Secrets of Warfare: Exposing the Myths and Hidden History of Weapons and Battles

By William Weir

You’ve already heard about the first Civil War battle between the ironclad warships the Monitor and the Merrimac, and about why Custer’s last stand was, well, his last, but have you heard about the incredibly fast and maneuverable airship Dr. Solomon Andrews, which was offered to the government during the Civil War?

Secrets of Warfare exposes many of the myths that have kept the public misinformed about warfare, the most dangerous of all human activities. Some myths are the result of deliberate misrepresentation; others, the result of ignorance or bigotry. In any case, there is no substitute for the truth.

Secrets of Warfare explores:

Battles from the ancient world and the alleged superiority of Western nations from the earliest times.

The famed myth of the English longbow.

The introduction of submarines to warfare prior to World War I.

The deadliest American air raids of World War II.

The supposed “attack” on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Page Books
• Release date: Aug 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781601636713

Reviews for Secrets of Warfare

[autumnblues · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From arrows to bombs- an eye-opening composition on military myths from ancient times to Vietnam. Secrets of Warfare is a book written by William Weir. Inside the 228 pages, Weir walks through 29 myths of warfare through the ages. Using a combination of theory and factual account the author dispels many of the myths ranging from western military superiority in ancient times through the Vietnam War. The book, while not for everyone, could appeal to a wide variety of people, even if only for some sections. Are nuclear weapons really the ultimate weapon? His accounts of the effects of the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as compared to other bombing campaigns on places like Tokyo, will give a new perspective on the attacks for the casual historian and how you view the effects of nuclear weapons. Other sections describing weapons like the long bow and what really happened at Constantinople will appeal to the more hardcore reader looking for facts on military history. Two chapters in the book could cause a stir for some people I would imagine. Most of us have heard of General Douglas MacArthur, but was he the greatest military hero of the United States? After reading the thought provoking chapter on General MacArthur, you may change your mind. From one great leader to another leader who's sanity was questioned, the chapter questioning whether Hitler was a military moron could answer a few questions. While many of us, including myself, considered Hitler a raving madman, this chapter goes to show that he wasn't a terrible military leader, and, in fact, had he listened to other German military minds, he may have lost some battles that they won. Overall, I liked the book. I was pleasantly surprised as I really didn’t expect to enjoy reading a book on warfare through the ages. I credit that to Weir, who seems to understand what sections needed more explanation than others and didn’t drag parts out that didn’t need to be explained in greater detail.