Best Military Strategy History Books of 2025

The Art of War is a classic book on military strategy written by Sun Tzu. This edition, approved by the Holden-Crowther Organisation for Asian Studies, is a decent version of the book, although the chapters are intentionally not in order. The authorship of Sun Tzu is still a mystery, but his timeless tactics and strategies remain relevant. The book falls under the category of success and self-help books and is published by CreateSpace Classics. Overall, The Art of War is a must-read for anyone interested in military strategy and leadership.

The New Makers of Modern Strategy: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age is a comprehensive resource on military and political strategy that provides a global and comparative perspective on strategic thought from antiquity to the present day. It features entirely new entries by world-class scholars, focusing on classical and current themes of strategy. The book draws vital lessons from history's most influential strategists and evaluates the timeless requirements of effective strategy while tracing the revolutionary changes that challenge the makers of strategy in the contemporary world. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in military strategy history.

The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene is a must-read book for anyone who wants to learn how to win in life's battles. In this book, Greene distills the strategies of war and applies them to everyday life, providing readers with timeless lessons from history to help them vanquish their enemies, ensnare unsuspecting victims, or become the greatest in their field. The book covers offensive and defensive strategies, and each chapter outlines a strategy that can be used to win life's wars. The book is abundantly illustrated with examples from history, making it an indispensable guide for anyone who wants to gain the upper hand in life.

Turn the Ship Around! by David Marquet is a must-read for leaders who want to transform their organizations. Marquet's true story of turning the worst-performing submarine in the US Navy into the best-performing one by empowering his crew is inspiring. The book challenges traditional leader-follower approaches and encourages leadership at every level. This book offers timeless principles for empowering leadership and delegating tasks, making it one of the best business books of all time.

The Art of War by Sun-tzu, translated by Ralph D. Sawyer, is a timeless classic of military strategy that has influenced some of the most legendary military operations. This book is not only useful on the battlefield but also in various competitive situations and is now required reading for executives of companies worldwide. Sawyer's translation is uniquely accurate and accessible, placing the treatise in its proper historical context and offering chapters of historical analysis touching on its relevance to today's corporate environment. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient warfare and strategy.

The Book of Five Rings is a masterpiece on swordsmanship, strategy, and winning, written by the undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi. The book offers timeless insights on defeating adversaries, creating confusion, and overpowering opponents. Musashi's teachings on mastering the mind rather than technical prowess are the core of this classic. William Scott Wilson's translation is faithful to the original Japanese text and remarkably readable. The book also includes "The Way of Walking Alone," and calligraphy by Japanese artist Shiro Tsujimura. This book is a must-read for martial artists and those interested in skillfully dealing with conflict.

Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Paul Scharre is a must-read book for anyone interested in the ongoing struggle to control AI. Scharre explores the four key elements that define this power struggle: data, computing power, talent, and institutions. He takes readers inside the fierce competition between the AI superpowers: China, the United States, and Europe. The book is filled with futuristic technology, from AI systems developing combat tactics better than any human to the chilling synergy between China’s government, private sector, and surveillance state. Overall, Four Battlegrounds offers an insightful and thought-provoking look at the future of AI and its impact on global power dynamics.

Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai is a comprehensive and accurate edition of one of the most influential Japanese texts written nearly 300 years ago by Yamamoto Tsunetomo. Alex Bennett's wholly new and highly readable translation of this essential work includes extensive footnotes that serve to fill in many cultural and historical gaps in the previous translations. This unique combination of readability and scholarship gives Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai a distinct advantage over all previous English editions. Overall, this book is a must-have for serious martial artists or fans of samurai and the bushido code.

The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history, resulting in 23,000 casualties. In "I Dread the Thought of the Place," historian D. Scott Hartwig provides an hour-by-hour tactical history of the battle, shedding light on the visceral experience of battle and its emotional aftermath. The book also explains how the battle marked a turning point in the Civil War, leading to the Emancipation Proclamation. With 21 unique maps illustrating the state of the battle, this long-awaited companion to Hartwig's "To Antietam Creek" is a must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War.

The Way of the Warrior: Deluxe Silkbound Editions in Boxed Set (Arcturus Collector's Classics, 11) is a collection of three classic texts from China and Japan - The Art of War, The Book of Five Rings, and The Way of the Samurai. These texts provide strategies and techniques for warfare and conflict that have been used as a source of insight into many areas of life, including leadership and corporate strategy. The beautiful silkbound volumes make a wonderful gift or collectible for anyone wishing to apply ancient wisdom to the modern world.