Twice a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, author Barbara Tuchman now tackles the pervasive presence of folly in governments through the ages. Defining ...
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Aug 13, 2011
Stephen
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Babs is one crafty teacher and this is among the BEST history books I've ever read. You should be reading it right now. Seriously, I mean it.
This is the second book by Barbara Tuchman that I have read (the other being The Guns of August), and I'm been so impressed that it has led to my developing intense, crush-like feelings for her. You see, Babs writes history so that you are so interested in her narrative that you don't notice she's shoveling mounds of knowledge into your memory More...
This is the second book by Barbara Tuchman that I have read (the other being The Guns of August), and I'm been so impressed that it has led to my developing intense, crush-like feelings for her. You see, Babs writes history so that you are so interested in her narrative that you don't notice she's shoveling mounds of knowledge into your memory More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Brian
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About 8 years ago when I read this book I would have given it 4 stars. It gets a 5 today simply because it is much more pertinent to read it now.
Barbara Tuchman is one of the great writers of history. She remembers the first rule of history: Tell a story. In this one she tells several and keeps your attention better. The theme is imaginative and appropriate. It is also not a very long book so you can easily read it in a week.
Barbara Tuchman has a way of viewing history More...
Barbara Tuchman is one of the great writers of history. She remembers the first rule of history: Tell a story. In this one she tells several and keeps your attention better. The theme is imaginative and appropriate. It is also not a very long book so you can easily read it in a week.
Barbara Tuchman has a way of viewing history More...
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Dec 31, 2011
Tamhack
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this book read like a political essay or thesis paper.
The author defines folly as: " A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operat More...
The author defines folly as: " A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operat More...
Dec 10, 2011
Tony
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88. THE MARCH OF FOLLY: From Troy to Vietnam. (1984; this ed. 2007). Barbara W. Tuchman. *****.
From the scads of potential topics that could be used to illustrate her thesis, this excellent author manages to pick four subjects that epitomize folly in its full sense: The Trojan War; The American Revolution; The Renaissance Popes; and the Vietnam War. Although several examples from history are discussed briefly along the way, Ms. Tuchman manages to pull enough information together fr More...
From the scads of potential topics that could be used to illustrate her thesis, this excellent author manages to pick four subjects that epitomize folly in its full sense: The Trojan War; The American Revolution; The Renaissance Popes; and the Vietnam War. Although several examples from history are discussed briefly along the way, Ms. Tuchman manages to pull enough information together fr More...
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Oct 16, 2011
Brad
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Great historians address fundamental questions and use the lens of the past to provide answers. Tuchman is a great historian, and the question she asks in this work is : 'Why are governments so fucking stupid?'
You are the leader of a powerful trading city-state. After a ten year war, your bitter enemies suddenly decamp from the battlefield. They leave a giant wooden horse at your gate. Powerful religious factions within your city assure you that they have had visions reveal More...
You are the leader of a powerful trading city-state. After a ten year war, your bitter enemies suddenly decamp from the battlefield. They leave a giant wooden horse at your gate. Powerful religious factions within your city assure you that they have had visions reveal More...
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Apr 15, 2011
Joe
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(Side mote: At the time I am writing this -April, '11- Showtime is airing a series named the Borgias. Fans might find a section of this book interesting.)
When first published, within a decade of Vietnam, this book seemed a lot more timely than it does now. It is a survey of grand acts of folly committed by historical leaders over the centuries with the Vietnam experience as it's climax. By folly Tuchman means the pursuit of policy contrary to self-interest. Because the historical More...
When first published, within a decade of Vietnam, this book seemed a lot more timely than it does now. It is a survey of grand acts of folly committed by historical leaders over the centuries with the Vietnam experience as it's climax. By folly Tuchman means the pursuit of policy contrary to self-interest. Because the historical More...
Apr 06, 2010
Arief
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Barbara Tuchman was the greatest popular history writer of the late 20th century, and this is her finest book: a work of history for those who don't read history. Unlike the typical history which tackles a period and/or region, this book examines, in quite of bit of detail, four instances of folly in human history. This turns out to be a remarkably useful device for learning about the kinds of events that drive human organizations to places they don't often go -- and in these four cases, shouldn
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Mar 09, 2009
Terry
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In Tuchman's March of Folly, she solidifies her case for Folly and "woodenheadedness" on the part of political leaders with four significant examples: The foolish generals of the Trojan war; The mismanagement of the church by the Renaissance popes; how the British government bungled the American Revolution; and, her main example, the French and American short-sighted decisions which prolonged and deepened the Vietnam war.
This book should be required reading for every high s More...
This book should be required reading for every high s More...
Apr 27, 2010
Steve
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I had to skim the sections on the Trojan Horse and the Renaissance Popes. There just seemed to be too much irrelevant detail, not germain to the premise of the book which the author states very clearly. The history of the British loss of the American colonies was much more interesting and stayed closer to the mark with only occasional side trips into extended depth on certain characters. It was interesting because it was my first Revolutionary War history from the perspective of the British g
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Dec 31, 2009
Terry
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I've come to expect top-notch research, combined with an emminently readable style for presenting historical non-fiction from Barbara Tuchman. This book is no exception, and is nicely broken into case studies that one can enjoy at one's leisure.
In the context of several historical case studies (The British loss of the Colonies, US involvement in Vietnam...), the author shows how in the face of abundant countermanding evidence, governments throughout history have pursued counterprodu More...
In the context of several historical case studies (The British loss of the Colonies, US involvement in Vietnam...), the author shows how in the face of abundant countermanding evidence, governments throughout history have pursued counterprodu More...
May 29, 2007
Douglas
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Barbara Tuchman teaches us all about why the stupid people in power do the stupid things they do. Inviting giant wooden horses inside the walls. Provoking the Protestant Reformation. Losing the American Colonies. Bogging a superpower down in a brushfire war in a backwater country of no strategic significance.
this one needs an update for the new century of follies, but alas Tuchman is no longer with us.
this one needs an update for the new century of follies, but alas Tuchman is no longer with us.
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Nov 29, 2009
Jennifer
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I love reading history from some kind of interesting angle. In this case it's about how governments (of various sorts) pursue policy contrary to the interest of their organization, even when it's pretty clear at the time that the consequences will be bad and that they have other, better options. Usually the bad policy comes through pride, greed, a desire for personal power, or sheer woodenheadedness. One example is the Germans resuming u-boat attacks in WWI, knowing it would bring in the America
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Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
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Barbara Tuchman's classic book on folly in human affairs. Folly is defined for her as the deliberate pursuit of policy that is contrary to self-interest. She examines 4 case studies. 1. The Trojans allowing the Trojan horse into their walls. 2. The renaissance Popes and the reformation. 3. The British loss of the American colonies. 4. The war in Vietnam.The most powerful section in the book is the one about Vietnam. It describes the war as an incredible waste of lives and resources for no good p
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Jul 29, 2011
The book narrates four disparate historic sagas in interesting details and that's where it has the maximum value. The treatment is uneven - the Papal chapters and Vietnam wars are far better read. The main problem is the subject - highly superficial and largely redundant in the selection of stories.
The author could have chosen any from possibly thousands of stories - many more pertinent - to prove the basic theme - the march of follies. The selection seems more driven by the need to inform the r More...
The author could have chosen any from possibly thousands of stories - many more pertinent - to prove the basic theme - the march of follies. The selection seems more driven by the need to inform the r More...
May 10, 2009
Mark
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Ms. Tuchman has performed a considerable public service by illustrating for the reader - just how policies of governments can become bound to a course that is ruinous - even when the warnings and evidence piles high for folks to see. Ms. Tuchman covers several such episodes in history - the Fall of Troy, the Despotic rule of the Renaissance Popes, Englands Loss of the American Colonies, and the American Intervention in Vietnam. Ms. Tuchman seeks to show that each of these historic episodes lead
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May 10, 2011
Charlene
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This is one of the best books on political folly ever. I visited South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa in hospital the day before Nelson Mandela was released and he was reading this. Within a few hours he had ripped out his drips and chartered a plane to accompany Mandela out of prison.
Inspired by those heady, difficult, complex, inspiring days I kept Cyril's book and read it over and over. Such wisdom from Tuchman.
If you're interested in history or in any way involved in business or More...
Inspired by those heady, difficult, complex, inspiring days I kept Cyril's book and read it over and over. Such wisdom from Tuchman.
If you're interested in history or in any way involved in business or More...
Dec 10, 2010
Nathan
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I have now read this book twice. This a detailed analysis (but not dull) and comparison of some very famous 'gaff' periods of history that would seem to have nothing in common; the late Mrs. Tuchman found a brilliant thread in her interpretation of 'folly'. Her summation chapter - Epilogue "A Lantern on the Stern" - I rank as the best since reading Norman Mailer's "The Metaphor Delivered" in his work "Armies of the Night". Her points about the thread of 'Folly'
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Dec 06, 2009
Elaine
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Well written, amazing premises used and illustrated by the fall of Troy, the Protestant secession, the British forfeiture of the American colonies and America's involvement in Vietnam.
And it just shows - same old shit just different day! Do we learn from history - no we just redo the same mistakes over - Weird isnt it - but if you look at it from an individual's point of view - do we ever learn from reading or watching people - I do sometimes but mostly have to make my own mistakes. Which More...
And it just shows - same old shit just different day! Do we learn from history - no we just redo the same mistakes over - Weird isnt it - but if you look at it from an individual's point of view - do we ever learn from reading or watching people - I do sometimes but mostly have to make my own mistakes. Which More...
Jun 23, 2010
Lydia
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This is the 3rd book that I have read by Barbara Tuchman and I find that she is very thoughtful historian. I suppose that when you are writing and researching events after the fact, it does allow you be thoughtful and opinionated as in the case of this book. I had this book for quite awhile and decided to read it because of the 2nd Iraq War and the passing of Robert MacNamara, one of the tacticians of the escalation of the VietNam War. If Barbara Tuchman were alive, would she find folly in the e
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Oct 30, 2009
Jim
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The thesis that Barbara Tuchman has put forward in her outstanding 1984 treatise The March of Folly is that governments and policymakers will more often than not paradoxically practice policies and programs that are contrary to their own best interests. That they will do this even in the face of overwhelming evidence of their folly and will persist in this wooden-headed thinking and self-destructive acts despite the availability of recognized and viable alternatives.
Ms. Tuchman under More...
Ms. Tuchman under More...
Oct 29, 2008
Jabbott
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This is an excellent piece of historical commentary by Barbara Tuchman. She writes with a clarity and focus that is rarely exhibited among authors. This piece is concerned with folly, or the practice of governments and those in authority to pursue policies that are counter-productive. Using the Trojans' acceptance of the Greek horse into Troy's city walls as the archetype for folly, she then goes to explore how the Renaissance popes instigated the Reformation, how the British government creat
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Apr 26, 2008
Erik
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Tuchman's The March of Folly is spotty. First of all, too much attention is paid to Troy, about which nothing is known, historically speaking. All that section does is provide a simile or two for what follows. Also, she actually is stronger in another classical case not mentioned in the title or in most descriptions of the book, viz. that of King Rehoboam of Israel. Second, the account of the involvements of France and the United States in VietNam is of a journalistic quality not in keeping
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Mar 28, 2008
Meirav
rated it: 
Tuchman writes well, she obviously knows a great deal of history and can often reach that almost-impossible achievement of historians to both tell as many facts as possible while not overloading. I say 'often' because this book didn't always have this moment.
Two things I liked about this book:
1. Tuchman's deep familiarity with a very wide range of history topics and times.
2. The obviously matriculate and objective, clear way of defining 'folly' by a certain logical and smart de More...
Two things I liked about this book:
1. Tuchman's deep familiarity with a very wide range of history topics and times.
2. The obviously matriculate and objective, clear way of defining 'folly' by a certain logical and smart de More...
Oct 07, 2007
Nathan
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Barbara Tuchman was one of the greatest historians of the last hundred years. She's so brilliant, in fact, that it was one of her books J.F.K. insisted his staff read during the Cuban Missle Crisis. In The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam (as well as The Guns of August, her history of the lead-up to WWI), she proves that she was also one of the most important military historians of the 20th Century. She comes from a solid background to have had a lifelong interest in these topics. Her family
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Dec 26, 2011
Gary
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A fascinating book which traces how political regimes tend to persist in folly in spite of all warnings to the contrary. The author examines the siege of Troy, a series of Popes immediately prior to the reformation, the British government prior to the American Revolution and the American involvement in Vietnam. The analysis makes fascinating reading especially when you compare the American folly in Vietnam under 6 presidents and the current involvement in Iraq.
Aug 03, 2011
Caitlin
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Interesting analysis of the historical pattern of folly in governments throughout history by late historian Barbara Tuchman. The book is divided into analyses of several different periods, including the Trojan War, papal actions preceding the Reformation, the British loss of the American colonies, and the Vietnam war, as examples of governments acting against their own best interests. Fascinating read, though rather depressing as you realize that these historical patterns will only continue to b
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Jul 24, 2011
Sam
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An enjoyable book, & I applaud the attempt to remind people to beware government power & war, but ultimately I'm not sure what good this sort of book does (& Tuchman does seem to be trying to influence policy). There's no statistical analysis of how prevalent government stupidity is, so unless the reader believes that governments are NEVER stupid, what's the point of a half-dozen examples?
Oct 13, 2008
Chloe
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An excellent survey of the problem of folly in government. If you're not quite sure why we were in Vietnam, or why everybody hates Nixon so much, the 4th chapter should give you a better picture of just where the U.S. went wrong.
The 4 examples explored by Tuchman are:
-The mythical example of the Trojan horse
-The behavior of the Renaissance Popes that lead to the Reformation
-The British loss of the American colonies
-the U.S. betraying its own founding prinicip More...
The 4 examples explored by Tuchman are:
-The mythical example of the Trojan horse
-The behavior of the Renaissance Popes that lead to the Reformation
-The British loss of the American colonies
-the U.S. betraying its own founding prinicip More...
Nov 11, 2011
"Admirers of her earlier works will find Barbara Tuchman's familiar virtues on display. She is lucid, painstaking, and highly intelligent. She is also highly expert." - Sunday Times
Listen to The March of Folly on your smartphone.
Listen to The March of Folly on your smartphone.
Jan 18, 2012
Nathan
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The pursuit of governmental policy not in the national interest, as illustrated by the Renaissance Popes, the American Revolution and Vietnam War. Interesting little piece, but I'm not really sure what Tuchman's message was, given that it ends with a shrug and a "shit happens" comment. Rated G 2.5/5
