Blast from the past reminding us why when it comes to WMD's it is better to err on the side of assuming the worst. How close did Imperial Japan come to DEPLOYING an atomic bomb? Much closer than Nazi Germany did that much is CERTAIN. As for their contemporaneous claims to have TESTED a bomb? Answer: we don't honestly know, but does ANYONE doubt that Japan would have USED one if it could?

Devastating rebuttal of the the 'normal' theory of civil-military relations: that civilian leaders should leave the management of war to the professionals. A book that Bush is known to have read and given increasing evidence of Pentagon opposition to the war winning strategy that Bush ultimately chose, apparently taken to heart and implemented.

Stunning, break-through analysis of what Mead identifies as the four basic American schools of foreign policy. Which one is in the driver's seat today? The Jacksonians (and a good thing, too).

Systematic analysis of all alleged cases of democracies fighting each other, resulting in the identification of the minimally necessary democratic characteristics required to prevent war.

Sympathetic account of the beginnings of American imperialism which makes for fascinating comparison and contrast with today. Author keeps his liberal politics in check until discussing modern era.

Favorable though fair, warts and all, portrait of the most influential SECDEF in history, but so short it should be an article instead of a book. The revolt of the wimpy generals is now explained.

Truly fascinating detailing of the reasons the United States wins most of its wars and will find it almost impossible to lose either the Iraq War or the GWOT without abjectly surrendering.