Description
Book SynopsisA history of wars through the ages and across the world, and the irrational calculations that so often lie behind them
Trade Review“Ambitious. . . .
On Wars is an enlightening haul for much of its journey and a brisk read too.”—Fred Kaplan,
New York Times Book Review“Masterful and monumental, Michael Mann’s new book shows how destructive and delusional it has been, throughout history and across the world, to try achieving one’s end through war.”—Andreas Wimmer, author of
Waves of War“The greatest comparative historical sociologist of our time here considers the motivations for warfare in the world and through recorded time. The result is breathtaking, and shocking in its normative challenges—particularly in its no-hold-barred attack on the ‘realism’ of international relations specialists.”—John A. Hall, McGill University
“Mann explains why wars happen although they seldom achieve their ends, whether material aggrandizement or altruistic ideals.
On Wars again shows why Mann is the Max Weber of our time.”—Randall Collins, author of
Explosive Conflict: Time Dynamics of Violence
