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The Last Full Measure: Death in Battle Through the Ages
In this brilliantly researched, deeply humane work of history, Michael Stephenson traces the paths that have led soldiers to their graves over the centuries, revealing a wealth of insight about the nature of combat, the differences among cultures, and the unchanging qualities of humanity itself.
Behind every soldier's death lies a story, a tale not just of the cold mathema...more
Behind every soldier's death lies a story, a tale not just of the cold mathema...more
Hardcover, 416 pages
Published
May 22nd 2012
by Random House, Inc.
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Stephenson tells great stories and tells them well. What fascinates is what men, people, do to one another in order to produce death by war. If you've read historical fiction about various battles, you know something of what's here. This description of battles, one after the other, makes for a compelling read. I would say I couldn't put it down, except sometimes I had to put it down. I couldn't stand to read one more story of the awfulness of enduring warfare, whether modern or ancient. This boo...more
I don't know if I can add much that hasn't been covered in the blurb and other reviews, but this was a great book. While I devote little time to the genre, I think it would be difficult to find a better look at general warfare, weaponry, and the many ways in which soldiers have shuffled off the mortal coil. With such a massive supply of subject matter, the author narrowed the scope of the book to focus largely on the plight of "land soldiers" - infantry and mounted forces fighting on land. (Nava...more
Feb 13, 2013
K8
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Historians Interested in the Evolution of War
Too much history, not enough cultural analysis. Sorry, Last Full Measure- you're an excellent read for historians, not so much for anthropologists
I received this book from Goodreads through their First-Reads program, and thoroughly enjoyed it, although it is somewhat morbid to say one enjoys reading a book about the death of soldiers. And, indeed, this book is a sobering one as it forces the reader (especially the reader who has never been a soldier) to consider the armaments, motives, and deaths of those who fight. This book aims to examine these topics through the ages, but tends to focus on American wars, as well as more recent wars. T...more
An unflinching glimpse into what soldiers on the ground really face when they make that ultimate sacrifice. The book attempts to cover the documented history of man and the methods used in war, and how advances in technology changed the very nature of how war was viewed but at the same time some things are timeless and universal. It breaks down that history into ancient, medieval, colonial, the US Civil War, the World Wars seperately, and finally the morphing and uncertain nature of insurgent fi...more
There is a certain morbidity that comes with reading 400 pages of unabated death--and not quiet death, but death in the midst of battle. And yet there is a quiet dignity to The Last Full Measure, one that manages to be neither clinical nor Rambo-esque, but rather, fundamentally compassionate. Stephenson is a consummate historian, tracing the evolution of war over the millennia--from prehistory to the modern day--with meticulous accuracy. Although there are moments where the writing falls short o...more
A very good book. Cant give it 5 stars, would give it 4.5, because sometimes it read to much like a text book. It really brought some very interesting thoughts to me, some having nothing to do with battle or death.
Very interesting and well written account. It's a melange of Grossman's "On Killing," English's "On Infantry," and any one of Victor Davis Hanson's books. It goes chronologically and is replete with quotes from soldiers through the ages-some well known, others not so. It's well balanced account and in his preface, which is profound and moving, Stephenson expertly and adroitly walks the tightrope between glorification of war and repulse at the gore. He pretty much covers everything. There's even...more
I won this book from Goodreads.
The book did not read easy like a novel, but this was so informative and interesting I enjoyed reading it. The author starts as describing early methods of war as well as the social and personal expectations/experiences of a warrior and continues up to modern day. I would think that this could be a wonderful resource to add to our military's "must read" books. The research done is excellent and the book is easy to understand so I'd recommend it to anyone who loves...more
The book did not read easy like a novel, but this was so informative and interesting I enjoyed reading it. The author starts as describing early methods of war as well as the social and personal expectations/experiences of a warrior and continues up to modern day. I would think that this could be a wonderful resource to add to our military's "must read" books. The research done is excellent and the book is easy to understand so I'd recommend it to anyone who loves...more
Worth reading, especially after recently finishing a history of WWII, in order to remember that war is not just tactics and battles and victories and defeats -- it is also bloody, unheroic, often anonymous death.
Excellent. A lot of first person accounts of the reality of war. The
weapons and ethics from Greeks, middle ages and the Civil war and on.
weapons and ethics from Greeks, middle ages and the Civil war and on.
May 21, 2012
Rena
marked it as to-read
I won this book from First Reads Giveaway. Waiting to read it when I receive it. Thanks.
This is a fascinating history of warfare from ancient through modern times. It has extensive information about weaponery, literature, customs, tactics, and statistics. Stephenson's style is articulate, concise, and informative. The notes and bibliography in the back explain the sources for information. The author's own analyses add much to the information. This book should appeal to many groups of readers.
May 21, 2012
Wennifred
marked it as to-read
I just won a copy from Goodreads. Looking forward to reading it. Thank you.
May 21, 2012
jeff
marked it as to-read
I won this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you.
Owned.
excellent read
I won this book on Goodreads. This was an amazing read. If you love reading about wars you will love this book. The only problem I had with the book is that it reads like a text book. It is more difficult to get through because of this, but it has very interesting facts that make up for this flaw.
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It was interesting but repetitive after awhile.
Incredibly detailed, full of first hand accounts, and wonderfully informative.
May 21, 2013
Jaime
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Greg Bryan
marked it as to-read
May 01, 2013
Phil
marked it as to-read
Apr 28, 2013
Lukas
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Apr 20, 2013
Dean Petersen
marked it as to-read
Apr 16, 2013
Matt Caris
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Apr 19, 2013 05:47am