book review Archives

#WavellReviews ‘Adaptation under Fire: How Militaries Change in Wartime’ by Lt. General (Ret’d) David Barno and Nora Bensahel.

The Wavell Room TeamJanuary 14, 2021January 10, 2021

by The Wavell Room TeamJanuary 14, 2021January 10, 202103661

This book offers significant context and substance to our collective understanding of military change and how we conceptualise adaptability. Its clarity and purpose is refreshing...

Short Read

Christmas 2020 PME

The Wavell Room TeamDecember 17, 2020December 20, 2020

by The Wavell Room TeamDecember 17, 2020December 20, 202003176

Finally. Christmas is here. It’s worth pointing out that we’ve been buying mince pies since October to help us with all the editing we’ve been...

#WavellReviews – “War by Others’ Means” by Dr Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds (A RUSI paper)

WillDecember 16, 2020December 10, 2020

by WillDecember 16, 2020December 10, 202003802

The difficulty of extricating from expeditionary campaigns makes the use of deniable, ‘fire and forget’ assistance from special forces appealing to governments with an eye...

Air Book Reviews Capabilities and Spending

An interview with the editor of ‘Air Forces the Next Generation’ Dr Amit Gupta

Phil ClareNovember 20, 2020November 8, 2020

by Phil ClareNovember 20, 2020November 8, 202003692

You will find yourself dipping into every chapter and when you do, you will discover that air power around the world is not a fixed...

#WavellReviews ‘Mission Improbable: The Transformation of the British Army Reserve’ by Patrick Bury

ChrisNovember 18, 2020November 8, 2020

by ChrisNovember 18, 2020November 8, 202004204

‘Mission Improbable’ has been exquisitely researched. In places, its level of detail reminded me of reading Anthony Beevor’s Stalingrad....

Air Book Reviews

#WavellReviews ‘Harrier 809’ by Rowland White

Andy NetherwoodOctober 16, 2020October 16, 2020

by Andy NetherwoodOctober 16, 2020October 16, 202003968

Available here from Bantam Press Rowland White is a popular aviation author and Harrier 809 marks his return to the Falklands Conflict after the bestselling...

#WavellReviews An Army of Tribes: British Army Cohesion, Deviancy and Murder in Northern Ireland by Edward Burke

Alexander HelmOctober 7, 2020September 28, 2020

by Alexander HelmOctober 7, 2020September 28, 202006237

There are stories which need to be told, and not forgotten; because to withhold them warps the wider narrative of the whole conflict, and influences...

Book Reviews Concepts and Doctrine

#WavellReviews ‘Adopting Mission Command’ by Donald E. Vandergriff

Steve MaguireSeptember 9, 2020September 10, 2020

by Steve MaguireSeptember 9, 2020September 10, 202008752

#WavellReviews 'Adopting Mission Command' by Donald Vandergriff...

#WavellReviews ‘Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict’ edited by Max Brooks, John Amble, ML Cavanaugh and Jaym Gates

LorneSeptember 2, 2020August 30, 2020

by LorneSeptember 2, 2020August 30, 202003464

"The problem with classic military texts like Clausewitz and Sun Tzu is that they’re total snooze-fests"...

Book Reviews Opinion People and Leadership

#WavellReviews ‘Forewarned: Tales of a Woman at War …with the Military System. Cockups, Conspiracies & Misogyny in the British Army’ by Diane Allen

The Wavell Room TeamAugust 26, 2020August 16, 2020

by The Wavell Room TeamAugust 26, 2020August 16, 202004050

On reflection, this is actually a book that should be read by those serving; I found it both fascinating and frustrating but also strangely compelling...