Description

Book Synopsis

EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT WAR IS WRONG.

We are living in an age of conflict: Russia''s resurgence and China''s rise, global terrorism, international criminal empires, climate change and dwindling natural resources.

But while the West has been playing the same old war games, the enemy has a new strategy.

The rules have changed, and we are dangerously unprepared.

Former paratrooper Sean McFate has been on the front lines of conflict, and seen first-hand the horrors of battle. As a Professor of Strategy, he understands the complexity of the current military situation.

In this new age of war:

Plausible deniability is more potent than firepower
Russia has become a disinformation superpower, twisting the West''s perception of reality
Sanctions are blunt instruments that starve only the masses, not the elite
Victory will belong to the cunning, not the strong
New types of world powers will rule

Learn how to triumph in the coming age of conflict in ten new rules. Adapt and we can prevail. Fail, and size and strength won''t protect us.

This is The Art of War for the 21st century.
__________

''Some of what he says makes more sense than much of what comes out of the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence'' Max Hastings, Sunday Times

''Thought-provoking'' Johnathon Evans, Former Head of MI5

''Fascinating and disturbing'' Economist



Trade Review
The Freakonomics of modern warfare * Conn Iggulden *
An important book * Sir Richard Dearlove, former Director of MI6 *
Lively and provocative ... laced with examples from the history of conflict as well as his own career as a soldier * Sir Lawrence Freedman *
A thought-provoking book. Sean McFate has admirably captured the challenges we face with an evolving character of warfare. Technology and the pervasiveness of information have blurred the distinction between peace and war and have opened up seams that our opponents are ruthlessly exploiting, utilising weapons that don't need to go bang -- General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff
Thought-provoking. Sean McFate puts his finger on key issues for Western security * Jonathan Evans, former head of MI5 *
His iconoclastic book is being hailed by radicals as a wake-up call to governments and armed forces everywhere, to stop doing all the wrong things; to start doing a few right ones . . . Some of what he says makes more sense than much of what comes out of the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence * Max Hastings, Sunday Times *
Radical thoughts on the West's approach to modern warfare * Sunday Times, Must Reads *
A well-crafted indictment of The West's failure to keep pace with the changing face of warfare. The soldier is taught to improvise, adapt, and overcome. In Goliath, Sean McFate shows The West how it can do the same
A fascinating and disturbing book * Economist *
Essential Reading -- General Stanley McChrystal
Stunning. McFate is the new Sun Tzu -- Admiral James Stavridis
McFate understands his subject from the inside... excellent -- General Sir Rupert Smith
My summer surprise - the sharpest account of the dilemmas of war and peace I've read for years * Robert Fox, Evening Standard *
Why do western powers keep getting beaten when they go to war? This hard-hitting polemic by a former US paratrooper explains why - we are addicted to expensive, big tech that is useless against guerillas. Sean McFate's suggestion that western powers make greater use of mercenaries is interesting * The Times, 100 Best Books for Summer *
Brilliantly eccentric * Robert Fox, Evening Standard *

Goliath

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 16 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Sean McFate

    1 in stock

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      Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
      Publication Date: 23/01/2020
      ISBN13: 9781405938655, 978-1405938655
      ISBN10: 140593865X

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT WAR IS WRONG.

      We are living in an age of conflict: Russia''s resurgence and China''s rise, global terrorism, international criminal empires, climate change and dwindling natural resources.

      But while the West has been playing the same old war games, the enemy has a new strategy.

      The rules have changed, and we are dangerously unprepared.

      Former paratrooper Sean McFate has been on the front lines of conflict, and seen first-hand the horrors of battle. As a Professor of Strategy, he understands the complexity of the current military situation.

      In this new age of war:

      Plausible deniability is more potent than firepower
      Russia has become a disinformation superpower, twisting the West''s perception of reality
      Sanctions are blunt instruments that starve only the masses, not the elite
      Victory will belong to the cunning, not the strong
      New types of world powers will rule

      Learn how to triumph in the coming age of conflict in ten new rules. Adapt and we can prevail. Fail, and size and strength won''t protect us.

      This is The Art of War for the 21st century.
      __________

      ''Some of what he says makes more sense than much of what comes out of the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence'' Max Hastings, Sunday Times

      ''Thought-provoking'' Johnathon Evans, Former Head of MI5

      ''Fascinating and disturbing'' Economist



      Trade Review
      The Freakonomics of modern warfare * Conn Iggulden *
      An important book * Sir Richard Dearlove, former Director of MI6 *
      Lively and provocative ... laced with examples from the history of conflict as well as his own career as a soldier * Sir Lawrence Freedman *
      A thought-provoking book. Sean McFate has admirably captured the challenges we face with an evolving character of warfare. Technology and the pervasiveness of information have blurred the distinction between peace and war and have opened up seams that our opponents are ruthlessly exploiting, utilising weapons that don't need to go bang -- General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff
      Thought-provoking. Sean McFate puts his finger on key issues for Western security * Jonathan Evans, former head of MI5 *
      His iconoclastic book is being hailed by radicals as a wake-up call to governments and armed forces everywhere, to stop doing all the wrong things; to start doing a few right ones . . . Some of what he says makes more sense than much of what comes out of the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence * Max Hastings, Sunday Times *
      Radical thoughts on the West's approach to modern warfare * Sunday Times, Must Reads *
      A well-crafted indictment of The West's failure to keep pace with the changing face of warfare. The soldier is taught to improvise, adapt, and overcome. In Goliath, Sean McFate shows The West how it can do the same
      A fascinating and disturbing book * Economist *
      Essential Reading -- General Stanley McChrystal
      Stunning. McFate is the new Sun Tzu -- Admiral James Stavridis
      McFate understands his subject from the inside... excellent -- General Sir Rupert Smith
      My summer surprise - the sharpest account of the dilemmas of war and peace I've read for years * Robert Fox, Evening Standard *
      Why do western powers keep getting beaten when they go to war? This hard-hitting polemic by a former US paratrooper explains why - we are addicted to expensive, big tech that is useless against guerillas. Sean McFate's suggestion that western powers make greater use of mercenaries is interesting * The Times, 100 Best Books for Summer *
      Brilliantly eccentric * Robert Fox, Evening Standard *

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