What it says on the tin ( )

I'm not normally a fan of reading introductions before reading the primary, since so often introductions are arguing hard for the author's (sometimes quirky) interpretation, but this one is so good. Clausewitz is cited far more than read, and the more common editions are a 1907 or so translation. So, the book seems more archaic in language than it was. Howard was part of the best translation/edition, and this little book does a great job of summarizing Clausewitz's argument, and even explaining how it was misrepresented.

If you're interested in Clausewitz, start here. ( )

Read it in anticipation of reading On War to get some background. I find the series reliable and this one was OK. ( )

The Platonic form of the VSI: a short essay on the subject's life, a slightly longer essay on the subject's thought, all very well written, clear and interesting without being needlessly condescending. Clausewitz seems more interesting to me now than he did before I read this (in part because Howard shows how C is influenced by German idealism; in part because Howard shows how C's thought might be relevant in the nuclear era, without denying that we have to make some adjustments to that thought). Highly recommended if you want to know i) a bit about the difference between absolute and limited war; ii) the relation between war and politics; iii) a few neat Clausewitz quotes without having to get through the 700 pages of 'On War.' ( )

Some of these "short introduction" books are pretty weak but you certainly can't complain about a short introduction to Clausewitz written by Michael Howard. Hits all the high points in a few pages. ( )