There is little in this book to recommend. The essays in this collection are as short on information as they are in length. Fans of military history will be disappointed with the lack of depth, and those looking to extend their knowledge even a little will be disappointed by the rather repetitive writing.

Read one or two of these essays at random, and you will likely have gleened all there is from the entire book. ( )

This one is written in small, bite sized chunks of individual battles. Generally written in a clear, concise style, some editing mistakes ["...his inaction insured their defeat..." and factual mistakes [Battle of Teutoburg Forest listed as being in 7 A.D. when it actually occurred in 9 A.D.] eroded my pleasure in the book. This one is a great one for people who don't read much and like lighter fare, for it will not overanalize the battles or go into too great a depth. It's also a great book to read in bed, as the small chapters make for nice "a bit at a time" reading. ( )