Military Geography: For Professionals and the Public (Association of the United States Army S) - Softcover

"This effort to reduce the widespread American ignorance concerning geography--and particularly military geography--is admirable and welcome. Any failure to either exploit geographic advantages or compensate for geographic disadvantages means simply rolling the dice with destiny." "John Collins, who has spent his lifetime studying the military, has written a geography book that will become a bible for military planners, strategists, and tacticians." "This book is a must read for those who aspire to military command and those who seek to understand success and failure in war." "A thorough understanding of military geography is essential for true military professionals if they are to excel at the art and science of war. Every warrior should read, reread, and above all understand this landmark book on a long-neglected topic." "The author brings a unique contribution of scholarship and real world experience to this superbly crafted, comprehensive work on military geography. Whether on foot, afloat, or at 30,000 feet above the surface, the bok brings operational relevance to all the interactions." "John Collins has been there, done it, and written the book. This is military geography by a well-versed practitioner. My students will now have the book they crave, one that military as well as civilian scholars everywhere can respect and trust." "Required reading for policy makers, military planners, commanders and staff officers of all levels."

This book covers many topics that are crucial to military planning but often receive only passing mention in histories or briefings. Collins, a former Army officer, stresses land geography, but he does not stint oceans, the atmosphere, or interplanetary space. His discussions of urban areas are too brief, given the increasing amount of large-scale violence in cities since the end of World War II.