It is important to gain an appreciation for different styles of war, as it allows us to appreciate the wide range of human imagination in the endeavor of warfare.

Perhaps a good start would be Sun Tzu’s ‘‘Art of War.”

Once you have read this work and desire to further your readings on the nature of war you might wish to consider the massive volume edited by French strategist Gerard Chaliand, who teaches at the Ecole SupÈrieure de Guerre, the equivalent of America’s National War College.

This large volume is an intellectual tour of thinkers and writers of war from various traditions Asian, Western, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, Byzantium, all the way to current thinking on nuclear deterrence.

It is a humbling experience to immerse yourself in the creative imagination of humankind in waging war; it is only through this consummate study that you open your own mind to the possibilities of strategy, and variations of the conduct of war.

Sections are grouped into traditions and style such as Greece and Rome, India, Byzantium, the Arab World, Limited War, Total War, and The Nuclear Era.

Within each are major works, authors, and thinkers representing the essence of each tradition and style of warfare.

Cassius Dio (155-235 A.D.), whose 25 of 80 books that survive give us the earliest analysis of the Battle of Actium (31 B.C.), a massive sea battle between Octavian Caesar against Marc Anthony and Cleopatra, you understand that Marc Anthony attempted to deploy his warships like a ground formation and encountered disaster in an ever-changing sea.

In India, among the ancient authors featured is Kautilya (4th century B.C.), who outlined a cold realist view of politics pondering on the nature of alliances, and the forms of peace negotiated.

The Byzantine tradition has Maurikios (539-692 A.D.), whose book ‘‘Strategikon” discusses the value of spies and warns that a general should never be overburdened on the day of battle.

Leo VI (865-912 A.D.) has a healthy respect for the adaptability and flexibility of Islamic arms.

Part six of the book is important for those wanting a deeper understanding of the Middle East.

Arabs have thought deeply of warfare, from describing campaigns through the writings of al-Tabari (838-923 A.D.) to pondering what just and unjust war is through the philosopher Ibn Khuldun (1332-1406).

This is a deep understanding of Arab and Islamic commentators on war that goes beyond the simplicity and pseudo-intellectualism of al-Qaida. For instance, Nizam al-Mulk (1018-1092 A.D.) on the complexities of government the use of spies, ambassadors, and how to deploy troops from various races to maximum effect. To Bin Laden, however, this founder of Baghdad’s first university is considered unworthy as he has been tainted by Western philosophical thought.

Frederick the Great (1712-1786) would create a disciplined army with the first general staff. Some argue he is the founder of the Prussian military tradition that would find its way into America’s Revolutionary Army through Baron von Steuben, who trained America’s minutemen into a regular army.

However, how far does intimidation and punishment go in motivating soldiers? Read the section on Frederick the Great to answer this question.

American Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan is featured as a major figure that helped us understand the potential of seapower on the course of strategy and warfare.

There are the advocates of combined arms such as the German generals Heinz Guderian (1888-1954) and Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) as well as Russian Mikhail Tukhachevsky (1893-1937).

Americans Bernard Brodie (1910-78) and Albert Wohlstetter (1913-97) gave us the language to discuss and rationalize the nuclear arms race. This book is a total immersion in military thought, and is highly recommended for those with a passion for the nature, style and evolution of war.

Editor’s Note: Aboul-Enein wishes to thank Dr. Paul Severance for recommending this book.