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B.A. Friedman

On Tactics: A Theory of Victory in Battle Paperback – Illustrated, August 15, 2020

by B. A. Friedman (Author)

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Originally setting out to write the very book that he would have wanted to own as a young infantryman, the author penned On Tactics as a remedy for navigating the chaotic and inchoate realm of tactical theory. Challenging centuries-old conventional wisdom regarding the principles of war, tactics, and the roles of strategy, doctrine, experiential learning, and military history, Friedman's work offers a striking synthesis of thinking on tactics as well as strategy.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Naval Institute Press
Publication date

August 15, 2020
Dimensions

5 x 0.58 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

1682476243
ISBN-13

978-1682476246
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Editorial Reviews

Review

""Friedman's On Tactics fills a critical gap and is an important read for both the emerging tactician and seasoned strategist alike. A vital addition to the professional military library for its organizing theory on tactics alone, his substantive appendices and the interwoven historical examples and insights from fellow intellectual heavyweights make this book a must-read for the individual and must-share for the leader."" -RealClearDefense ""This work is an interesting salvo into an area that does deserve review. His position is certainly understandable... This work suggests some interesting proposals."" -The Military Review

About the Author

B. A. Friedman entered the Marine Corps after graduating high school. He attended The Ohio State University and gained a B.A. in history as well as the Naval War College where he gained an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies. He transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve in 2016 as a Captain.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press; Illustrated edition (August 15, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1682476243
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1682476246
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.58 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #282,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #606 in Military Strategy History (Books)
- #8,537 in Engineering (Books)

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Scott Cunningham

A noble effort, but ultimately misses the mark.

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2018

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Was hoping for a tactical level equivalent of Clausewitz (which is focused more at the national/strategic and Operational level) - A unified theory of Tactics. It does not deliver on that claim. Instead. it really is a discussion on various tactical concepts, ideas, and topics. In that, its of value. Many of the topics covered include discussion on why they achieve effect, or how they link to other concepts, but there is no over-arching linkage of all ideas into one unified theory.

"Tactics" is merely the quest for advantage over an enemy. Its how you seek to strike at him from a position of advantage. Done properly, it achieves the dilemma effect, in which your unified/synchronized efforts effectively take away all enemy options to respond. When he seeks to avoid one of your directed efforts, he only succeeds in making himself more vulnerable to another. In the end he has no way out...The concept of dilemma (the fundamental quest for decisive advantage) that drives all tactical approaches wasn't mentioned in anything but passing form.

What was valuable was the "Principles of Planning". What are key aspects of planning that military staff officers need to keep in mind as they plan operations. In this one appendix to the main text, the author makes up for much of what was lacking in the main text.

I still think Bill Lind's "Maneuver Warfare Handbook" is superior in teaching key mental concepts that should be understood by low level tactical leaders. If that simple yet effective book doesn't get you there (its a LT/CPT level book), try "Warfighting" by LTC Hayden.

13 people found this helpful

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Chaz Michael Michael

Uninformed Garbage

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2018

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Don't waste your time or money on this book.
This book is bad. It is filled with inaccurate information, and to be candid, bad ideas.
The author demonstrates ignorance of tactics, operations, and strategy throughout the book.
The book is poorly researched, and consistently demonstrates mediocre writing of a lazy mind.

-The author disregards, and then dismisses the operational level of war. He talks of the operational art, but insists there is nothing between the tactical and the strategic levels. While true 2500 years ago, this is not true today.
-The author misrepresents doctrine in multiple parts of the book. At one point the author suggests that the joint principles are of little use to the tactician. I don't buy that statement.
-Reading this book, it is clear that the author does not understand the historic or current concepts of the Center of Gravity. Linking to his dismissal of an operational level of war, he does not mention mention or discuss operational COGs, but insists on tactical COGs. It becomes clear in his writing that he had never seen plans where the strategic or operational COGs shift dependent upon what phase one side is in, something that is common in most plans. Moreover, the author misrepresents doctrine by asserting that our doctrine insists that the COG is "the enemy's fighting force." While this is used as an example, doctrine does not specify what the COG is, planners do so in the operational design phase of planning.
The author asserts CALL was created in response to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. CALL stood up in 1985

13 people found this helpful

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Still Serving

Clausewitz for the tactician.

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017

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If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a military, law enforcement, or security professional I have a recommendation for you.

B. A. Friedman’s 2017 treatise “On Tactics: A Theory of Victory in Battle” is one of those long overdue books that makes you wonder why someone didn’t think of it earlier. There are numerous books on strategy, many of them overly complex, theoretical, and not particularly useful at the level most of us plan and work at.

Friedman does yeoman’s work here laying out a clear framework for thinking about, studying, and planning tactical engagements of all kinds. Along the way he barbecues a few sacred cows, the operational level of war (no such thing!), Center of Gravity analysis, conventional v. Irregular war and others, and brings clarity in their wake.

It’s not a perfect book, neither his examples nor his descriptions make useful distinctions between the tenets of surprise and confusion. Neither does he do an adequate job discussing deception. The section on deception focuses primarily on the strategic aspects of its application, and the work suffers for it. This is done at the expense of appendixes which, while well written, also tend to be a more strategic in nature.

I recognize this work was intended to be portable and accessible enough to travel in the cargo pocket of a Platoon Sergeant or Company Commander at war. That’s an admirable goal but I can’t help but think that another 20 or so pages would have fleshed the tenets out enough to provide more value to the tactician, while not substantially reducing its convenience.

Overall I give it 4/5 stars and view it as one of the more important books on tactics I have ever read. It should be required reading in schools like the Infantry Officers Basic Course and NCOES. Let’s hope Mr. Friedman has more to follow.

13 people found this helpful

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Christian

Nette Auffrischung, interessante Ansätze, kurzweilig.

Reviewed in Germany on September 18, 2021

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Nicht wirklich ein Clausewitz für den Taktiker, aber gut geschrieben. Das Verhältnis zur Strategie ist interessant beschrieben. Die Anhänge sind sehr lesenswert.

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Amazon Customer

Good education

Reviewed in Canada on April 22, 2021

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Very well written. Concise and to the point! Useful for either military practitioner or military enthusiasms.

Neil

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2017

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Great book

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