Technology of War

by Steve White

The military challenges of today are very different to those of the past. Smaller conflicts that require a quick response are more common, as is the threat of terrorism.

An amazing range of new technology has been developed to respond to these challenges, from one-billion-dollar stealth bombers, through to cheap mini-computers carried by soldiers on the battlefield. This book reveals how high-tech weapons and war machines help today's soldiers to fight more accurately and efficiently than ever before.

Ages 10 and up.

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

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Reviews

[Joannah Keats · Rating 3 out of 5]

A high-interest, visually-appealing book for boys, Technology of War provides a detailed look at many modern gadgets and machines in use by today's military. Middle-school boys who are already interested in this subject will likely be very happy with the level of detail provided by the author.

The drawbacks of this title are primarily the lack of photo captions and its coldness. Some of the photos are fantastic, but it would be nice to know exactly what you are looking at - "Is that an F15? Is that one an A-10? What are those soldiers doing in that picture?"

As for the coldness, many of these weapons are discussed in such a detached manner that it could be very easy, especially for young kids, to forget that this cool gadget they're reading about could be responsible for a devastating amount of destruction and loss of human life. The very last page discusses Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles - and it tells us that the United States has 450 nuclear Minuteman ICBMs housed in bombproof underground silos, each manned by two officers who can only launch the weapons with a confirmed order from the President. Even as someone from a military family who has always been fascinated by military technology - that is a cold and unsettling piece of information. While I understand that this book is intended to be high-interest nonfiction, not a treatise on the morality of war, I still find it disturbing that there is almost no mention of loss of human life or the potential destruction of the entire planet. War is NOT cool, and this book primarily focuses on offensive technology rather than defensive (though I realize many conflate the two).

The vocabulary level is very high and the book includes a glossary at the end to define key terms. Although the recommended age is 10 and up, it is really better suited to older kids and teens. If I were a teacher, I would find this book most useful in physics to deepen understanding of practical applications and social studies/history/current events classes to spark discussion.

[Tina Mcconkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the school book fair. When I reached my classroom, I have four boy begging me to let the read it . . . that was before I even entered the room. I found the photographs in this book amazing. The words were a little difficult for fourth graders, but that did not stop them. I was disappointed that the photographs were not labeled very well. It was a well interesting read. I am puzzled that no mention of the damage the weapons in this book cause, either in human lives lost or the places affected by war.

[Nikhil Parikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but missing the fact that people do die in war kind of acting like death is fictional

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

good starter book for anyone who is interested in what technology is used in war. Book has nice pictures and diagrams.