Overview

For over a century, Carl von Clausewitz's On War has been revered as the foundational text of modern strategy. Yet, few have actually read it, and even fewer have understood it. Myths about Clausewitz-such as the tale of Abraham Lincoln drawing inspiration from On War-have eclipsed the reality of his life and the depth of his ideas. This book sets the record straight. Rather than celebrating Clausewitz as a war-mongering Prussian prophet or dismissing him as obsolete, it restores his work by placing it in historical context and making it accessible to modern readers. Written for a wide audience-from curious civilians to military professionals-this book unpacks Clausewitz's famously complex arguments, explains why his dialectical method confuses so many, and demonstrates why his insights remain urgently relevant today. It dismantles decades of misinterpretation and politicization while offering a clear-eyed guide through his core concepts: friction, the trinity, political purpose, and military genius. Neither a biography nor a primer, Restoring Clausewitz is a fitting companion volume for those who want to read On War with insight and precision. For anyone serious about understanding war and strategy, this book is a crucial-and readable-starting point. *This book is in the Rapid Communications in Conflict and Security (RCCS) Series (General Editor: Thomas G. Mahnken; Founding Editor: Geoffrey R.H. Burn). See https: //www.cambriapress.com/rccsbooks.cfm

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9781638573364

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Reviews

""Reading Carl von Clausewitz's On War is never easy, but this companion volume makes the process far more accessible, engaging, and enlightening. J. Furman Daniel shows how On War must be understood in the context of Clausewitz's lived experience of Napoleonic warfare and in the intellectual and strategic traditions of his time. From a compelling opening anecdote onward, Daniel also explains how and why Clausewitz's masterwork has been consistently misinterpreted and overinterpreted in the two centuries since it was written. His concluding summary of the core elements of Clausewitz's thought underscores both the enduring value of these ideas and their continued relevance for students, scholars, and practitioners today."" - Joanna Spear, The George Washington University ""J. Furman Daniel's Restoring Clausewitz revives the Prussian theorist with clarity, rigor, and historical depth. Daniel situates On War in its intellectual and political contexts while showing why Clausewitz's ideas continue to shape strategy today. Erudite yet accessible, the book reconnects readers to both the richness and the limits of Clausewitz's thought, offering students and practitioners alike a lucid guide to one of history's most consequential minds."" -Samuel R. Helfont, U.S. Naval War College ""Carl von Clausewitz-history's most overquoted and underread Prussian-warned against 'those who never rise above the anecdote...starting always with the most striking feature and digging only as deep as suits them.' In Restoring Clausewitz , J. Furman Daniel offers a clear, engaging, and necessary correction to decades of misreadings and misuses-a much-needed antidote to the anecdotes from those who misquote and misread Clausewitz's classic text. Rather than cherry-picking sound bites, Daniel takes Clausewitz seriously, tracing his arguments, unpacking his historical context, and restoring the coherence and complexity of his most famous work. The result is an indispensable guide for readers who want to move beyond cliché and finally understand On War on its own terms."" -Jay M. Parker, Georgetown University, and coauthor, Restoring Thucydides

Author Information

J. Furman Daniel III is an associate professor of political science at Concordia University Chicago. His previous publications include 21st Century Patton: Strategic Insights for the Modern Era, The First Space War: How Patterns of History and Principles of STEM Will Shape Its Form, Patton: Battling with History, and Blood, Mud and Oil Paint: The Remarkable Year that Made Winston Churchill.

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