The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam by Barbara W. Tuchman

Apr 02, 2010 Stephen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1980-1989, the-way-we-war, audiobook, 6-star-books

Babs is one crafty, talented instructor and this ranks highly among the BEST history books I've had the pleasure of reading. You should be reading it right now.

Seriously, I mean it.

This is the second gem by Barbara Tuchman that I've tackled, after the stellar The Guns of August), and the impressiveness of her work has led to my developing rather intense, and possibly inappropriate, feelings for her. I'm smitten.

You see, Babs writes history in such a colorful, engaging manner that you don't no ...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Riku Sayuj rated it liked it

I thought 'The March of Folly' would be a good read to balance out the optimism of The Wisdom of Crowds. Turned out to be a great hunch.

Why?

Indeed, Tuchman's book does in fact emphasize that very optimism. Tuchman's 'Follies' are committed not by the common people but by closeted leaders, lacking in common-sense and cut-off from ground realities. Do I need to mention the Yes-Men that surround them?

Tuchman takes up a panoramic view of human history and exposes these decisions, and wonders with us ...more

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Aug 20, 2021 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it

Shelves: history, literature, world, war, non-fiction, 20th-century, united-states, historical, politics, military-history

The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam, Barbara W. Tuchman

The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam is a book by Barbara W. Tuchman, an American historian and author. It was published on March 19, 1984.

It details four major instances of government folly in human history: the Trojans' decision to move the Greek horse into their city, the failure of the Renaissance popes to address the factors that would lead to the Protestant Reformation in the early sixteenth century, England's policies relatin The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam, Barbara W. Tuchman

The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam is a book by Barbara W. Tuchman, an American historian and author. It was published on March 19, 1984.

It details four major instances of government folly in human history: the Trojans' decision to move the Greek horse into their city, the failure of the Renaissance popes to address the factors that would lead to the Protestant Reformation in the early sixteenth century, England's policies relating to American colonies under King George III, and the United States' mishandling of the conflict in Vietnam.

More than half of the book deals with US intervention in the Vietnam War, while the other three case studies are shorter.

تاریخ نخستین خوانش سال 1996میلادی

عنوان: سیر نابخردی از ترویا تا ویتنام؛ نویسنده: باربارا تاکمن؛ مترجم: حسن کامشاد؛ تهران، ن‍ش‍ر و پ‍ژوه‍ش‌ ف‍رزان‌ روز؛ 1375؛ در 611ص؛ شابک9643212548؛ چاپ دوم 1384؛ موضوع: تاریخ گذشته از نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده 20م

عنوان: تاریخ بی‌خردی: از تروا تا ويتنام؛ نویسنده: باربارا تاکمن؛ مترجم: حسن کامشاد؛ تهران، کارنامه، چاپ دوم 1388؛ در 678ص؛ شابک9789644310768؛ چاپ سوم 1391؛ چاپ چهارم 1392؛ چاپ پنجم 1394؛ عنوان دیگر سیر نابخردی از ترویا تا ویتنام؛

عنوان: تاریخ بی‌خردی؛ نویسنده: باربارا تاکمن؛ مترجم: فاطمه شیخ؛ تهران، شاهدخت پائیز، 1400؛ در 432ص؛ شابک 9786226847353؛

کتاب «تاریخ بی‌خردی، از تروا تا ویتنام» اثر «باربارا تاکمن» است؛ این پژوهشگر «ایالات متحده آمریکا»، با دستمایه قرار دادن برخی رویدادهای تاریخ جهان از دورهٔ باستان تا امروز کوشش کرده‌ به نقد رفتار فرمان‌روایان در مواجهه با آن رویدادها بپردازد؛ از دیدگاه «باربارا تاکمن» نخستین بی‌خردی شگفت‌آور این است که در کمال بی‌عقلی و نادانی، فرماندهان «تروا»، اسب چوبین را داخل شهر خود بردند و نیرنگ «یونانیان» را درنیافتند و شد آنچه شد؛

کتاب در پنج فصل با عناوین: فصل نخست: «پیگیری سیاست‌های مغایر با منافع خویش»؛ فصل دوم: «نمونه‌های آغازین: اسب تروا»؛ فصل سوم: «پاپ‌های رنسانس و جدا شدن پروتستان‌ها»؛ فصل چهارم: «بریتانیا آمریکا را از دست می‌دهد»؛ و فصل پنجم: «آمریکا در ویتنام به خود خیانت می‌کند»؛

در کتاب «تاریخ بی‌خردی»، با زیرعنوان «از تروا تا ویتنام»، نویسنده می‌نویسند: «بی‌خردی از دیرباز مشکلی مزمن و همه‌گیر بوده است.»، «بی‌خردی زمان و مکان نمی‌شناسد؛ جهان‌شمول است –اگرچه عقاید و عادات هر زمان و مکان خاص، شکلی معین به آن می‌دهد؛ ارتباطی به نوع نظام ندارد: هم سلطنت ممکن است موجد آن باشد، هم حکومت یک اقلیت قدرت‌طلب (الیگارشی)، و هم مردم‌سالاری (دموکراسی)؛ ویژه‌ ی ملت یا طبقه‌ ی به‌خصوصی هم نیست؛ طبقه‌ی کارگر و حکومت‌های کمونیستیِ نماینده‌ ی آن، همان‌گونه که تاریخ دوران اخیر به‌ خوبی نشان داد، در مسندِ قدرت بخردانه‌تر یا کارسازتر از طبقه‌ ی متوسط عمل نکردند…»؛

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 30/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی ...more

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Sep 04, 2013 William2 rated it really liked it

Shelves: 20-ce, nonfiction, us, history, greece, vietnam

A highly readable account of four instances of human folly over the last 2800 years. These include the Trojans's unaccountable bringing of the Trojan horse into Troy; the transgressions of the Renaissance Popes which brought on the Reformation; the loss by Britain of the American colonies; and America's own pointless war in Vietnam. The last section reminds me very much of Neil Sheehan's A Bright Shining Lie, which was written several years later than Tuchman's narrative. Her book is vivid, clea ...more

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Oct 10, 2008 Dana Stabenow rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-club

A book which informed my entire world view, and still does. Tuchman posits the existance of folly, or the pursuit of public policy contrary to self-interest–in other words, why nations keep shooting themselves in the foot. She uses the Trojans taking the Greek horse inside the walls of Troy as her template

...the feasible alternative--that of destroying the Horse--is always open. Capys the Elder advised it before Laocoon's warning, and Cassandra afterward. Notwithstanding the frequent references A book which informed my entire world view, and still does. Tuchman posits the existance of folly, or the pursuit of public policy contrary to self-interest–in other words, why nations keep shooting themselves in the foot. She uses the Trojans taking the Greek horse inside the walls of Troy as her template

...the feasible alternative--that of destroying the Horse--is always open. Capys the Elder advised it before Laocoon's warning, and Cassandra afterward. Notwithstanding the frequent references in the epic to the fall of Troy being ordained, it was not fate but free choice that took the Horse within the walls. "Fate" as a character in legend represents the fulfillment of man's expectations of himself.

and then goes on to talk about how the Renaissance popes caused the Reformation

Their three outstanding attitudes--obliviousness to the growing disaffection of constituents, primacy of self-aggrandizement, illusion of invulnerable status--are persistent aspects of folly. While in the case of the Renaissance popes, these were bred in and exaggerated by the surrounding culture, all are independent of time and recurrent in governorship.

how the British lost America

One cannot escape the impression that the level of British intelligence and competence in both civil and military positions in the period 1763-1783 was, on the whole, though not in every case, low. Whether that was bad luck or was owing to the almost exclusive hold of the ultraprivileged on decision-making positions is not clear beyond question. The underprivileged and the middle class often do no better. What is clear is that when incapacity is joined by complacency, the result is the worst possible combination.

Everyone in the current US Congress is a millionaire. Why would these people vote against their own self-interest now? They're the new British ruling class, and they're as oblivious as the British ruling class and the Renaissance popes were to what was actually going on around them.

Lastly, Tuchman writes how the US lost in Vietnam.

The longest war had come to an end...A contemporary summing up was voiced by a Congressman from Michigan, Donald Riegle. In talking to a couple from his constituency who had lost a son in Vietnam, he faced the stark recognition that he could find no words to justify the boy's death. "There was no way I could say that what had happened was in their interest or in the national interest or in anyone's interest.

One can only imagine the new bodily orifice Tuchman would have ripped over Iraq and Afghanistan. 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it' only begins to cover it.

A lively, engaging prose style with more than a hint of “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” It might be time to reread this book, but then I think it always is. ...more

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May 10, 2021 Sud666 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: history

Barbara Tuchman is an amazing historian. I love reading her books and then wishing I had even a small fraction of her writing ability. In "The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam", she does precisely as the title states and proceeds to take the reader on a journey from 1194–1184 BC all the way to 1973 AD. The uniting theme?

"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 Barbara Tuchman is an amazing historian. I love reading her books and then wishing I had even a small fraction of her writing ability. In "The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam", she does precisely as the title states and proceeds to take the reader on a journey from 1194–1184 BC all the way to 1973 AD. The uniting theme?

"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 operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why do intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?"

Though written in 1984, what could be more apropos a thought in our current political choices in 2021? In essence, this is a case study of "misgovernment". Think of "government" as a verb and not a noun. She states that misgovernment can be found in four kinds (often in combination):
1. Tyranny or Oppression
2. Excess ambition
3. Incompetence and decadence
4. Folly or perversity

Then as she states "This book is concerned with the last in a specific manifestation; that is, the pursuit of policy contrary to the self-interest of the constituency or state involved. Self-interest is whatever conduces to the welfare or advantage of the body being governed; folly is a policy that in these terms is counter-productive." I loved the fact that she points out that it must be judged counter-productive in its own time, not merely by hindsight. This is important because all policy is determined by the mores of its age. "Nothing is more unfair, than to judge men of the past by the ideas of the present. Whatever may be said of morality, political wisdom is certainly ambulatory."

Absolutely and well said. Then she proceeds to show four historical examples of "Wooden-headedness", as she calls it, and what the alternatives could have been. First starting with a chapter showing examples of pursuing contrary policy she then focuses on the first of the four. It is the prototype of future folly, starting in the mists of Time, with the Trojan War. Tuchman looks into why exactly the Trojans took in the Wooden Horse.

Then we transition to the year 1470 AD and look at the Renaissance Popes. Especially the stretch of 1470-1530 where the Catholic Church manages to destroy their own credibility and provoke the Protestant Secession. Looking into a string of either corrupt or inept Popes and their reign we are introduced to such fascinating figures as Sixtus IV (Francesco della Rovere, 1471-84); Innocent VIII (Giovanni Battista Cibo, 1484-92); my personal favorite, Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia, 1492-1503)..side note, yeah he, father of Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia fame. Also Friar Savonarola's "Bonfire of Vanities". Then we move on to Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere, 1503-13). A warrior Pope, famous for his association with Michelangelo. He also created the crisis with the Indulgences that were to provoke Martin Luther into his protest.

We then move on to 1763-83 analysis of why the British Empire lost control of America. Taking into account a variety of players, Tuchman looks at the beliefs and misconceptions that abounded in the minds of the holders of high office in England.

Finally, forward to 1945, she looks at the policy that led America to enter Vietnam. Starting with the complexities of the French and their inability to get along with anyone not French, she looks at how the French, in their desire to try to retain Colonial influence, threatened to not cooperate with the US in Europe, unless the US provided support for the French efforts in Vietnam. Tuchman shows how America betrayed its principles in supporting a colonial policy that in turn gradually dragged in the US military and eventually had the US fighting against North Vietnam for seven years, just to leave so that Communists could commit democide on the South Vietnamese anyways. Democide, BTW, is the murder of any person or people by their government, including genocide, politicide, and mass murder. Statistics vary but when the Communists, after victory, in Saigon decided to reduce the population of Saigon, which had become swollen with an influx of people during the war and was now overcrowded with high unemployment. "Re-education classes" for former soldiers in the ARVN indicated that in order to regain full standing in society they would need to move from the city and take up farming. This grand Communist utopian scheme resulted in anywhere from 1.5 million people being displaced. An additional 200,000-300,000 met a grisly end in "Re-Education" camps. Sadly this would have happened regardless, as is the case where any Communist regime rules (remember dissent is not a collective ideal, freedom of speech, belief, and thought are anathema to Communists, just as it is to Nazis.) Something to bear in mind. Leftism, like Far Rightism, is inimical and antitehtical to the normal political gamut of liberal to conservative.

Thus ends a fascinating review of folly through the span of man. In this day and age, we do love to forget the past. The idiocy of the past is something we presume to have outgrown. Thus THIS time, they (the leaders, the media, the pundits, etc) have it all right. THIS time humanity will see an era of progress and love and humility...blah blah blah. Obviously, I do not believe it. History does not repeat, but if you study enough of it you'll find a tale that is as detailed and implicit in our very DNA. While the overall arcs of history trend(in certain historical charts of development) to peak upwards, do not forget that the timeline has its peaks and valleys. Woe unto you who dwell in such interesting times. But, hey, no worries at all. THIS time these guys have it ALL figured out (the media says so). Cool beans. Do I believe them? About as much as I believe in God :) Anyways, I'll get off my soapbox... I plan on checking out in about 2 decades or so, thus I shall not be around to see the outcome. Enjoy yourselves! I've got weed to smoke, shit to do, and places I've never seen before to visit. But hey for the rest of you stuck here? Why not read this excellent history book about folly throughout the human ages? It might help you question everything you hear and remember that governments don't always "govern" well to their best advantage and the costs often take decades to manifest. As with anything Tuchman touches-it's magnificent. ...more

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Apr 26, 2008 Erik Graff rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: U.S. citizens

Recommended to Erik by: no one

Shelves: history

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 with ...more

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Aug 15, 2007 Brian rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: People needing a refresher course in history

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 as few can. Instead of f 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 as few can. Instead of falling back on just "telling of a story," Tuchman does what few historians are able to pull off without sounding self-rightious. She gives us a comentary. Kind of like the "color-man" while listening to a sporting event, Tuchman examines the idea of "folly," or the persistent pursuit of a policy by government or those in power that is "contradictory to their own interests." Since a topic like this could take volumes, the author chooses 4 primary historical examples: the Fall of Troy, the breakup of of the Holy See in the 16th century, the British monarchy's vain attempt to keep the American colonies, and America's own arrogant persistence during the Vietnam War.
The fault in this book is that this subject matter can be pretty exhausting even with the only 450 page book. The examples used are valid and make sense. The author finds something different within each one that allows us to see the many levels of government folly. However I found the chapters dealing with the six terrible popes to be mind-numbing. Perhaps it's due to the fact that this history is not examined extensively in current day curricula like the American Revolution and Vietnam, but I think this section was tedious and repetitive. Also, within the Vietnam chapters, Ms. Tuchman tends to reveal her adoration towards Kennedy--like many historians of her era--and her disdain of the Johnson and Nixon administrations. This can distort her objective examination of the topic in some areas, but if it is noticed and ignored, the rest of the study is outstanding. Some may read these excerpts and label them as "liberal" but they are ignorant of history.

In any event the book is an excellent supplement to studying Machiavellian politics. The governments' "wood-headedness" towards policy that is counter to anything rational (as well as contrary to respected voices of reason) is something that all ordinary members and voters of a democratic society ought to take heed of.

The example of Troy is used simply as an example of how Homer and the Greeks had foreseen and probably experienced, the lack of reason when pursuing particular policy. This is usually done because those in power are so consumed by power and what it brings, that their arrogance and ignorance blinds them.

Without carrying this review too far into the book's wonderful and biting commentary, I will just say that this book is recommended, but not for those that have no real experience with intellectual historical study. Some areas will be interesting, such as the Vietnam chapters, but otherwise the book would dull the amateur historian. But if you do wish to challenge yourself and your understanding of how power corrupts and destroys after it corrupts, then "March of Folly" will be admired.

All politicians should be forced to read this book. Kind of like a supplement instructional manual for their job...paid for by taxpayers. Within 100 years, they might actaully learn something.

...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Owen rated it it was ok

Shelves: military-history, non-fiction

Barbara Tuchman is a first-rate writer and historian whose books I have much enjoyed. For some years now I have been meaning to get a copy of "The March of Folly," since it is a book which greatly appeals to me in its concept. To look at the history of modern man (since about 1,000 BC) and take examples of real foolishness on the part of a number of key governments, and try to see why they so acted, strikes me as a wonderful idea for a book. However, I can now say, somewhat reluctantly, that "Th Barbara Tuchman is a first-rate writer and historian whose books I have much enjoyed. For some years now I have been meaning to get a copy of "The March of Folly," since it is a book which greatly appeals to me in its concept. To look at the history of modern man (since about 1,000 BC) and take examples of real foolishness on the part of a number of key governments, and try to see why they so acted, strikes me as a wonderful idea for a book. However, I can now say, somewhat reluctantly, that "The March of Folly" is not up to the standard of Tuchman's earlier books. I find this curious indeed and have been wondering for some time why it is so.

Firstly, the writing is not up to par and I can only put this down to sloppy editing. Some of the oddest phrases in the book are so un-Tuchman like, that I imagine they have been written by a researcher and, for whatever reason, have managed to sneak by both the author and her editors. Tuchman is usually crisp and succinct. Some of this text is laborious and redundant; it's most surprising. Perhaps this first fault leads to the second, although not entirely. In "The Guns of August" and "The Proud Tower," Tuchman seems to be in very complete command of both her history and her sources. In "The March of Folly," one begins to wonder if she has not strayed too far afield and is rather unsure of her ground. So it appears to me, especially with reference to the beginning of the book, where she discusses both the siege of Troy and then the Papacy during the Renaissance, when she seems very shaky indeed. Or it may be that this apparent instability is founded on limited research and that that has been allowed to come through in the book. Whatever the reason, I find that the book does not live up to its promise, either conceptually or authorially.

The sections on the American Revolution and the Vietnam War are interesting in themselves, but one wonders at times, given the detail involved in both cases, if Tuchman is not actually off the rails. The fact that there is no stated plan at the beginning of the book (chapters and sub-headings and synopses, I mean) makes me wonder indeed, just how much of a plan she had. So I think you can read this book for its individual content (i.e., if you happen to be interested in the particular periods covered), but the disappointment overall is that the really first-rate text that one might have expected, does not materialise. I will say that the essay at the end is very Tuchmanesque and is a brave attempt, quand même, to tie the threads of the book together. Yet I'm unsure of just how far she can get away with a text that smacks so readily of invention and understudy, and in my opinion, the epilogue is hardly sufficient, by itself, to save the whole. I suppose it is just possible that she and I both got carried away by the title. ...more

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Jul 19, 2013 Russell Bittner rated it it was amazing

The March of Folly is an unfortunate title. Or maybe not so unfortunate. Because, after all, what is folly?

Barbara Tuchman gives us several examples of the human animal at its worst — but parading at its best. From Ancient Troy right up through Vietnam (can a sequel including Chechnia, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan be far behind?), we have proved ourselves to be little better than the apes. If there’s a difference, it’s only in the splendor of our rebarbative behavior. Kings, The March of Folly is an unfortunate title. Or maybe not so unfortunate. Because, after all, what is folly?

Barbara Tuchman gives us several examples of the human animal at its worst — but parading at its best. From Ancient Troy right up through Vietnam (can a sequel including Chechnia, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan be far behind?), we have proved ourselves to be little better than the apes. If there’s a difference, it’s only in the splendor of our rebarbative behavior. Kings, Popes, Ministers, Generals … it’s all the same. And the tragedy? Invariably, the loss of so many young lives to no real purpose other than to serve the interests of ambition, pride, ignorance, stubbornness — in short, of vanity.

Yes, vanitas, vanitatis. It’s all right there in Ecclesiastes, and not much has changed. We are a prideful, belligerent, deceitful, artful, malignant, umbragious — a word I learned in reading this book—species. In short, we’re prone to folly.

And who pays the ultimate price of that folly? Our youth.

I cannot remember being so disheartened by a book since I read, at a young and impressionable age, A History of Torture — or more recently, Martha Gellhorn’s The Face of War. If you want to continue believing that “all is best in the best of all possible worlds,” don’t read this book. If you want to continue believing that we are governed by people who know what’s best for us, don’t read this book. If you want to believe that the march of history is inevitable, don’t read this book.

Ignore my suggestions at your own risk. But if you don’t, be prepared to undertake a life of activism — and don’t expect it to be a happy life. To buck folly is to question our very essence. And our essence would appear — if Ms. Tuchman’s major premise is to be believed — to be tragically farcical. That, or farcically tragic. The case of the former President Lyndon B. Johnson in one of this book’s final chapters could easily rival that of Shakespeare’s King Lear.

RRB
07/19/13
Brooklyn, NY ...more

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Jan 11, 2020 Michael Austin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2020

The March of Folly is Barbara Tuchman, a top-flight historian, at her best. It is also history at its best. And it is people at their worst.

In nearly all of her books, Tuchman goes well beyond sterile descriptions, facts, and timelines to get to the heart of what happened and why. In The March of Folly, she does not propose to examine a specific historical event or time period. Rather, she examines an underlying cause of many historical events, which is that people are stupid. In her introductio ...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, war-revolution, asia, history

When I was in the 4th grade I found a book that my Mom had to read for college in the back of a cupboard. That book was Barbara W. Tuchman's "A Distant Mirror", and I do believe that is what led me to all the other history books I've enjoyed in the years since. "The March of Folly" is a study of, in the authors' words, pursuit of policy contrary to self-interest, with four main examples. The Trojan horse, The Renaissance popes, the British loss of America, and America in Vietnam. I particularly ...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Clif Hostetler rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: history

In this book Tuchman takes a step beyond the traditional historian's story-telling role to provide color-commentary about a specific subset of examples of misgovernment that she classifies as "folly." Not all examples of misgovernment can be classified as folly as explained in the following quotation.

"Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression ... , 2) excessive ambition ... , 3) incompetence or decadence ... , 4) folly or perversity. This books is c

In this book Tuchman takes a step beyond the traditional historian's story-telling role to provide color-commentary about a specific subset of examples of misgovernment that she classifies as "folly." Not all examples of misgovernment can be classified as folly as explained in the following quotation.

"Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression ... , 2) excessive ambition ... , 3) incompetence or decadence ... , 4) folly or perversity. This books is concerned with the last in a specific manifestation; that is, the pursuit of policy contrary to the self-interest of the constituency or state involved. Self-interest is whatever conduces to the welfare or advantage of the body being governed; folly is a policy that in these terms is counter-productive."

Her definition of folly:

“To qualify as folly for this enquiry, the policy adopted must meet three criteria: It must have been perceived as counter-productive in its own time, not merely by hindsight. This is important because all policy is determined by the mores of its age...Secondly, a feasible alternative course of action must have been available. To remove the problem from personality, a third criterion must be that the policy in question should be that of a group, not an individual ruler, and should persist beyond any one political lifetime.”

The book then examines in detail four events from history that fit her criteria of folly; (1) Actions taken regarding the Trojan horse that led to the subsequent fall of Troy, (2) Actions taken by the Roman Catholic Papacy leading up to the Protestant Reformation, (3) Actions taken by the British government that lead to the American Revolutionary War, and (4) Decisions that led to American involvement in the Vietnam War. The Protestant Reformation and American Revolution are obviously significant turning points in world history. The fall of Troy is profound because it became a founding myth for Western Civilization. Inclusion of the Vietnam War in the book was a tilt toward commentary on a more recent example of folly, and is probably not all that significant in the long view of history. But the Vietnam War was fresh in the minds of readers when this book was first published in 1984, nine years after the fall of Saigon.

Implicit in Tuchman's definition of folly is the suggestion that if individuals in power at the time had been wiser the subsequent history could have played out in a peaceful manner. But my impression from the book is one of inevitability (or is it fate?) from the entangled politics of the times of each of the four historical events studied. It's interesting to note that people were present at the time of each event that anticipated and warned of needed reform or change in policy. But in each case the political inertia of the power structure was such to make heeding the warnings impossible.

Subsequent history supports the book's view regarding the folly of the Vietnam War. This book's review of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War was a painful reminder for me of my own memories of living through that era in real life and real time. I see ominous parallels with current events in Afghanistan.

The following is a link to an excerpt from the book about "popes, power, and unrestrained lust:
https://delanceyplace.com/view-archiv... ...more

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Feb 04, 2017 Rindis rated it liked it

Shelves: history, second-cover

Barbara Tuchman was a journalist before becoming a history author, and despite The March of Folly being a book about certain historical incidents, it is more a work of journalism than history. It is an investigation into the process by which governments embark on self-destructive courses ('folly'), despite recognition of the problem, and alternative courses being available. As such, it is more of a screed against certain practices, rather than a real attempt at balanced or impartial history.

The Barbara Tuchman was a journalist before becoming a history author, and despite The March of Folly being a book about certain historical incidents, it is more a work of journalism than history. It is an investigation into the process by which governments embark on self-destructive courses ('folly'), despite recognition of the problem, and alternative courses being available. As such, it is more of a screed against certain practices, rather than a real attempt at balanced or impartial history.

The good news is that we're not treated to the faint sound of axes grinding. Instead, we're given front-row seats to the grinding wheel.

The book is split into four parts (with each one being longer than the last) on the Trojan Horse, the (start of) Reformation, the American Revolution, and Vietnam. Each is well written, but are effectively a completely separate work, since they just serve to try to illustrate her point, instead of having any inherent connection to each other.

The Trojan Horse section is purely illustrative of her point, since it's a discussion of myth, with little idea of what really happened. But it is a powerful story, and not a bad way to bring up themes, though I don't know that it's overly successful here.

The Reformation is really about the ten major Popes in the run up to Martin Luther's 95 Theses. As such, it paints a picture of the excesses and temporal politics of the office while calls for ecclesiastical reform go unheeded. The main problem is that it ignores that high office was seen as a means of self- (or family-) aggrandizement. The idea of the point of office being something bigger than the self is a more modern idea (this is briefly addressed in the epilogue).

The American Revolution chapter mostly deals with events before the outbreak of fighting. Tuchman considers the end result of the conflict to be fairly inevitable (and right or wrong, this assumption helps keep her on-topic), and concentrates on how British policy ended up alienating people who wanted to be part of the empire into rebelling. As such, it is a very good Britain-centric analysis of British policy and government.

Similarly, the Vietnam chapter is at its best before American troops get directly involved there. Starting with the French, and the unresolved difference in goals between them and our aid to them, it traces through the entire tragedy to the American pullout. The fighting isn't covered in any real sense, but the demands of rabid anti-communism with its fears of all communists everywhere working in concert with Moscow are well pointed out (though not as well developed as I'd like; though that'd probably be going off her topic).

An unaddressed theme that comes out of the last two parts is the fact that these crises often grow out of situations that just weren't seen as very important at the time. They were low-priority, low-impact items that only increased in importance after missteps had caused the situation to blow up. The real 'folly' may belong more to being unable to prioritize correctly, but even that is an exercise in hindsight. ...more

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Jan 10, 2013 James rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, history

I always enjoy Barbara Tuchman`s ability to write compelling and accessible history be it the oubreak of WWI or the life of a french aristorcrat in the 14th Century, add to that a job which allows me to experience folly in all its glory, I had sky high expectations of the book.

The premise was so promising, noted historian takes a four egregious disatsers the trojan horse, the papal actions in the lead up to Luther, the loss of the american colonies and the Vietnam war to understand what led to t I always enjoy Barbara Tuchman`s ability to write compelling and accessible history be it the oubreak of WWI or the life of a french aristorcrat in the 14th Century, add to that a job which allows me to experience folly in all its glory, I had sky high expectations of the book.

The premise was so promising, noted historian takes a four egregious disatsers the trojan horse, the papal actions in the lead up to Luther, the loss of the american colonies and the Vietnam war to understand what led to the decisions. Not only a fascinating premise but hopefully informative as well. Unfortunately of all her books this one feels the most like a forced fitting of history to make a point which perhaps could be more concisely put and in many cases I thought the desire to make the argument lead her to overstate the individual actions over the broad societal forces.

It is hard to really draw lessons from the trojan horse as I would have thought it is rather likely that the whole thing is a myth written by the victors. On the Papal actions in the lead up to the reformation was it really the individual actions of some degenerates who headed up a corrupt system or was it the emergence of nationalism in Europe? Also the popes were extraordinarily consistent in their actions so it is hard to see what was folly versus ingrained admittedly self destructive custom. On the British loss of the American colonies, Tuchman compellingly makes the case that leaving any enterprise in the hands of the amateur nitwits with drinking problems that constituted the British government was not the best of ideas. I would argue that with no reform the same type of nitwit managed go on to build a very large empire and was there really anything wiser council would have done but delay the inevitable.

The strongest part of the boook deals with the Vietnam war as it is here that some of the tentatively drawn conclusions from the earlier periods seem most relevant. The dangers of group think, the courage needed to challenge the status quo and above all a ruling body that pursues principle no matter how misguided and no matter how divorced from reality. Having said all of that while interesting the whole book feels like you could have also picked examples where some of those features led to unliekly success. For example the wise thing for Churchill in 1940 would have been to negotiate peace with Nazi Germany. In that case the stand on principle versus pragmatic reality is lauded as courageous and visonary.

Interesting but not the brilliant book I was really hoping for. ...more

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Sep 10, 2015 Chris Jaffe rated it did not like it

Shelves: history

Man, talk about phoning it in....

Years ago I read Barbara Tuchman's famous "Guns of August" and thought it was great. So I'd give this one a shot. Big mistake.

She's just slumming it here; not trying very hard. The theme is times in history when a nation engaged in folly - self-defeating behavior. That's a pretty broad theme that in encapsulate tons of examples. She focuses on four items that don't really have much to do w/ each other, but she felt like talking about. Well, really three things (s ...more

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Aug 08, 2010 Ed rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Those with an interest in history

Shelves: history, in-inventory-billings, reviewed

A fascinating attempt by Tuchman to explain or at least illustrate why governments choose the wrong path even when they know it's the wrong path. She begins with the story of the Trojan Horse to illustrate the first written example of governmental folly leading to disaster.

The next three examples are of the Renaissance Popes, the British handling of the American Revolution and the American actions before and during the Vietnamese War.

The popes, in spite of criticism from many clerics and kings c ...more

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Aug 10, 2018 Keith rated it liked it

Recommended to Keith by: Book: Fathers and Sons in the Book of Mormon

Shelves: history, disaster

Contents (By section)
1. Pursuit of Policy Contrary to Self-Interest (This one chapter gives a succinct overview of the rest of the book.)
2. Prototype: The Trojans Take the Wooden Horse Within Their Walls (Again one chapter)
3. The Renaissance Popes Provoke the Protestant Secession 1470-1530 (With one chapter devoted to each of the major popes during this period, the abuses get worse and worse as time goes on.)
4. The British Lose America (20 years of fumbles - not paying any attention to the mood ...more

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Mar 02, 2017 Karla rated it really liked it

I'd love to know what Barbara Tuchman, who wrote this in 1984, would think of the current U.S. political situation.

From the epilogue:

In America, where the electoral process is drowning in commercial techniques of fund-raising and image-making, we may have completed a circle back to a selection process as unconcerned with qualifications as that which made Darius King of Persia.

And what was that, you might ask?

When he and six fellow conspirators, as recorded by Herodotus, overthrew the reigning de I'd love to know what Barbara Tuchman, who wrote this in 1984, would think of the current U.S. political situation.

From the epilogue:

In America, where the electoral process is drowning in commercial techniques of fund-raising and image-making, we may have completed a circle back to a selection process as unconcerned with qualifications as that which made Darius King of Persia.

And what was that, you might ask?

When he and six fellow conspirators, as recorded by Herodotus, overthrew the reigning despot, they discussed what kind of government - whether a monarchy of one or an oligarchy of the wisest men - they should establish. Darius argued that they should keep to the rule of one and obtain the best government by choosing "the very best man in the whole state." Being persuaded, the group agreed to ride out together next morning and he whose horse was the first to neigh at sunrise should be King. By ruse of a clever groom who tethered a favorite mare at the critical spot, Darius' horse performed on time and his fortunate master, thus singled out as the best man for the job, ascended the throne.

Sounds like the 2016 election alright, except it was Putin holding a dog-whistle meme pony over the hill and the criteria was whoever made the "libtards" cry harder. #MAGA

Books like this don't make my view of humanity less dim. Thanks, Barb! I appreciate your dedication to keeping it real.

The final portion was pretty long and hefty on Vietnam and, immediately coming off 18 hours of the Ken Burns documentary, the momentum dragged. However, if anything illustrates Tuchman's thesis brilliantly, it's Vietnam.

I think the inclusion of Troy was a bit of a stretch since it relies on literature rather than history to make its point, but as literature is often about human folly, I guess it works. However, I wish she had trimmed the Vietnam portion back and included another historical event of a government pursuing a pointless, defeating goal. Maybe Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries?

All Tuchman is good Tuchman, but this one wasn't as engaging as A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, but better than The Zimmermann Telegram. ...more

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Feb 02, 2017 Thom rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Good topic, but a little dry, fairly dense, and not as good as The Guns of August. The author looks at the causes of four historical "folly" events - the Trojan Horse, 6 corrupt Renaissance Popes (leading to the Reformation and a sack of Rome), the lead-up to the American revolution (primarily from the British side), and finally French and American involvement in Vietnam and SE Asia.

These follies are chosen because viable alternatives were available and popularly supported, and the decisions wer ...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Aaron rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Excellent, excellent examination of the tendency for political policies to continue down damaging pathways though multiple experts advise against it, which Tuchman describes as “folly.” Her description of decadent popes directly encouraging the Protestant Reformation and the resulting loss of Roman power is fun, lively, and intellectually rigorous.
She falters a bit while explaining the British loss of the American colonies as a result of folly. She would have been wise to shave at least 20-30 f ...more

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May 13, 2018 Susan rated it it was amazing

In the end a fairly depressing book which acknowledges the failures of societies to govern themselves well. The focus is on spectacular failures: the fall of Troy, the spectacular immorality of the Renaissance Popes, the failure of the English to retain its colony when the Americans wanted to leave, and finally, the spectacular stupidity of the US in Vietnam. If you are like me the book will get more and more interesting as it gets closer to home. I remember just about everything about Vietnam, ...more

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Feb 28, 2017 Gill marked it as unfinished

I found the section on Troy extremely interesting, the section on the Popes not very interesting, and the introduction I found OK. Tuchman's thesis re 'folly' was a new viewpoint for me, so I'm pleased that I read as much as I did. There seemed to be an awful lot of 'facts' in each chapter. So I decided not to read the sections on the American War of Independence, and on Vietnam. ...more

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Mar 12, 2019 Alex Sarll added it · review of another edition

A magnificent, astringent and idiosyncratic work of history which I've owned for the best part of three years, and there's no particular reason I'm reading it now, honest. It looks chiefly at four famous examples of folly, defined as a policy which 'must have been perceived as counter-productive in its own time, not merely by hindsight'; equally, 'a feasible alternative course of action must have been available'. The third rule is that it must persist beyond one political lifetime, but little pr A magnificent, astringent and idiosyncratic work of history which I've owned for the best part of three years, and there's no particular reason I'm reading it now, honest. It looks chiefly at four famous examples of folly, defined as a policy which 'must have been perceived as counter-productive in its own time, not merely by hindsight'; equally, 'a feasible alternative course of action must have been available'. The third rule is that it must persist beyond one political lifetime, but little pretence is made of adhering to this; I think it's intended more to separate the sort of folly in which she's interested, the sort requiring complicity and groupthink, from the whim of a lone despot. The main case studies are the fall of Troy; the Reformation in terms of the Papal failings which bolstered it; Britain's loss of the American colonies; and, in the book's last and longest section, the Vietnam War. But an introduction sketches various other contenders, from Rehoboam and Jeroboam, through Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, to the attack on Pearl Harbor. You might object that at least two of these examples only debatably belong to the province of the historian, being more a matter of myth, at least as they're commonly understood. Still, I think the idea is that they've been accepted as true for long enough that they offer valuable examples of trends in human foolishness. Besides, without them you'd lose a Hell of a callback when it comes to Laocoon.

In this anatomy of folly, one key concept is wooden-headedness, which 'consists in assessing a situation in terms of preconceived fixed notions while ignoring or rejecting any contrary signs. It is acting according to wish while not allowing oneself to be deflected by the facts. It is epitomized in a historian's statement about Philip II of Spain, the surpassing wooden-head of all sovereigns: "No experience of the failure of his policy could shake his belief in its essential excellence."'

OK, maybe there was a reason I ended up reading this when I did.

Seriously, I was just clearing out my 'phone ahead of this review and there were about 20 screenshots of quotes, which especially regarding the War of Independence chapter, could almost all have been annotated "a bit like Brexit, aaaaah":
- 'George Meredith wrote in a very different context of "drifting into vanities, congregating in absurdities, planning short-sightedly, plotting dementedly"'.
- Lord North would occasionally beg the King to be allowed to resign, insisting that the Prime Minister should be "a man of great abilities, and who is confident of his abilities, who can choose decisively, and carry his determination authoratively into execution...and be capable of forming wise plans and of combining and connecting the whole force and operations of givernment. I am certainly not such a man." Remind you of any other PMs we might know? See also 'Lord North, averse to the definitive, was trying to delay anything irreversible', or demanding ahead of a parley red lines which render it impossible to make any progress.
- Britain betrayed into foolish actions "by the arts of imposition, by its own credulity, through the means of false hope, false pride and promised advantages of the most romantic and improbable nature'.
- And if North is May, Charles Townshend must be Boris, smarter than most of his peers, but unscrupulous, unreliable, and in the end not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.
- Britain's politicians sharing a sense of superiority which leads to ignorance because it suppresses curiosity. Well, thank goodness the last 250 years diversified the composition of Parliament, right? Just a shame it was so very slightly. 'They entered young, were rarely prepaared or trained for the tasks, could become restless or bored under difficulties and usually retreated for half the year to the charms of their country homes'. Or indeed, their writing sheds.
- 'An independent member, Sir William Meredith, found the Government "so perversely, so inflexibly persisting in error on every occasion" as to cause surprise, in Dryden's phrase, "that 'they never deviate into sense' nor stumble upon propriety by downright accident."'
- Britain, in the words of one understandably baffled contemporary observer, "only invented occasionally some miserable tale for the day in order meanly to sneak out of difficulties into which they had proudly strutted... By such management, by the irresistible operation of feeble councils...they have shaken the pillars of commercial empire that circled the globe."
- Of the futile assertion of authority and sovereignty which cannot be exercised: "They tell you that your dignity is tied to it... This dignity is a terrible encumbrance to you for it has of late been ever at war with your interest, your equity and every idea of your policy."
- "The parliamentary cabals, being mere struggles for favour and power, created more real blood and personal rancour between individuals than the great questions of policy and principle."
- Britain, constantly 'asserting a right you know you cannot exert', gradually coming to be seen 'as both despotic in intent and ineffectual in execution'. Coincidentally, those were also the design specs for Gavin Williamson.

And there's plenty more where those came from. Not that spotting the horribly applicable prophecies of doom is the only charm. Tuchman displays a beautifully and coldly savage way with words throughout – 'In between flashes of good government, folly has its day. In the Bourbons of France, it burst into brilliant flower.' – and is happy to admit when her field runs up against the limits of human attention. Of Renaissance Italy's baffling period of intercity plot and counterplot - 'The significance of the particulars in history's permanent annals is virtualy nil except as a study in the human capacity for conflict'. Which is deeply reassuring as a 'so it's not just me!' moment for any reader who's struggled to remember which statelet was doing what to whom at any given time, even while reading about it. Despite which, the larger-than-life depravity of the Borgias et al renders the Reformation section by far the most fun – how could it not be when you have things like the Petrucci conspiracy to poison the Pope's arse? Long thought confected, and at the time of writing only recently revealed as probably real, it sounds like something from the George RR Martin reboot of Father Ted. Though at times the reputation of the Renaissance Popes does seem a little unfair when you look at their heirs. In those innocent days, the notorious Alexander VI was frowned upon not for all the shagging per se, but because shagging someone 40 years younger than him was felt to be a bit off. Whereas I was reading that on the day a former Vatican treasurer was finally found guilty of, imagine our surprise, raping choirboys. The age difference there, perfectly, being one year more than that scandalous gap between Rodrigo Borgia and his lover - who was not only willing but, at 19, pretty much a dried-up old spinster in the eye of the average modern priest.

As for the Vietnam chapter, the recurring note there is of American generals and politicians making entirely sensible policy statements, which their subsequent actions completely ignore, so I suppose the closest modern comparison for that one would probably be global warming (at least until the last couple of years, when we stopped getting even the sensible if empty verbiage). Far less anti-American and far more anti-communist than is now generally fashionable, this was also the section where I was finding out the most wholly new information, rather than having it arranged for me in illuminating new patterns*. Perhaps this is a generational thing, but in the UK I'm not sure we really get more about Vietnam than that it was a bloody mess which we were well out of, with a few big films filling in the micro detail of that, but never really the macro detail of why the blazes it happened at all. And I tried the Ken Burns show, but concluded that ten hours was possibly a bit more explanation that I needed. The three hours here, though? Ideal. This is also the section most obviously intended as a warning from (then pretty recent) history, but honestly, the whole book reads like a twentieth century Cassandra. When Tuchman talks about rulers misled by the 'illusion of permanence, of the inviolabity of their power and their status'; about how America's system has always succeeded in righting itself though 'Under accelerating incompetence in America, this may change', particularly when paired with a greater shortage of resources...they were sensible enough warnings in 1984, when this was first published, and wouldn't it have been lovely had someone bloody listened, so that they weren't still more relevant and urgent today? Leaving us to cling to a few faint shards of hope. After all, most of these errors were reversed in the end, albeit with far more loss of life and prestige than had error been admitted and courses corrected far sooner. And the worst predictions were generally as off the mark as the earlier assumptions of easy victory had been: Shelburne was wrong to forecast that, with the loss of America, Britain "shall be reduced to a miserable little island, and from a mighty empire sink into as insignificant a country as Denmark or Sardinia!" When Communism conquered the whole of Vietnam, only a few further dominoes fell, and America did not lose the Pacific. Hell, even the Catholic Church persists, somehow, though I do wish it wouldn't. The Earth, for all that it may continue generally to be run by idiots, has abided thus far, even if it does keep justifying its ancient designation as the Meadow of Atë, goddess of folly.

*An example: I had already known, because how could I not, that the road to that fateful tax on American tea began after the abandonment of an attempt to tax cider which had aroused the monumental intransigence of the West Country. What I had not realised was that the Chancellor of the Exchequer who quailed was our old friend Sir Francis Dashwood, of Hellfire Club fame. Good lad. ...more

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Sep 13, 2019 Sherri rated it it was amazing

Another thought-provoking, well-written book by Tuchman. The book considers this question: Why do governments repeatedly and doggedly pursue policies that are contrary to their own interest? Tuchman calls this folly, hence the title. She uses the Trojan War, the Renaissance Popes Britain’s loss of the American colonies and the US’s Vietnam War to illustrate that pride, hubris, unchecked power, fear and outrage are often the drivers of poor policy and decision making. Some of my favorite quotes f ...more

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Apr 02, 2017 Ben Shee rated it it was amazing

Insightful, particularly for a history noob like myself, Barb's writing is full of relevant advice, reflected in the mistakes of the past. Although written in the 80s, the book remains valuable and interesting, and I always felt like I was in well-researched, objectively neutral hands when reading.

I came away feeling like I had learned quite a lot. I felt like I could better underrstand the pitfalls of bad government decision making and how to avoid making the same mistakes if I was ever in a s ...more

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Oct 11, 2019 Tyler Jones added it

Shelves: history

Ambition, corruption, emotion.
The fear of looking weak. The fear of losing status. Inability to admit one is wrong and to change course. Inability to speak truth to power. Inability of power to act on truth when it is spoken to.
So it is, was...and will be?
There are some very sobering thoughts in here, and an urgent call to examine our own course of folly and, if possible, address the issue.

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Jan 19, 2021 Brian Schimmoller rated it really liked it

History is rife with lessons, but it’s rare to see such lessons stitched together across such disparate events as the Trojan Horse, the Papal States, the American Evolution, and the Vietnam War. But Barbara Tuchman does a phenomenal job of relating history in a way that shows how “human” history is, and how susceptible we all are to unconscious and ultimately damaging biases. Folly is never more than a few bad decisions away. While it might be argued that Tuchman has the academic benefit of 20/2 ...more

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Jan 13, 2018 Marco Etheridge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

Based on the current political climate, this book has been in my thoughts. I feel compelled to update my original short review. My first review read: " More pertinent now than ever. Have you ever wondered how powerful governments can make such bad decision? Then this book is for you."

Perhaps an inquiring reader will ask why? Allow me, in my small way, to answer that question.

"The March of Folly" was published in 1984 by Knopf. Barbara Tuchman, the renowned historian and writer, explores a basic Based on the current political climate, this book has been in my thoughts. I feel compelled to update my original short review. My first review read: " More pertinent now than ever. Have you ever wondered how powerful governments can make such bad decision? Then this book is for you."

Perhaps an inquiring reader will ask why? Allow me, in my small way, to answer that question.

"The March of Folly" was published in 1984 by Knopf. Barbara Tuchman, the renowned historian and writer, explores a basic failing of governments. She gives this failing a name: Wooden-Headedness. She defines that trait as "the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests."

Before I go further, I must admit that I am a fan of Barbara Tuchman. That is not the case with some of her contemporaries. The author was often criticized, and this book was no exception. She was a historian and writer, but she was also a woman in an academic world very much dominated by male writers, thinkers, and reviewers. Tuchman was born in 1912, and was active as a writer from 1938-1988. This was an era that did not look all that kindly on female academics. Regardless of these criticisms, she is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author.

"The March of Folly" uses four examples to illuminate the principle of Wooden-headedness. Why did the men of Troy bring the Greek horse into the walls of the city? Why did the Renaissance popes ignore the failings of the Catholic church, failings that would lead to the conflagration of the Reformation? Why did King George III alienate, and finally cause to rebel, the American Colonists, thus killing the cash cow of the colonies? And, finally, why did the government of the United States adopt policies during the Vietnam war that brought about exactly the opposite of their stated aims?

I return to the reader's question: "Why should I read this book?" Barbara Tuchman was not only a gifted historian, she was also a gifted writer. Tuchman uses clear, concise prose. Her histories are written in a way that is clearly accessible to non-academic readers. I find her work to be engrossing, captivating, and entertaining. Reading "The March of Folly" is not a slog through the dry annuls of history. Rather, it is an illuminating look at how and why seemingly intelligent leaders can do extraordinarily stupid things.

The longest portion of the book deals with the US involvement in the Vietnam War. Given the times and the context, this was also the most controversial portion of the book, and the one most often criticized. I wills set that aside, even though I believe that history has proven the author's point. When I first read Tuchman's theory on the American Revolution, I found a new view of history that I had never encountered during all the long classes I had sat through. The English King, George III, and his advisors, simply could not see the forest for the trees.

Prior to the American revolution, the American colonies were a cash cow for England. The colonies shipped much-needed raw materials to the Mother Country. The colonies were also a closed market for England's manufactured goods, forced to buy finished products from England. Financially, England could not do better. They made money both ways. The colonists were, for the most part, loyal subjects of the Crown. They did not want a revolution. When the colonists requested representation in the English Parliament, they were rebuked by the Crown. George III took the view that the colonists were wayward children that needed to be disciplined.

There were voices of caution along the road, both in England and the colonies, but the Crown chose to ignore them. The disciplinary measures that the George III invoked would ultimately lead a minority of firebrand colonists to incite a revolt, thus killing the cash cow that England treasured. Tuchman's point is that the road to ruin was not a blind alley without options. There were warning signs, and warning voices, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite all evidence to the contrary, George III and his minions pursued a course of action that achieved exactly the opposite of what they wanted. Why? Therein lies the premise of this book.

I mentioned that this book has recently been in my thoughts. There is good reason for this. I think that if Barbara Tuchman were alive today (Tuchman died 1989) she would be compelled to add new sections to "The March of Folly." One has only to look at the current Brexit debacle, or the state of politics in the United States, to see that Wooden-headedness is very much alive and well amongst the governments of the world. The point of this review is not to take a position on either of these current example of Wooden-headedness, but simply to point out that the trait is thriving amongst the governing forces of our times.

I highly recommend "The March of Folly," as I do the rest of Tuchman's work. She is clear thinker, and a gifted writer. Whether or not one agrees with her premises is a matter of opinion. That a reader of "The march of Folly" will exposed to new and interesting historical perspectives is, I believe, a fact. ...more

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May 14, 2016 thethousanderclub rated it really liked it

In 2002 Elder Neal A. Maxwell titled Encircled in the Arms of His Love. As part of his talk, he briefly discussed the Founding Fathers and subsequently quoted Barbara W. Tuchman from her book The March of Folly: "It would be invaluable if we could know what produced this burst of talent from a base of only two and a half million inhabitants." As part of my quest to catalogue as many books quoted at General Conference as possible, I added the book to the list and shortly thereafter ordered it for In 2002 Elder Neal A. Maxwell titled Encircled in the Arms of His Love. As part of his talk, he briefly discussed the Founding Fathers and subsequently quoted Barbara W. Tuchman from her book The March of Folly: "It would be invaluable if we could know what produced this burst of talent from a base of only two and a half million inhabitants." As part of my quest to catalogue as many books quoted at General Conference as possible, I added the book to the list and shortly thereafter ordered it for myself. The March of Folly is a deep dive; it's not for escapists or fair weather readers. It takes focus and consistency to enjoy. It's an excellent book.

Tuchman's main premise is that there have been many, many occasions in humanity's past in which governments, rulers, kings, etc., have acted against their own self-interest, even when clear alternatives were available, which led them to commit folly. Tuchman focuses on four such events, to wit: Troy, the Renaissance Popes, the American Revolution, and the Vietnam War. Although appearing to be disparate events and time periods, and one being veiled by mythology, Tuchman asserts that each have similar characteristics and outcomes. Her writing and exhaustive research does plenty to convince the reader of her perspective.

I've read plenty of non-fiction books and works of history. I have read very few more researched and detailed than The March of Folly. Tuchman presents an avalanche of details--names, dates, locations, events. It can be overwhelming and is not welcoming to readers unfamiliar with this kind of writing. However, Tuchman has provided an incredible addition to the study of these particular events. The American Revolution chapter in particular was especially intriguing. Living in America we obviously and rightfully approach the American Revolution from an American-centric perspective. However, Tuchman presents the circumstances leading to and pushing forward the American Revolution from the perspective of the British parliament and government officials. She quotes their letters and their journals; she highlights their disagreements and apathy toward the American colonies. She chronicles their ignoring of discontent, and the power of the American appetite for freedom. It's a fascinating variation on a theme and story I have read about many times over but never from this angle.

Perhaps the most challenging chapter of the book was the one related to the Vietnam War. My feelings on the war are nuanced, as they probably should be, but Tuchman presents details and information in The March of Folly I was completely ignorant to. Although only occurring a handful of decades ago, the events of the Vietnam War seem distant and mystifying. Tuchman demystifies some of it, but her cynicism and bias is most apparent during this chapter. The Vietnam War was a badly managed war and was fought for troubling reasons, but I struggle to call it completely vain in purpose the way that Tuchman does. As Gordon B. Hinckly said: "I have had many feelings about that conflict . . . I have known something of a feeling of bitterness over some aspects of that conflict . . . I think I have felt very keenly the feelings of many of our young men concerning this terrible conflict in which we are engaged, but I am sure we are there because of a great humanitarian spirit in the hearts of the people of this nation." Communism is the greatest system of human slavery ever devised, and America's efforts, however mismanaged or misguided, to stop its spread throughout the Earth was noble. Tuchman presents some troubling facts, mostly about the management of the conflict. Regardless of my agreement or disagreement, The March of Folly presents a very valuable reflection on the Vietnam War and there are lessons to be learned.

The March of Folly is an excellent academic study of the four events or time periods previously listed. It's a heady book and wouldn't be enjoyed very much by those looking for a lazy read. It's a wonderful addition to my collection, and I will undoubtedly return to its pages for quotes, references, and insights.

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