A Historical Sensibility

Reviews / Votes

'This wonderful collection, containing pieces written by Sir Michael Howard over 60 years, will be enjoyed by his, and the Institute's, many friends and admirers. Here will be found many reminders, written with Michael's customary lucidity, of the big issues of the post-war period as they were seen at the time. In addition to a fascinating interview conducted not long before his death about the origins of the Institute, there are obituaries of many of the key and now too often forgotten figures of those early years.'-- Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London

'Sir Michael's exploration of policy judgement by fusing politics, strategy, history, ethics, and technology in the nuclear age is increasingly relevant in this complex age of artificial intelligence. His interdisciplinary approach continues to be a guide as we work to synthesize and solve the challenges presented by rapid technological advancements. The pieces contained here show both the continued relevance of his work, and his commitment to studying military history properly, in "depth," in "width," and in "context."'-- Dr Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman of Asia Pacific Initiative

'In an era of instant analysis and social media polemics, Sir Michael Howard's depth of understanding, erudition and beautifully crafted prose serve as a welcome reminder that there exists another, better, way of gauging the forces of history and strategy. These are the writings of a man with rapier-sharp wit who speaks of war as someone with first-hand experience.'-- Professor Francois Heisbourg, Senior Advisor for Europe and former Chairman, IISS