Define Epithetical Books The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam
| Title | : | The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam |
| Author | : | Barbara W. Tuchman |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 447 pages |
| Published | : | February 12th 1985 by Random House Trade Paperbacks (first published 1984) |
| Categories | : | History. Nonfiction. Politics. War. World History |
Barbara W. Tuchman
Paperback | Pages: 447 pages Rating: 4.02 | 5172 Users | 400 Reviews
Chronicle Toward Books The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam
Twice a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, author Barbara Tuchman now tackles the pervasive presence of folly in governments thru the ages. Defining folly as the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests, despite the availability of feasible alternatives, Tuchman details four decisive turning points in history that illustrate the very heights of folly in government: the Trojan War, the breakup of the Holy See provoked by Renaissance Popes, the loss of the American colonies by Britain's George III & the USA's persistent folly in Vietnam. THE MARCH OF FOLLY brings the people, places & events of history alive for today's reader.
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| Original Title: | The March Of Folly: From Troy To Vietnam |
| ISBN: | 0345308239 (ISBN13: 9780345308238) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Rating Epithetical Books The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam
Ratings: 4.02 From 5172 Users | 400 ReviewsPiece Epithetical Books The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam
Man, talk about phoning it in....Years ago I read Barbara Tuchman's famous "Guns of August" and thought it was great. So I'd give this one a shot. Big mistake.She's just slumming it here; not trying very hard. The theme is times in history when a nation engaged in folly - self-defeating behavior. That's a pretty broad theme that in encapsulate tons of examples. She focuses on four items that don't really have much to do w/ each other, but she felt like talking about. Well, really three thingsA fascinating attempt by Tuchman to explain or at least illustrate why governments choose the wrong path even when they know it's the wrong path. She begins with the story of the Trojan Horse to illustrate the first written example of governmental folly leading to disaster.The next three examples are of the Renaissance Popes, the British handling of the American Revolution and the American actions before and during the Vietnamese War.The popes, in spite of criticism from many clerics and kings
A magnificent, astringent and idiosyncratic work of history which I've owned for the best part of three years, and there's no particular reason I'm reading it now, honest. It looks chiefly at four famous examples of folly, defined as a policy which 'must have been perceived as counter-productive in its own time, not merely by hindsight'; equally, 'a feasible alternative course of action must have been available'. The third rule is that it must persist beyond one political lifetime, but little
Based on the current political climate, this book has been in my thoughts. I feel compelled to update my original short review. My first review read: " More pertinent now than ever. Have you ever wondered how powerful governments can make such bad decision? Then this book is for you."Perhaps an inquiring reader will ask why? Allow me, in my small way, to answer that question."The March of Folly" was published in 1984 by Knopf. Barbara Tuchman, the renowned historian and writer, explores a basic
A book which informed my entire world view, and still does. Tuchman posits the existance of folly, or the pursuit of public policy contrary to self-interestin other words, why nations keep shooting themselves in the foot. She uses the Trojans taking the Greek horse inside the walls of Troy as her template...the feasible alternative--that of destroying the Horse--is always open. Capys the Elder advised it before Laocoon's warning, and Cassandra afterward. Notwithstanding the frequent references
Tuchman's The March of Folly is spotty. First of all, too much attention is paid to Troy, about which nothing is known, historically speaking. All that section does is provide a simile or two for what follows. Also, she actually is stronger in another classical case not mentioned in the title or in most descriptions of the book, viz. that of King Rehoboam of Israel. Second, the account of the involvements of France and the United States in VietNam is of a journalistic quality not in keeping with
Excellent, excellent examination of the tendency for political policies to continue down damaging pathways though multiple experts advise against it, which Tuchman describes as folly. Her description of decadent popes directly encouraging the Protestant Reformation and the resulting loss of Roman power is fun, lively, and intellectually rigorous. She falters a bit while explaining the British loss of the American colonies as a result of folly. She would have been wise to shave at least 20-30
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