Generalship of Alexander the Great

There are many great books about Alexander the Great out there and this one certainly ranks along with the very best. Alexander is many different things to different people, but if there is one thing that the big majority could agree on, it's that Alexander was one of the greatest military commanders (if not THE greatest) of all time and this book focuses on the military aspects of his most astounding career. J.F.C. Fuller is considered one of the best military historians of the 20th century and it's refreshing to read the insights from someone with a thorough military background instead of the opinions from a classical history scholar. Alexander was great at many things but it was as a military leader that he really stood out and this book focuses on that aspect instead of delving into so many other areas as other books tend to do.I've read many books about Alexander the Great and it's easy to notice the difference between the writings of someone with a military background like Fuller and Peter G. Tsouras and those of "pure" college scholars. This book isn't as thorough as a biography as those from historians dedicated to ancient Greece and Rome, but that's what I liked about this book. It reads fast and is informative without bogging you down with so many names, places, and high-browed academia that seem to be more about impressing other scholars than informing the general reader. When I read some of the "scholarly" books about Alexander, I can't help but think that these historians are simply trying to out-do the other with their opinions than really trying to present objective history.Surely, Fuller sits in the positive camp and he focuses on Alexander's achievements, strategies, and tactics from a military leader's perspective rather than a college professor's. Fuller doesn't delve into moral ramblings like so many historians seem to do these days. We get the facts and the expert analysis from someone who knows the military inside out, not bookworms sitting in a college office or the home den. You get the insights of someone who understands war, who has been on the front lines with other soldiers, and who knows what it's like to face the enemy and death itself. My beef with historians who sit on some moral high horse and criticize Alexander is that they don't know what it's like to be a soldier, which is what Alexander was - first and foremost. And that's why I believe this book is significant.Some critics charge that Alexander was a reckless commander who endangered not only his life but those of his soldiers. Well, let's look at the results. Alexander was often heavily outnumbered - sometimes as much as 6 to 1 or even 10 to 1 - but Alexander and the Macedonian army won virtually every battle decisively with minimum losses while the enemies suffered catastrophic casualties. The enemies often suffered 10~20 times as many casualties as Alexander's army did. To those who criticize Alexander's "recklessness" as a general, what would YOU have done to do even better and save more Macedonian lives? Of course, these people wouldn't have a clue but it's easy for them to sit in their easy chair or a school desk and say, "I could have done better."This book is written by a renowned military general and historian and that means a lot. You can't quite compare that to most books written by university scholars who have no idea what it's like to put one's own life on the line as a soldier in times of war. Fuller writes and extrapolates from the perspective of a soldier, a general, and a leader of men in battle. I just can't see how anyone who hasn't been a soldier can understand what that's really like. Fuller illuminates the mind of the soldier as well as that of Alexander himself as a leader. This book isn't the definitive biography about Alexander, but if you want to read a detailed analysis of Alexander's military battles, campaigns, and achievements from a lifelong military man, it doesn't get any better than this.

This book is quite simply a classic.Napoleon remarked that reading the campaigns of alexander can enable one to understand the principles of war and this book shows why.General Fuller presents a broad view of alexander encompassing his role as a soldier,tactician,strategist,leader and political genius.He presents a compelling case that in light of all his accomplishments Alexander was the greatest military commander of all time.Alexander being very young for a general and king (23 when he first set out to conquer asia), was also very physically fit and fuller informs us how alexander lead from the front often putting his life at risk.As a matter of fact alexander was nearly killed at the battle of Granicus.Fuller depicts the story as a homeric tale and we are presented a picture of a man who not only directed the war effort but unlike other generals rather than send men to their deaths from the safety of the rear,personally took risks.This is something which is unheard of today.Fuller shows how Alexander mastered the 4 types of warfare:pitched battles,sieges,mountain warfare and the bane of all major powers throughout history guerilla warfare.Here we learn how alexander performed what I will say is the greatest feat in history .The conquest of a larger,richer and more populous empire that had control of the sea lanes which Alexander had to traverse in order to embark on his conquest .This is a situation that is unheard of in history,the closest being Rome's victory over Carthage and even then the differences between the two was not as large as betwen the Persian empire and the Greeks.Fuller also shows the brilliance of Alexander's mind with regard to strategic matters.On his conquest of the Persian empire,instead of turning inward,Alexander travelled down the coast capturing all the navy bases,crippling Persian sea power and ensuring that no enemies remained in his rear.Fuller shows how well Alexander mastered all the principles of war including surprise and mobility. He demonstrates Alexander's ingenuity when he confronted Porus and his Elephant army on the Hydraspes River.To me however the greatest of all is the way Fuller demonstrates Alexander's leadership,political skills and diplomacy.Unlike other conquerors with the possible exception of the British),Alexander realized that war had its limits and was not the only instrument to use.Here we see how he emphasized with the peoples of the conquered Persian empire.To the Greeks,Egyptians and other oppressed people,Alexander presented himself as a liberator from Persian rule.To the Persian elite,Alexander presented himself as one of them adopting their dress and customs.In all cases the conquered were allowed to keep their religion and culture.In this alexander displays wisdom that other conquerors throughout history did not:the use of a heart and minds campaign.Napoleon for example only sought to use brute force in subjugating the Germans ,Spanish and Russians inveitably leading to his defeat.Hitler used extreme cruelty in his conquest of the USSR when simple kindness would have helped him considerably when one takes into account that the population hated Stalin.In conclusion,this book presents a good view of the workings of the greatest general of all time and it offers vital lessons for war,politics and the field of strategy as well as making for a good read.The one question I have is about Fuller's portrayal of Alexander as a hero.I mean was he really one or was he just a shrewd,cynical operator with an extremely good grasp of reality.

very long winded at times. a good read and shows how alexander was out there on his own in military tactics of his time

Book condition is barely passable, seems very old. Link said it was 'good' when I had purchased it.Content is what you would expect. Recommended by Gen. Mattis.

useful book, a classic study of Alexander's strategy and tactics.

Brilliant as usual! Major General Fuller is the master in this subject of leadership, who partly because of his honesty in seeing that generals are only at their best when young because of the need for fitness, stamina, quick reactions and initiative etc which are all diminished with age, went no further in the chain of command. How could they promote someone who would have sacked them? By middle age the generals are all too set in their ways to innovate, the persistent need: generalship is about winning and finding new ways is vital and too accustomed to their comforts in the field to be capable of 24 hours a day battle for days on end without much sleep.Alas, Fuller was a Moselyite. Yet, Winston's CIGS Viscount Alexander deemed him too patriotic to be a risk.

Fuller takes the reader through almost every aspect of; Greek society, Macedonian society, the military situation, the political background, Alexander`s upbringing, and of course information on the Persian Empire are all explained. I found the information quite interesting, on how Alexander`s father had set up a military, that was far superior to any other army of that time. Alexander inherited a well tuned military machine, that enabled him to conquer the world.One of Fuller`s key themes regarding Alexander, is Alexander`s practice of statesmanship. He is not just a conquering military man. Alexander takes other societies under his wing, and blends them into his empire. Alexander`s politics enable him to conquer much more, then just the single use of military force.The reason for only three stars, at times I did find the reading a little dreary.