Margin of Victory: Five Battles that Changed the Face of Modern War

Douglas Macgregor’s Margin of Victory (MoV) has two great features. One, it is great read for military history enthusiasts, and two, it is a must-read for consultants, strategists and strategic advisors. Since I’m both, I can say that MoV is a gem – one of those rare books that is so important that I jealously try to keep to myself and only to my clients.The author’s reputation is reason enough to get the book. Macgregor was a commander at the last major tank battle in the 20th century, unrivaled maverick at the National Training Center, and author and thinker whose published work was mandatory reading for senior military leaders. You probably know him best from his appearances on the number one primetime Fox News show, Tucker Carlson Tonight. The retired colonel regularly gives the American people a realistic look into our military, foreign policy, and senior leadership that only a rare few, brave provide. His reputation as a disrupter and status-quo breaker has made him a hot commodity is providing insights about the Russian-Ukrainian war, which have largely been proven true despite the onslaught of main stream media reports.The book is a call for current decision-makers to prepare our nation for future conflicts:“Margin of Victory is about avoiding hell. The battles and wars described in this volume were chosen with that view in mind. Americans can cultivate a new twenty-first-century margin of victory and avoid the hell that consumed untold millions in the last century. Each chapter is a clarion call for the United States to recognize that wars are decided in the decades before they begin, not by the sudden appearance of a new, technological "silver bullet" or the presence of a few strong personalities in the senior ranks during a single battle? How effectively national political and military leaders adjust the framework of organization, technology, and human capital to relentless change in society, technology, and world affairs determines whether the nation-state prevails or perishes in defeat.”What’s the value of MoV? In my estimation, it is two-fold: One, the book is not a traditional military history one, laden with personal stories or small unit narratives. Rather, it provides a strategic, holistic view. Five major battles throughout the 20th century are tied together. “The battle described in each chapter,” Macgregor writes, “is a tale of how strategy, technology, and military organization continually interact with each other in the broader context of national culture, history, and human capital to produce success or failure…”Two, the book’s emphasis on time and the development of militaries prior to war as the critical element in being able to fight and win conflicts. This element of continual personal and organizational development, along with constant process improvement, are very true in the private sector. But to develop requires adaptability to change. Macgregor shows that leaders that don’t enable their organizations to change ultimately suffer. In times of war, the results can be great.“Change inside military establishments before and during war is always painful because adjustments to warfighting organizations and modernization threaten more people and institutions than we can count. Inevitably, in this struggle for badly needed changes in thinking, organization, structure, technology, and leadership, the enemy is not external. The enemy is us.”Finally, let me say that despite the work being very scholarly, the writing is crisp, clean, and clear. Rarely does one have to re-read a sentence or section to understand what is tried be to said. I think that is a tribute to this book given the technical jargon associated with military matters.If you are interested in learning military history from a scholar and a disruptor, then MoV will be a fun read. If you are interested in upping your game as a professional, then MoV should be mandatory. You won’t regret it.

Colonel MacGregor employs a rare combination of assembling facts, logic, and reality amidst neocons on both sides of the western political aisle hellbent on creating WWIII. Sadly, most if not all of the lessons he brilliantly illuminates within the pages of his book will largely be ignored by faceless, unelected bureaucrats who actually run the government. Another painful example that history ignored, is history repeated because human nature does not change.

My item was exactly what I ordered and expected. Dealing with the seller was easy and friendly. I recommend this dealer. Item was slow to ship which was the only negative.

as described

This is a must read book to understand the changing nature of warfare. It is often said that generals always prepare to fight the last war. If the US does so, we will be defeated, with severe consequences. Hopefully, this book will reach the younger officers coming up so they can make the changes that Col. Macgregor recommends. It is certain that the current generals and admirals won't do so. The book is very well written and referenced. It is clear that Col. Macgregor is a very astute military scholar.

The book is written in 2 layers: battle analysis, which makes up the bulk of the book; and the underlying geopolitics, which makes up the rest of the book. The battle analysis is quite in-depth; focusing on tactics, strategy, logistics, and doctrine. The underlying geopolitical analysis is guided by the neoliberal/neocon dream of "free and democratic" Western hegemony.I first heard MacGregor speak in 2022 on various talkshows, after Russian Federation forces entered Ukraine on February 24, 2022. In Western mainstream media, this has been presented as unbridled aggression by the evil dictator Vladimir Putin. MacGregor has had a much different take on the events of the Ukraine conflict. I encourage you to seek out these talkshows and listen to what MacGregor has to say for yourself. You can find him regularly on Judge Napolitano's show, or his own youtube channel (especially the interview with Dr Michael Vlahos, titled "Odessa falls and Ukraine becomes a landlocked country").I also recommend the Russian documentary series Soviet Storm, about WWII.

Douglas MacGregor is simply a magnificent warrior of truth. In the age of non-stop lying and deceit on every level, he is one of the very few incredible people who says it the way it is. Must read for anyone who wants to think on his own and make his own mind about things.

As an amature historion, i loved comparing the author''s conclusions to my own.

I like this author.

A really interesting essay on what I would define as the military equivalent of Michael Porter's well-known essay on Competitive Advantage". Also non-specialists can gollow Mr. Mc Gregor's line of thought.

I like the book overall.Slow at times but he gets to the point about these battles.

Excellent lecture by military expert. This is the first time I have encountered such book. It is not written by historian, and this makes this book quite special.McGregor does not tell much about 'why' and tries to stay away from politics. He focuses most of the time on 'HOW'. He is not trying to teach us which fighting nation was GOOD or BAD. Instead he describes TACTICS and provides analyses. The least interesting is chapter about Desert Storm, where Americans practically squashed Iraqi forces and brutally killed many of them.In the last chapter author conveys indirectly message to the American military politruks: do not engage into wars that are not necessary and far away, particularly with strong and well prepared nations.The main drawback are poorly presented battles' maps...that is why only four stars."Margin of Victory" is a very good and recommended read , especially when considering proxy war/conflict in Ukraine.