{"title":"James Lebovic","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Lebovic\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts incisive narratives centred on \u003cem\u003epolitics and current affairs\u003c\/em\u003e, blending thorough research with engaging storytelling. His works delve into the complexities of modern governance, international relations, and the nuanced machinations behind global events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect sharp analysis and thought-provoking perspectives that challenge conventional views, making Lebovic’s books essential for anyone interested in understanding the deeper currents shaping today’s world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"shots-in-the-dark-by-james-lebovic-9780231224383","title":"Shots in the Dark","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy have US wars so often failed to go as planned? Four of the major conflicts in the post–World War II era—Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan—lasted far longer, cost far more, and yielded far poorer results than what prewar predictions anticipated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eShots in the Dark\u003c\/i\u003e offers a new analysis of the pervasive biases that have afflicted decision-making in the lead-up to and early days of US military interventions. James H. Lebovic shows that leaders repeatedly made choices marred by short-term thinking and cognitive blind spots, lacking a clear sense of how particular policies would accomplish broader strategic objectives. Policymakers fixated on achieving immediate results through force of arms without interrogating buried assumptions, mapping out the potential consequences, reconciling conflicting priorities, or considering tradeoffs. Such flawed reasoning eventually made military force appear to be the only viable option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo account for this persistent pattern, Lebovic develops an original theory of “instrumental bias,” reveals its telltale tendencies, and uncovers its results in the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars. Meticulously assessing the documentary evidence, he provides detailed reconstructions of top-level decision-making at key stages of these conflicts. Engagingly written and richly detailed, \u003ci\u003eShots in the Dark\u003c\/i\u003e illuminates the biased thinking that has long undermined US foreign policy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48038453117164,"sku":"9780231224383","price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780231224383-shots-in-the-dark.jpg?v=1785393019"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/james-lebovic.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}