The shield of Achilles
war, peace, and the course of history
by Philip Bobbitt · first published 2002
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Broad history of war, peace and state legitimacy, tracing how domestic government and international strategy shape each other; recommended for readers wanting big-picture strategic thinking on nuclear-age warfare.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"A classic inquiy into the nature of the Sate, its origins in war, and its drive for peace and legitimacy."
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What Hacker News says
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…the new generations of children are being taught old school survival skills, because they are probably going to need them. One of the best books on the post nuclear world that I reference often is The Shield of Achilles, and one of the conclusions that sticks with me is that there will be a rise in corporate power and a fall of nation state power. Fight club was right after all... "planet Starbucks" indeed.
on “Rise of the war machines: Charting the evolution of military technologies” ↗…openers anyway like Howard Zinn's A Peoples History of the United States. As a combat vet a couple that speak to the issue of war are God's War: A New History of the Crusades by Christopher Tyerman and The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History by Philip Bobbitt (some really good stuff about the future of nation-states in a post nuclear world.) Those are just a few key ones off the top of my head. Personally,…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite history books?” ↗Have you read Philip Bobbitt? esp. "The Shield of Achilles" His theme is something like this, but stressing the coupling between technology (what weapons, and economies, are possible) and law (what states, and what goals, are thought legitimate) and wars. The…
on “Raytheon, United Technologies Merger Will Create A New Aerospace Giant” ↗…some are more specific than others (Musashi is actually about swordsmanship specifically, but conflict generally) they all have insightful things to teach. For a broader discussion look at Bobbitt's Shield of Achilles. He still has a significant portion on conflict, however it is also a discussion on the interplay of technology, legal development, and conflict.
on “Ask HN: What are the essential books of knowledge for civilization?” ↗Trying to think about the future of warfare and the nation state, I picked up this gem that was hiding in a voluminous tome: The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History by Philip Bobbitt It had so many implications, especially about the future emergence and dominance of the "market state" that I couldn't stop thinking about Neuromancer…
on “Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?” ↗…does have many flaws) is the Hagakure. I could go on. For example, when thinking about the changing landscape of warfare and politics in a nuclear age, I think you can't find a better book than "The Shield of Achilles" by Phillip Bobbit (if you do let me know). With the latest shift in the military strategy space I suspect lots of Mahan and Corbett are being read right now. It is a mistake to too heavily rely on any…
on “What we get wrong about Machiavelli” ↗…themselves against aggression from larger neighboring groups. An excellent history of exactly this dynamic -- how domestic government organization and international strategy interrelate -- is the book "The Shield of Achilles".
…Westphalia (and Waterloo) were among a series of such transitions, each entailing changes to what states are legitimate, and what kind of wars they fight. Anyway if this sounds interesting then his book "The Shield of Achilles" is cautiously recommended. Someone really needs to write a condensed version... but if you're willing to skip a bit, the ideas are great.
on “Bosnians who speak medieval Spanish” ↗…everything. I have a great book on the post nuclear world I keep picking up to reread sections of that talks about the political transitions that will happen because of this that is worth a look: "The Shield of Achilles" tldr - corporations are going to take over the gaps left by increasingly ineffective government.
on “Can we survive technology? (1955) [pdf]” ↗