How to Fight a War by Mike Martin

Loading player...
Welcome to another episode of Pagecast brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This episode delves into Mike Martin’s latest book - *How to Fight a War*

Has any war in history gone according to plan? Monarchs, dictators and elected leaders alike have a dismal record on military decision-making.

This not only wastes the lives of civilians, the enemy and one’s own soldiers, but also fails to achieve geopolitical objectives.

Conflict scholar and former soldier Mike Martin takes the reader through the hard, elegant logic of fighting a conclusive interstate war that solves geopolitical problems and reduces future conflict.

In cool and precise prose, he outlines how to orchestrate military forces, from infantry to information, and strategy to tactics.

**It has been described as “An indispensable guide to understanding modern warfare, especially the decisions made by politicians and generals — both good and bad.”**

In this episode of Pagecast Mike is joined by Abel Esterhuyse, author and head of the Department of Strategic Studies in the Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University,

Enjoy the chat!
11 Mar 2024 English South Africa Books · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

Where to From Here? by Tara Roos (with Twanji Kalula)

In this episode of Pagecast, political analyst Tara Roos joins Twanji Kalula for a sharp, no-nonsense conversation about her new book, Where to From Here?, and what it reveals about the state of South African politics. Roos argues that South Africa has entered an age of uncertainty, as populism rises…
29 Jun 36 min

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng (with Mphuthumi Ntabeni)

In this episode of Pagecast, Man Booker Prize-shortlisted author Tan Twan Eng joins Cape Town-based political commentator and writer Mphuthumi Ntabeni for a conversation about his latest novel, The House of Doors. Set in 1921 at Cassowary House in the Straits Settlements of Penang, the novel follows Robert Hamlyn, a…
22 Jun 29 min

Cape Fever by Nadia Davids (with Gabeba Baderoon)

In this episode of Pagecast, South African playwright and novelist Nadia Davids joins renowned poet and scholar Gabeba Baderoon for a conversation about her latest novel, Cape Fever. Cape Fever follows Soraya Matas, a young maid who takes up a position in the beautiful, decaying home of the eccentric Mrs…
15 Jun 40 min

Pagecast at Kingsmead Book Fair: Mandy Weiner

Pagecast recorded live at the Kingsmead Book Fair, where Mandy Weiner sat down with Shakti Pillay from Jonathan Ball Publishers to talk about her latest book, The Deal. In this episode, Mandy pulls back the curtain on the story behind the book -- the kind of deep, forensic storytelling that…
9 Jun 6 min

Pagecast at Kingsmead Book Fair: Nozipho Tshabalala

Pagecast recorded live at the Kingsmead Book Fair, where Nozipho Tshabalala sat down with Mpumi Mgidlana from Jonathan Ball Publishers to talk about her memoir, After the Fires: Unlocking the Power of Letting Go. In this episode, Nozipho reflects on the question at the heart of her book: when the…
8 Jun 16 min