The Culture of Military Organizations

Name: The Culture of Military Organizations
Brand: Tantor Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Peter R. Mansoor
ISBN: 9781705251249

Author: Peter R. Mansoor, Williamson Murray

Narrator: Tom Parks

Unabridged: 22 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 02/09/2021

Categories: Nonfiction, History, Social Science, Sociology, Military History

Synopsis

Culture has an enormous influence on military organizations and their success or failure in war. Cultural biases often result in unstated assumptions that have a deep impact on the making of strategy, operational planning, doctrinal creation, and the organization and training of armed forces. Except in unique circumstances culture grows slowly, embedding so deeply that members often act unconsciously according to its dictates. Of all the factors that are involved in military effectiveness, culture is perhaps the most important. Yet, it also remains the most difficult to describe and understand, because it entails so many external factors that impinge, warp, and distort its formation and continuities. The sixteen case studies in this volume examine the culture of armies, navies, and air forces from the Civil War to the Iraq War and how and why culture affected their performance in the ultimate arbitration of war.

About Peter R. Mansoor

Peter R. Mansoor is the General Raymond E. Mason, Jr Chair of Military History at The Ohio State University. He assumed this position after a twenty-six year career in the US Army that culminated in his service as the executive officer to General David Petraeus, commanding general of Multi-National Force-Iraq, during the surge of US forces in 2007 and 2008.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Shihab Shahriar on April 11, 2020

Didn't finish, stopped around 50%. I am conflicted about it. I don't think this book is bad. But this seemed primarily written by academics, for fellow academics. Problem is that I'm just an ameteur civilian who simply wanted to learn about military culture. I hated this adamic style of prose: both th......more

Goodreads review by Brian on March 08, 2024

One of the first observations one makes when joining a new organization is the culture. This is because it is often felt and experienced and is reflected in relational structure, symbols, and communication. This book reviews more than a dozen case studies spanning time and country providing a broad......more

Goodreads review by Alex on December 17, 2023

I may have to read this again because it was great and insightful. Great comparison work and detailed study. Thought provoking.......more

Goodreads review by Dusan on August 29, 2021

Táto silno akademická kniha obsahuje kapitoly, ktoré sa dajú čítať aj samostatne, a dá sa k nim viackrát vrátiť. Do každej z nich autori napáskovali veľké množstvo historických faktov a okolností. Témou knihy je primárne sa sústrediť na založenie, rozvoj a vybudovanie vojenskej organizácie a vplyv k......more

Goodreads review by Chuck on September 12, 2021

Excellent book for first-timers, and I have learnt a lot personally. However, the book suffers from excessive dedication to the US civil war, a lack of analysis on 'older' (Romans, Alexander the Great, etc.) and non-traditional but successful military organisations (Vietnam & Afghanistan). A pity, c......more