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An Autumn of War
s/t: What America Learned from September 11 & the War on Terrorism
On September 11, 2001, hours after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the eminent military historian Victor Davis Hanson wrote an article in which he asserted that the United States, like it or not, was now at war and had the moral right to respond with force. An Autumn of War, which opens with that first essay, will stimulate readers across the political spectrum to think more deeply about the attacks, the war, and their lessons for all of us.
On September 11, 2001, hours after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the eminent military historian Victor Davis Hanson wrote an article in which he asserted that the United States, like it or not, was now at war and had the moral right to respond with force. An Autumn of War, which opens with that first essay, will stimulate readers across the political spectrum to think more deeply about the attacks, the war, and their lessons for all of us.
241 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2007
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About the author
Victor Davis Hanson
85 books1,195 followersVictor Davis Hanson was educated at the University of California, Santa Cruz (BA, Classics, 1975), the American School of Classical Studies (1978-79) and received his Ph.D. in Classics from Stanford University in 1980. He lives and works with his family on their forty-acre tree and vine farm near Selma, California, where he was born in 1953.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 26, 2020
The author is a Fox New Contributor, of whom I didn't know much about. Mom gave me two of his books, this being the first in the two-part series. Even though I'm very much a history nerd, I know little to nothing about military history. Reading the book prompted watching documentaries about the various Greek references sprinkled throughout. I'm definitely a fan of the style in which this book is written: an athology of the author's articles written between September 11 and December 2001. Agree or disagree, I don't believe you have to be a member of any particular political persuasion to enjoy this book; however, as with anything in this life, take or leave the material as it fits in to your life's paradigm. Of course I recommend reading this author's work.
January 2, 2018
If you read this after reading Carnage and Culture and The Soul of Battle, you’ll see a lot of repetition. But I think it’s worthwhile to do so. These essays are a practical application of the ideas in those two books to what was then a present reality. Unlike most history books, this book doesn’t look backward, but rather looks forward, applying the lessons of history to the present.
The essays cover an approximately three-month period from September 11 to December 22, a season, if you will, which is appropriate since Hanson’s other books often speak of Democratic armies of a season; and this is undoubtedly why he chose as his title, An Autumn of War.
Hanson successfully predicted a quick initial victory over the Taliban in Afghanistan, which in retrospect doesn’t seem like a difficult prediction, but at the time there was no lack of pundits and academics predicting a quagmire or even a defeat, giving us “every reason to do little, and little reason to do much”. Instead, Kabul was taken from the Taliban in only three months—and only two of them involving war. The bombing started on October 7.
Nor is the book all about war. He also talks about the heroic efforts of rescue workers on September 11 and afterward, efforts that reduced the number of dead from 30,000 to 3,000.
He admires President Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, at least in their initial reaction:
In December he gets fed up with the poor reporting on the Middle East, how some sources are questioned as a journalist should, and others are accepted at face value with no investigation.
Instead of investigating to find out the sources of their rumors, reporters go with the generic “some believe”, but “we suspect the ‘some’ are none other than the glum reporters themselves.”
But this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t argue about war; in fact, he believes that our “haranguing each other on the eve of the Gulf War… explains why the rest of the world copies its weapons, uniforms, and military organization from us, not vice-versa.”
In other words, echoing his conclusions from his earlier books, it is our freedom to disagree loudly that is, literally, our strength in battle.
The essays cover an approximately three-month period from September 11 to December 22, a season, if you will, which is appropriate since Hanson’s other books often speak of Democratic armies of a season; and this is undoubtedly why he chose as his title, An Autumn of War.
Hanson successfully predicted a quick initial victory over the Taliban in Afghanistan, which in retrospect doesn’t seem like a difficult prediction, but at the time there was no lack of pundits and academics predicting a quagmire or even a defeat, giving us “every reason to do little, and little reason to do much”. Instead, Kabul was taken from the Taliban in only three months—and only two of them involving war. The bombing started on October 7.
Nor is the book all about war. He also talks about the heroic efforts of rescue workers on September 11 and afterward, efforts that reduced the number of dead from 30,000 to 3,000.
As the ghastly rubble gets turned over, we find their remains in clusters—four incinerated here, ten buried there, fourteen caught en masse in a stairwell, where they had guided the panicked down as they themselves ascended to their deaths: “All nonessential personnel move away from that building!” The antithesis, left unsaid, is obvious: ”All necessary rescuers get into that building!”
…
We are seeing in this tragedy and in these firemen and police, alive and dead, the flesh and bones of our entire culture laid bare: what it means to be both American and Western at the moment of our peril and greatest need.
He admires President Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, at least in their initial reaction:
In their candor and diction, they radiate leadership in forcing us to accept the unpleasant, and for now are ready to incur ridicule from the self-satisfied and cynical.
In December he gets fed up with the poor reporting on the Middle East, how some sources are questioned as a journalist should, and others are accepted at face value with no investigation.
So cannot one honest American reporter ask, “We know of Mr. Sharon, Mr. Netanyahu, and Mr. Barouk—but who are the corresponding rivals in Palestine for Mr. Arafat’s job?” Both states are, after all, at war; yet one elects, the other does not—and not one American reporter asks why this is so. We, the American people, need to be told why our critics should be listened to, when none of them are the products of a free society—not a novelist, not a journalist, not an ambassador.
Instead of investigating to find out the sources of their rumors, reporters go with the generic “some believe”, but “we suspect the ‘some’ are none other than the glum reporters themselves.”
But this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t argue about war; in fact, he believes that our “haranguing each other on the eve of the Gulf War… explains why the rest of the world copies its weapons, uniforms, and military organization from us, not vice-versa.”
In other words, echoing his conclusions from his earlier books, it is our freedom to disagree loudly that is, literally, our strength in battle.
January 8, 2008
An interesting book compiled from Hanson's articles arguing for clarity and historical perspective on the challenge of the United States post 9-11. Glad people like Hanson can cut through headline sensationalism and sensibly discuss the vitrol that was swaying opinion at the time. I found that his message was a bell of crystal realism in a cacophony of phony place it safe political back sliding by leaders all over the world looking for excuses and dismissing the true lies and threats to modernity and freedom. Kaplan is another writer to read on this subject but Hanson is a giant of a thinker when it comes to classic statecraft lessons.
January 28, 2017
In the months after the attacks on New York and Washington I lived as I do now in San Francisco. This was not easy for a child who grew up in the "capital of world jewery." This book helped me keep my head above water in a sea of progressive thought. This is a group of articles compiled from Spet. 11, 2001 through the following Autumn. They are a living history of attack on America and her response in Afghanistan. Victor Davis Hanson once again puts it all in perspective. You can read his sindicated column in the Chronicle once or twice a week.
March 20, 2025
I received this book from a man I respect and think very highly of. This book is focuses on the levels of stupidity rampant in 2001-2002. I must admit to have been equally stupid then. The one difference. I learned and changed. Hanson has not demonstrated that ability or desire to stop cashing the checks.
I only bothered reading the first couple essays. They were horrid. Hanson fully believes every single lie of government used to justify past wars and thinks everything the military does is good because it is killing enemies and killing the enemies the military is pointed at must be good.
Hanson appears completely ignorant of the lies that led to every single war he glorifies. He is either ignorant of the truth or he is an outright liar pushing war from his ivory tower of academia while insulting those who actually do know better than him. No wonder he is so loved by the NeoCons. He pushes their narrative in prose with allusions to a distant past and glory that is achievable if we just kill more people.
Hanson might be the most ignorant American ever, or the biggest fraud reaping cash benefits for pushing lies and promoting falsehoods.
I will say this. The cover blue with orange text looks great. The books is eye catching and gorgeous, but it hides a giant pile of steaming garbage and I suspect Hanson wishes this book did not exist to demonstrate how much water he carries for the NeoCon clowns.
I only bothered reading the first couple essays. They were horrid. Hanson fully believes every single lie of government used to justify past wars and thinks everything the military does is good because it is killing enemies and killing the enemies the military is pointed at must be good.
Hanson appears completely ignorant of the lies that led to every single war he glorifies. He is either ignorant of the truth or he is an outright liar pushing war from his ivory tower of academia while insulting those who actually do know better than him. No wonder he is so loved by the NeoCons. He pushes their narrative in prose with allusions to a distant past and glory that is achievable if we just kill more people.
Hanson might be the most ignorant American ever, or the biggest fraud reaping cash benefits for pushing lies and promoting falsehoods.
I will say this. The cover blue with orange text looks great. The books is eye catching and gorgeous, but it hides a giant pile of steaming garbage and I suspect Hanson wishes this book did not exist to demonstrate how much water he carries for the NeoCon clowns.
January 9, 2025
His book comparing "an autumn of war" on the iraq war and 9/11 to another greek war is disingenuous. Not an expert on greek history myself but I can call out blue whale turds when I see it. Comparing greek militarists to Rummy and the devil incarnate Bush? Same Rummy who was CEO of Searle and he defends Rummy? He's a hypocrite.
Disregarding the torture going on that includes sodomy that is going on in Abu Gharib? Not even addressing the non existent WMD? What unnerves me was his "interview" with Thuycide. It sounds like what a lunatic would write. How did he interview him taking pharmaceuticals? Sounds like someone who is complicit after the fact regarding 9/11 and links Saddam Hussein to this terror attack.
Plus those planes never existed...it was controlled demolition and not a thing on Building 7.
I wonder how much he gets doing all his neocon columns with the national review? Will he be snaking his way to the Trump administration for the opportunistic leech that he is to this day?
This book is not worth your time if you want to read of his love fest of the devil incarnate Bush or his luncheon with the Cheneys or his daddy Rummy...
They all have one thing in common...they are all chickenhawks!
Disregarding the torture going on that includes sodomy that is going on in Abu Gharib? Not even addressing the non existent WMD? What unnerves me was his "interview" with Thuycide. It sounds like what a lunatic would write. How did he interview him taking pharmaceuticals? Sounds like someone who is complicit after the fact regarding 9/11 and links Saddam Hussein to this terror attack.
Plus those planes never existed...it was controlled demolition and not a thing on Building 7.
I wonder how much he gets doing all his neocon columns with the national review? Will he be snaking his way to the Trump administration for the opportunistic leech that he is to this day?
This book is not worth your time if you want to read of his love fest of the devil incarnate Bush or his luncheon with the Cheneys or his daddy Rummy...
They all have one thing in common...they are all chickenhawks!
July 10, 2018
I want to throw this book against the wall. A few of the claims the author makes:
On the topic of whether war solves problems: "Nazism, Japanese Militarism and Soviet Communism were defeated through war". First of all, all of those were CREATED through war and its effects and the Soviet Empire collapsed on its own.
The constant comparisons to antique empires (Greece, Sparta, etc) is very over the top. Today's world and warfare is in no way actually comparable to the battles fought by the Roman, Greek, Macedonian or Phoenizian Empire. And honestly, bringing up great names like Caesar and thinking that today's generals can compare is hilarious.
The writing style is way too histrionic and emotional for me, but that is something of a personal reference. I'm used to neutral (which doesn't mean objective!) writing styles in media, so it's very over the top for me.
I went through a third of this book, it would be interesting to see how his opinions progressed, but I think I'd rather read a dictionary.
On the topic of whether war solves problems: "Nazism, Japanese Militarism and Soviet Communism were defeated through war". First of all, all of those were CREATED through war and its effects and the Soviet Empire collapsed on its own.
The constant comparisons to antique empires (Greece, Sparta, etc) is very over the top. Today's world and warfare is in no way actually comparable to the battles fought by the Roman, Greek, Macedonian or Phoenizian Empire. And honestly, bringing up great names like Caesar and thinking that today's generals can compare is hilarious.
The writing style is way too histrionic and emotional for me, but that is something of a personal reference. I'm used to neutral (which doesn't mean objective!) writing styles in media, so it's very over the top for me.
I went through a third of this book, it would be interesting to see how his opinions progressed, but I think I'd rather read a dictionary.
March 14, 2023
Yikes. This is a collection of VDH's rather unhinged commentary on terrorism in the months after 9/11 for NR, City Journal, and other pubs. Because he doesn't know much about terrorism and isn't interested in learning, he falls back on what he does know (or thinks he knows): a triumphalist Western narrative about how we are awesome at warfare because of our rationalist, individualistic culture, calls for the restoration of traditional masculinity, and culture war diatribes against the multiculturalism, political correctness, and other ideologies that he believes with handicap U.S. efforts to understand and respond to terrorism. While this book is repetitive and hyperbolic (he suggests quarantining the entire Muslim Middle East from basically all outside contact and says NATO is a dead alliance), you can see how he's talking himself into a later Trumpian populism. It's also useful for my own purposes, for my next book project on conservative views of terrorism since the 1960s. Anyways, don't read this unless you have a specific research interest in doing so.
September 4, 2025
Victor Davis Hanson is a prolific author that specializes in in Ancient History. He was at Stanford for a while, then California State University - Fresno and is now at a think tank. This book is really what the author believes Americans learned from 9/11/2001 - like Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan - and why 9/11 will never go away. The author presents the consequences of 9/11 and those characterizes these in the essays, 38 of them which are only a few pages each and are essentially edited for book form as these essays were previously published. The book is broken out into four parts; September, October, November and December, each part has 8 -12 essays - roughly.
The essays are not only a microcosm of sentiment in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, but they are also representative of the themes withing the current geopolitical environment of 2025. The two themes that dominate these essays are that the reason terrorists act against America is because of who we are and what we represent. The second theme, and this is for anyone that ever served in a conflict country like Iraq or Afghanistan, is that all the problems of humanity and conflict are not, and will not be solved by humanitarian assistance, throwing money at the problem and believing that the world has our same 21st Century views of enlightenment. here we are, a scant 24 years later straddling the turn of generations, and we still believe we can reinvent the nature of man.
All in all, a good book with a look back the major life changing and historical event that kicked off he 21st century.
The essays are not only a microcosm of sentiment in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, but they are also representative of the themes withing the current geopolitical environment of 2025. The two themes that dominate these essays are that the reason terrorists act against America is because of who we are and what we represent. The second theme, and this is for anyone that ever served in a conflict country like Iraq or Afghanistan, is that all the problems of humanity and conflict are not, and will not be solved by humanitarian assistance, throwing money at the problem and believing that the world has our same 21st Century views of enlightenment. here we are, a scant 24 years later straddling the turn of generations, and we still believe we can reinvent the nature of man.
All in all, a good book with a look back the major life changing and historical event that kicked off he 21st century.
November 10, 2024
38 essays/articles written in the immediate aftermath and for the next 3 months following 9/11, articulating the cause of war in Afghanistan, vanquishing al Quida, and removing the Taliban so that terror could not be exported again. Victor does a fine job.
However, the story that unfolds not in the immediate aftermath, but playing out years later was mission creep, convincing ourselves wrongly that original good-intension nation-building might lead to something wonderful, rather than to the certain quagmire. As Victor explains via comparisons with Vietnam, no one should expect an armpit territory for at least 2,000 years to suddenly embrace Jefferson. And Afghanistan did not. Sticking with the original military-only mission of vanquishing al Quida while removing any tools that might foster the export of terrorism, and nothing more, would have saved time, lives, and treasury.
However, the story that unfolds not in the immediate aftermath, but playing out years later was mission creep, convincing ourselves wrongly that original good-intension nation-building might lead to something wonderful, rather than to the certain quagmire. As Victor explains via comparisons with Vietnam, no one should expect an armpit territory for at least 2,000 years to suddenly embrace Jefferson. And Afghanistan did not. Sticking with the original military-only mission of vanquishing al Quida while removing any tools that might foster the export of terrorism, and nothing more, would have saved time, lives, and treasury.
June 27, 2018
Tribute to 9/11 Heroes
Dr Hanson’s collection of brilliant columns surrounding the terrible and glorious times surrounding our great loss of the Twin Towers are worthy of another read by any student of modern history. His writing is precise and very readable. I continue to read any and all of his works. He is fast becoming one of my favorite historians. I strongly recommend anything bearin the name of Victor Davis Hanson.
Dr Hanson’s collection of brilliant columns surrounding the terrible and glorious times surrounding our great loss of the Twin Towers are worthy of another read by any student of modern history. His writing is precise and very readable. I continue to read any and all of his works. He is fast becoming one of my favorite historians. I strongly recommend anything bearin the name of Victor Davis Hanson.
June 11, 2012
I found this collection of articles written in the weeks following 9/11 a fascinating read. I also disagreed with a ton of what Hanson had to say and would be interested to see what he has to comment on now that American presence in Afghanistan has been going on for 10+ years. Reading this book was a good endeavor for me as I knew going into it that I would not agree with everything, but it's always good to listen with an open mind to others' perspectives to learn. Hanson's anti-intellectualism was probably the most annoying aspect of the book. Hanson did make some valid and interesting points concerning the Arab view of America, America's interaction with the Middle East and Europe, and the future of American foreign policy. Am I glad I read this book? Yes. Did it make me frustrated at times? Yes.
February 25, 2008
Anything by Victor Davis Hanson is worth reading. I don't agree with his cheerleading for Bush, however.
February 9, 2017
Provocative essays written in the aftermath of 9/11. I disagreed with a lot of his views, but loved reading the essays. Lots to assimilate.
November 15, 2009
Excellent series of essays written in months after 9/11
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September 16, 2008
Just learning about global issues when I read this book. It was very helpful.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews