Customer Reviews

The Guns of August: The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Classic About the Outbreak of World War I

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Barbara Tuchman's account of the outbreak of the First World War is the definitive book on the subject. From the political crises and entangling alliances that characterized Europe in 1914 to the "damn fool thing in the Balkans" that set the war machines in motion, Tuchman provides insight and clarity to a complex situation.

Tuchman goes beyond the superfluous details of the alliances and actions which brought the war about to bring about a deeper understanding of the prevailing attitudes in each country. She explains the German approach through the expansionist philosophy of Hegel and Nietzsche, along with the ideas of Clausewitz on how to fight a war and deal with conquered enemies. Also the political culture in France (where government was rapidly changing, especially with regards to mandatory military service), and the English policy of sending only volunteers abroad, and only when enough replacements could be brought back from remote outposts all over the world. These and many other meticulously resarched details provide a fascinating depth to the story.

Also very interesting are the studies in character of the main players in the drama of August 1914. Joffre, French, von Kluck, and the German Kaiser (among many others) are studied in detail, in an effort to understand the decisions each made through the first month of the war. To her credit, Tuchman doesn't place thoughts in anyone's head; reasons for action are given in the individual's own words (as recorded in journals or official histories), or when the reason is not clear, Tuchman gives a number of possible answers puctuated by the fact that we can't be sure exactly what anyone was thinking.

This is a brilliant book. Thorough from the battles on the western front to the well-intentioned if ill-conceived Russian offensive at Tannenberg, along with an interesting subplot with the German battle cruiser Goeben, the intricate detail, along with Tuchman's reader-friendly writing style, make for some great reading.

My review title says it all. If you are a serious reader of world war one histories then this book needs to be on your shelf. Occasionally (and just occasionally) the tactical descriptions of various combat encounters get a little dry but the first part of the book dealing with the outbreak of the war is one of the best going. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is easily the best book I have ever read. Tuchman writes so well that even the most prose averse individuals can enjoy her history lesson.

Yes,

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James

This book is so revealing and sets the onset of the First World War in amazing context. I never realised how the situation in Europe was simmering just waiting to boil over. Barbara Tuchman's writing and research is brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed it and inspired me to begin a Barbara Tuchman collection.

I see this is well reviewed and probably for the reason that this is a very well researched and peicing together of the events that brought about the first world war and an even more comprehensive exposition on how the first part of that war played out. That alone is a 5 star service to the understanding of history...as this not only explains it, but does it very well so we can see the events as they unfold in all three nations without being confused. I admit sometimes not being able to keep track of it all, (probably due to some lazier or rushing through it reading habits than on the part of the writer) but it was gripping all the same and sometimes a real page turner...not bad for a historical war expose'

But this book does something which few if any books I've read does, and it shows the mindset of three nations and the people that run those nations: Germany, France, Great Britain, and to a lesser degree USA. One thing that became stikingly apparent is how the mindset of the Nation of Germany was really the same in WWI as it was in WWII (and apparently the same as the war of 1870...which I shall have to read about at some point) and one could just see how nothing had really changed from the war I'm more familiar with (WWII) and the causes of WWI....even to how the war progressed and to how they treated the people who they overran.

The take away value of this book I think is to these "peace at any costs" people...these "I love everybody and there should never be any war" people. This book shows vividly that there are always going to be peoples and nations that have these incredibly agressive streaks permeating thier societies who cannot NOT be talked out of war when they are determined to have a war, as they will find any excuse if they think they are stronger or strongest to validate such a war even to the deliberate deception of their own and other peoples to justify their "cause".

It shows the need for these beligerants to be accounted for in how diplomacy takes place and how defences are created even in times of peace and how one , as much as one hates war, must be prepared to fight one against the ever present agressor nations when they get too aggressive and turn to bullies. People want to stop bullies but wear pink to do this? all they do is bully those who refuse to wear pink. what nonsence.

Though this is a frank unvarnished look about the first world war it is also a timeless peice that shows the way peoples tick and how one needs to prepare to match an ever present threat and is applicable in all times and places where aggressive people dwell. Yes peace is good and a blessed time, but when a country and it's people get compacent there will always be some people that will want to destroy them and take over. Peace loving nations and people should always have this in the back of their mind in how they live and create their societies to always be able, willing and ready to fight back, and not be unrealistic about expectations they place on other peoples and their mindsets. the old "can't we all just get along" wishfull thinking is blown out of the water with this book. well worth reading and considering.

Whoa! I loved this book. I like Keegan's books, too. It's hard to say which is best. Tuchman describes a lot of personalites. Keegan has more relevant facts and explore strategies better. I read both auhors will equal fervor. I plan to read her "Stillwell and the American Experience in China".

I've lent this book to several other non-history buffs and they can't get past page 50. Obvioulsy they will not be going to Amazon and entering a 1 star rating!

You should love history before opening the book.

Es sencillamente un libro magnifico, facil de leer, aun para quienes no somos angloparlantes, muy didactico, donde parece que los actores de ese momento estuvieran hoy entre nosotros.
Fue a traves de esta obra que comence a interesarme sobre la Primera Guerra Mundial, sobre todo porque uno va entrando en forma paulatina en la voragine de los sucesos que llevaron al conflicto. La descripcion de las potencias antes del inicio de la guerra es sencilla, clara, pero no por eso menos interesante.

Esta primera etapa de descripcion de la situacion fue quiza la que mas me gusto y me llevo a leer otros libros relacionados. Los capitulos relativos a los primeros combates estan bien desarrollados y a uno le permiten visualizar como seguira en el tiempo la contienda.

He leido tres libros de la Sra. Tuchman y me parece que este es el mejor de todos, sin desmerecer al Zimmermann Telegram que me parecio tambien estupendo.

If you are looking at these reviews and deciding if you should or should not read this book - think about the following. It has a high ranking on the Amazon.com list but the book might be older than some of the readers. The fact that it is still popular should tell you something. It does not read like an old book.

The other thing is that this was in many ways a fascinating war involving the main powers of Europe and in a war in which tanks just started to be introduced, people still used horses, and it was simply a horrific conflict that quickly evolved into static trench warfare. Having said that the book is an excellent description of the build up to the military action of World War I just from the time before the war in 1914 to about a month or so into the war when as quasi-static situation developed. It reminds me of some of the books on the Arab-Israeli wars in more modern times but this book is on a much grander scale with lots of related information. It remains one of my favorite books and was highly recommended by the critics.

I found it to be well written and a to be a compelling read. Highly recommend for history or war buffs. Five stars.

Jack in Toronto

There is a reason this book is still around. There is a reason that Presidents refer to it, why it is read at West Point and why friends recommend it to friends. It is because Tuchman has both the gift of the well researched historian who gets her dates right, and the gift of the story teller who understands that history is not about dates, it is about the human experience.

Tuchman is one of the best selling and most highly regarded historians ever. Years from now when the great historians are numbered, on the list with Herodotus will be this woman. If she is still alive I only have one request: keep typing.