Clausewitz's seminal work On War is still considered, despite its first publication year (1832), not only the greatest but even the only truly great book ever written on the subject. The author – a philosopher of warfare – presents a general theory of various aspects of war, its strategies, and tactics. Keen observations are followed by penetrating analytical reflections and succinctly formulated conclusions. The book captivates with its clarity of judgment, sharp irony, and unforgettable phrases. It is from here that the famous saying originates, "war is merely the continuation of politics by other means." The fundamental value of the book lies in its integration of a wide range of aspects of military competition – political, strategic, tactical, operational, analytical, historical, ethical, psychological, and pedagogical. No other set of theoretical postulates in this field comes close to the author's successful connection of such a broad scope of reflections, and none is as flexibly adaptable to the consequences of political and social developments. Carl von Clausewitz remains, nearly two centuries after his death, the most frequently quoted, most controversial, and simultaneously the most modern theorist of strategy. The book is an indispensable educational resource…
