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The Art of Military Innovation

Lessons from the Israel Defense Forces
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( 62 ratings, 8 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Art of Military Innovation by Eitan Shamir and Edward N. Luttwak explores the complex processes and factors that drive military innovation. The authors delve into historical case studies to analyse how military organisations adapt to new challenges and technologies, highlighting the balance between tradition and innovation. This book provides insights into how strategic decisions and innovations have shaped military success and failures throughout history.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the evolution of military strategies and technologies throughout history. It offers a deep dive into the processes of military innovation, blending historical analysis with strategic insights, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in military history and strategic studies.

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Why is Israel’s relatively small and low-budget military also the world’s most innovative, technologically and logistically? Edward Luttwak and Eitan Shamir look to the IDF’s unique structure: integrating army, air force, and navy in one service, under an officer class constantly refreshed by short tenures, the IDF is built for agility and change.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A world-leading military strategist and an IDF insider explain the improbable success of the Israeli armed forces.

When the Israel Defense Forces was established in May 1948, it was small, poorly equipped, and already at war. Lacking sufficient weaponry or the domestic industrial base to produce it, the newborn military was forced to make do with whatever it could get its hands on. That spirit of improvisation carried the IDF to a decisive victory in the First Arab-Israeli War.

Today the same spirit has made the IDF the most powerful military in the Middle East and among the most capable in the world. In The Art of Military Innovation, Edward N. Luttwak and Eitan Shamir trace the roots of this astounding success. What sets the IDF apart, they argue, is its singular organisational structure. From its inception, it has been the world's only one-service military, encompassing air, naval, and land forces in a single institutional body. This unique structure, coupled with a young officer corps, allows for initiative from below. The result is a nimble organisation inclined toward change rather than beholden to tradition.

The IDF has fostered some of the most significant advances in military technology of the past seventy years, from the first wartime use of drones to the famed Iron Dome missile defence system, and now the first laser weapon, Iron Beam. Less-heralded innovations in training, logistics, and human resources have been equally important. Sharing rich insights and compelling stories, Luttwak and Shamir reveal just what makes the IDF so agile and effective.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book, written by two well-qualified authors, explores the innovative spirit of the Israel Defense Forces, offering insights into its unique approach to military innovation over the decades. It is praised for its depth, informative content, and readability, highlighting the authors' deep understanding of military strategy and the IDF. Reviewers find it a compelling read for anyone interested in military history and strategy, particularly for its exploration of creativity and adaptability in warfare.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780674660052

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 10 October 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Harvard University Press

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 567g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Edward N. Luttwak is the author of several books, including Coup d’État: A Practical Handbook; Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace; and The Rise of China vs. the Logic of Strategy, which have been published in twenty-five languages. His articles have appeared in the London Review of Books, the Times Literary Supplement, Foreign Affairs, and Tablet. Eitan Shamir is Director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science at Bar Ilan University. He formerly served as Head of National Security Doctrine at the Israeli Office of Strategic Affairs. He is the author of Transforming Command: The Pursuit of Mission Command in the U.S., British, and Israeli Armies.

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