Intelligence in War, John Keegan
Intelligence in War, John Keegan
3 Rating(s)
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Intelligence in War
Knowledge of the Enemy from Napoleon to Al-Qaeda

Author: John Keegan

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Abridged: 9 hr 11 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/28/2003


Synopsis

In fiction, the spy is a glamorous figure whose secrets make or break peace, but, historically, has intelligence really been a vital step to military victories? In this breakthrough study, the preeminent war historian John Keegan goes to the heart of a series of important conflicts to develop a powerful argument about military intelligence.

In his characteristically wry and perceptive prose, Keegan offers us nothing short of a new history of war through the prism of intelligence. He brings to life the split-second decisions that went into waging war before the benefit of aerial surveillance and electronic communications. The English admiral Horatio Nelson was hot on the heels of Napoleon’s fleet in the Mediterranean and never knew it, while Stonewall Jackson was able to compensate for the Confederacy’s disadvantage in firearms and manpower with detailed maps of the Appalachians. In the past century, espionage and decryption have changed the face of battle: the Japanese surprise attack at the Battle of the Midway was thwarted by an early warning. Timely information, however, is only the beginning of the surprising and disturbing aspects of decisions that are made in war, where brute force is often more critical.

Intelligence in War is a thought-provoking work that ranks among John Keegan’s finest achievements.

About The Author

John Keegan’s books include The First World War, The Battle for History, The Face of Battle, War and Our World, The Mask of Command, Fields of Battle and A History of Warfare. He is the defense editor of The Daily Telegraph (London). He lives in Wiltshire, England.


Reviews

For decades Professor John Keegan has been one of my favorite military go to historians. I could easily be one of his squealing fainting fans. With sadness I must report that Intelligence in War is not up to his standard and cannot be recommended. His case study methodology, elsewhere very illuminat......more

Goodreads review by Kuszma on April 17, 2023

1. „Igazából, ha valaki megkérdezi, mit is csinálnak a kémek, a legbiztosabb válasz így hangzik: egymásra kémkednek.” A legtöbben a felderítés szó hallatán bizonyára a kémekre asszociálnak, előírásszerű ballonkabátban és napszemüvegben, amint épp egy atomkutató intézet kapuját figyelik egy fa mögül. N......more

Goodreads review by Don on June 28, 2019

I'm not going to pretend like this will be an unbiased review. I am a huge Keegan fan and have read five of his other books. Keegan's method, one of which I am particularly fond, attempts to give the reader a broader understanding of military history. This is not done by sketching an overall connect......more

Goodreads review by Alberto on December 28, 2023

Ensayo muy ilustrativo de lo que es y supone la inteligencia militar, alejándolo del romanticismo que se ha creado en torno a novelas, películas y series que suelen ser las principales fuentes de conocimiento para los aficionados. Tras un primer capítulo en el que nos define los conceptos básicos, n......more

Goodreads review by Lee on October 23, 2023

This book has a lot to recommend it. It is a series of case studies focusing on the usefulness of intelligence in specific battles. Keegan's thesis rejects the normal understanding of intelligence, that "knowledge is power." Instead, Keegan convincingly suggests that intelligence is usually peripher......more


Quotes

“[Keegan] brings to the literature of war a deep affection for revealing details, and it’s clear that he loves to be surprised by what he learns. His pleasure animates the material for his readers.”
National Post

“Keegan has not set out to debunk intelligence. Rather he has sought to place the clandestine underbelly of war in perspective, to wrest it from the popular imagination as some sort of entertaining shortcut to victory.”
The New York Times

“Read Keegan’s Intelligence in War for its wonderful narration and genuine insights into the details of intelligence operations.”
The Globe and Mail