but I think that there wasn't enough meat here to make a good book. I also think it suffered by being collected. Several of the articles could have been viewed as some clever levity alongside more academic essays in a military journal, but they lose that quality when gathered with so many similarly themes essays.
Only one essay struck me as being really good (but not great) and it dealt with learning and adaptation. It was mainly successful in skewering the lack of strategic thought and behavior in Star Wars rather than offering any real insights into strategy.
August 20, 2023
3.5... just enough editorial errors and inconsistencies to knock it from a 4-star.
Real world meets far, far away worlds. Most are written by those with fandom of SW in mind; a few might have read a Wiki article about the films or books; others just dropped in a SW name because that's what this book is supposed to do. Specific chapters: 1 and 21 could've been accepted for a From a Certain Point of View book vignette; chapter 2 should've been edited out of this book completely; chapter 20 (tell us how you REALLY feel about Phantom Menace!?); no other chapters really stood out, but most were well-connected to research or published materials or speeches (I will seek out some of these sources mentioned in the endnotes). And, this collection was obviously compiled before E9, because somehow, they didn't know that the Emperor'd returned.
Real world meets far, far away worlds. Most are written by those with fandom of SW in mind; a few might have read a Wiki article about the films or books; others just dropped in a SW name because that's what this book is supposed to do. Specific chapters: 1 and 21 could've been accepted for a From a Certain Point of View book vignette; chapter 2 should've been edited out of this book completely; chapter 20 (tell us how you REALLY feel about Phantom Menace!?); no other chapters really stood out, but most were well-connected to research or published materials or speeches (I will seek out some of these sources mentioned in the endnotes). And, this collection was obviously compiled before E9, because somehow, they didn't know that the Emperor'd returned.
June 4, 2018
This is a fun book to read and I recommend it to Star Wars fans and to aspiring strategists. That said, I would have liked to have seen an essay dealing with insurgency/counterinsurgency from Rogue One, and the rich ground of Star Wars: Rebels was never explored. Also, I question whether some of the essay authors have explored anything past superficial viewings of the movies - here and there they betrayed a lack of research into different subjects, such as the fact that the Jedi were never meant to be a military arm of the Republic nor were they any type of a military organization; indeed, the best comparison would be to the Knights Templar, not a national/international army. Still, the book is well-written and will make you think.
September 18, 2018
What seemed like a good idea at the time (let's combine our love of strategy with our Star Wars geek-ism) falls short of its potential. A collection of short essays by a vast array of authors, this work sometimes hits the mark and sometimes stretches too far in an attempt to relate the fictional and real universes. Perhaps it's my non-devotee-level knowledge of the Star Wars canon or my preexisting understanding of strategy (gained through professional education, personal experience, and individual research), but this collection is more "miss" than "hit" for me. Interesting reading, perhaps, for strategy/Star Wars fans, but not the strategy-for-the-masses text it hoped to be. Good idea, only fairly executed.
March 14, 2019
As a military officer and Star Wars fan, I really enjoyed reading Strategy Strikes Back. This book allows the reader to understand military strategy through a popular platform; the Star Wars universe. Everyone knows about the galactic politics, space armadas, and fictional military operations from the Star Wars saga and the writers built upon this common knowledge. Each chapter takes a key event or leader from Star Wars and it is dissected by a strategist. This book has changed how I view Star Wars and the lessons within the pages directly relate to real world events. I recommend this book for military members and Star Wars fanatics.
April 15, 2019
I love the premise of this book: using conflict in the fictional Star Wars universe to analyze and relate military and political concepts to readers. Each essay has its own style and voice, not just regarding the strategic concepts, but also how they interact with the Star Wars universe.
There’s some really good analysis here, but a few essays seemed more focused on critiquing the movies than dealing with strategic concepts. I also think this book was about a third longer than it needed to be. The premise is fun, but after a couple hundred pages, it started to wear a bit thin.
I’d definitely recommend this book, but don’t worry about trying to read the whole thing.
There’s some really good analysis here, but a few essays seemed more focused on critiquing the movies than dealing with strategic concepts. I also think this book was about a third longer than it needed to be. The premise is fun, but after a couple hundred pages, it started to wear a bit thin.
I’d definitely recommend this book, but don’t worry about trying to read the whole thing.
July 11, 2018
I liked this book, but mostly for its entertainment value. This book seems to have two objectives: 1) introducing the reader to aspects of strategy and 2) entertaining Star Wars fans. I benefited more from the latter than the former. I loved how the various authors used stories from throughout the Star Wars saga as analogies to depict different facets of strategy. That being said, I would temper expectations to anyone who's studied military strategy before; for that audience, it's likely more entertaining than educational.
April 26, 2020
Im a huge star wars nerd so this book was interesting. It was made up of 28 essays by different strategists analyzing Star Wars characters, battles and overarching themes and relating them to US military strategy. Some of these essays were excellent, like how Vader failed at developing effective counterinsurgency against the Rebellion, or how Greedo and Solo’s cantina shootout is a good situation in which to explain preemptive vs preventative strikes.... and others were dry and hard to get through. Overall okay book... cool concept though.
July 23, 2018
This book is a good example of how wider audiences can be engaged on topics related to national security. It is more for fans of Star Wars to learn about strategy, than for strategists to learn about Star Wars. Worth your time if you are a Star Wars fan or student of Strategy
Disclaimer: I am a contributor to this book.
Disclaimer: I am a contributor to this book.
September 1, 2018
Excellent book breaking down the use of different strategies in conflict by examples in Star Wars, the complicated layers of politics and command. Some of the entries are written from the POV if characters in Star Wars; others are essays pointing out the flaws by characters, and at times the writers. Thoroughly enjoyed this. I checked it out from the library but it's on my wish list to buy.
September 30, 2018
Insgesamt leider nur OK, da die Qualität der Beträge sehr unterschiedlich ist. Die rein fiktiven Geschichten habe ich gleich ausgelassen, dafür hab ich das Buch nicht gekauft.
Mehr Beiträge zum Imperium, als größere militärische Macht mit mehr Möglichkeiten, wären noch interessant gewesen.
Mehr Beiträge zum Imperium, als größere militärische Macht mit mehr Möglichkeiten, wären noch interessant gewesen.
January 1, 2019
This is a fun (if not too serious) take on strategy. I commend the the editor's effort to bring strategy to a wider audience using the Star Wars universe as the backdrop for more widely applicable strategic "truths."
January 19, 2020
Bravo- an amazing collection of writings! Our best strategic minds digest the art of war through the Star Wars films. The creative analysis is fun and thought provoking- appealing to all types of fans, students, and practitioners of military science.
October 27, 2020
Decent book. I enjoyed the forward and the concept of the book. I appreciated the ideas and found it awesome to break up the redundant use of historical examples and look through the lens of Star Wars. However, I felt that some of the articles/section were rushed and could have been explored more.
June 23, 2022
An interesting read. I wish there would have been more parallels drawn between our own foreign and military policies and what the movies can teach us about how we need to improve our own strategies if we are not to end up as the Empire
November 16, 2023
Fun and insightful
Thought I knew Star Wars and thought I understood strategy. Seems I have a lot to learn on both accounts. This is a good place to start with good footnotes and working links.
Thought I knew Star Wars and thought I understood strategy. Seems I have a lot to learn on both accounts. This is a good place to start with good footnotes and working links.
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