Synopsis
Sir Alistair Horne has been a close observer of war and history for more than fifty years and in this wise and masterly work, he revisits six battles of the past century and examines the strategies, leadership, preparation, and geopolitical goals of aggressors and defenders to reveal the one trait that links them all: hubris.
In Greek tragedy, hubris is excessive human pride that challenges the gods and ultimately leads to total destruction of the offender. From the 1905 Battle of Tsushima in the Russo-Japanese War, to Hitler's 1941 bid to capture Moscow, to MacArthur's disastrous advance in Korea, to the French downfall at Dien Bien Phu, Horne shows how each of these battles was won or lost due to excessive hubris on one side or the other. In a sweeping narrative written with his trademark erudition and wit, Horne provides a meticulously detailed analysis of the ground maneuvers employed by the opposing armies in each battle. He also explores the strategic and psychological mindset of the military leaders involved to demonstrate how devastating combinations of human ambition and arrogance led to overreach. Making clear the danger of hubris in warfare, his insights hold resonant lessons for civilian and military leaders navigating today's complex global landscape.
A dramatic, colorful, stylishly-written history, Hubris is a much-needed reflection on war from a master of his field.
Chapters
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001 Hubris - The Tragedy of War in the Twentieth Century
Duration: 14s -
002 Prologue
Duration: 14min -
003 Chapter 01
Duration: 34min -
004 Chapter 02
Duration: 38min -
005 Chapter 03
Duration: 52min -
006 Chapter 04
Duration: 47min -
007 Chapter 05
Duration: 56min -
008 Chapter 06
Duration: 30min -
009 Chapter 07
Duration: 49min -
010 Chapter 08
Duration: 31min -
011 Chapter 09
Duration: 01h07min -
012 Chapter 10
Duration: 40min -
013 Chapter 11
Duration: 56min -
014 Chapter 12
Duration: 55min -
015 Chapter 13
Duration: 25min -
016 Chapter 14
Duration: 01h15min -
017 Chapter 15
Duration: 59min -
018 Epilogue
Duration: 14min -
019 Credits
Duration: 37s -
sample
Duration: 01min