---
product_id: 8773634
title: "The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective"
price: "€ 57.56"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8773634-the-direction-of-war-contemporary-strategy-in-historical-perspective
store_origin: PT
region: Portugal
---

# The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective

**Price:** € 57.56
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective
- **How much does it cost?** € 57.56 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8773634-the-direction-of-war-contemporary-strategy-in-historical-perspective)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

desertcart.com: The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective: Strachan, Hew: Books

Review: Great work on the recent history of strategic studies and strategy in practice. - While not perfect, certainly one of the best works on strategy I've read recently and possibly the best work on post-1945 strategic history I've read in a while. Two main flaws or issues of contention: Strachan's critique of civil-military relations is at times lucid, but at other times appears to come slightly off the rails. Second, the books origin as a (much altered and added too) collection of articles shows through in the many areas which it doubles back on itself covering ground previously well trodden, at times this is done to build on previously mentioned ideas, at other times it seems overly repetitive. On the whole it is an excellent assessment and critique of the recent history of Strategic Studies as a field, as a historian I find many of his disciplinary critiques of the history/IR balance quite convincing, but I suppose I'm biased.
Review: Good read! - I find this book matches the recommendations for it.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,010,525 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #20 in Military Life & Institutions History #140 in Afghan War Military History #726 in Military Strategy History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (108) |
| Dimensions  | 6 x 0.77 x 9 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 1107654238 |
| Item Weight  | 1.15 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 335 pages |
| Publication date  | January 20, 2014 |
| Publisher  | Cambridge University Press |

## Images

![The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/6197eXAFC7L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great work on the recent history of strategic studies and strategy in practice.
*by N***E on January 30, 2014*

While not perfect, certainly one of the best works on strategy I've read recently and possibly the best work on post-1945 strategic history I've read in a while. Two main flaws or issues of contention: Strachan's critique of civil-military relations is at times lucid, but at other times appears to come slightly off the rails. Second, the books origin as a (much altered and added too) collection of articles shows through in the many areas which it doubles back on itself covering ground previously well trodden, at times this is done to build on previously mentioned ideas, at other times it seems overly repetitive. On the whole it is an excellent assessment and critique of the recent history of Strategic Studies as a field, as a historian I find many of his disciplinary critiques of the history/IR balance quite convincing, but I suppose I'm biased.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good read!
*by E***R on February 9, 2025*

I find this book matches the recommendations for it.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Interesting
*by J***Z on March 5, 2014*

Can't say I agree with the author's analysis, but it is interesting to read something that is not laced with political correctness. This seems an honest assessment of how things are. I recommend it.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective
- Command or Control?: Command, Training and Tactics in the British and German Armies, 1888-1918

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8773634-the-direction-of-war-contemporary-strategy-in-historical-perspective](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/8773634-the-direction-of-war-contemporary-strategy-in-historical-perspective)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Portugal*
*Store origin: PT*
*Last updated: 2026-03-21*