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Battlegrounds

The Fight to Defend the Free World

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Battlegrounds

By: H. R. McMaster
Narrated by: H.R. McMaster
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About this listen

From Lt. General H.R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor during Trump’s administration, a bold assessment of the most critical foreign policy and national security challenges of our age.

There has been a shift in power since the end of the Cold War. In Battlegrounds, bestselling author, commander, scholar and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster examines the rising strength of Russia and China, the threat from hostile states Iran and North Korea, the complex battlegrounds in South Asia and the Middle East, and the new arenas of international competition – space, cyberspace and emerging technology.

How can foreign policy, which has across multiple administrations proved itself outdated, misconceived, inconsistent and poorly implemented, be transformed to face the challenges of today? How can Western countries like America and the UK stay relevant, secure and humane? How can we abandon what McMaster calls ‘Strategic Narcissism’ in favour of ‘Strategic Empathy’ – an approach that relies on understanding other nations’ motivations and ideologies?

A groundbreaking reassessment of international security and survival, McMaster gives vital insight to life inside the most powerful office and military force in the world, and makes bold arguments for how to achieve a safer, more peaceful future.

©2020 H.R. McMaster (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Freedom & Security Military & War Politicians Politics & Government United States National Security Military War Thought-Provoking American Foreign Policy Imperialism Cyber Warfare Cold War

Critic Reviews

‘Indispensable… Battlegrounds provides a comprehensive and expert review of the strategic threats the US faced when the author was in the White House – not only the Chinese challenge but also Russia’s troublemaking everywhere from Syria to cyberspace, and the perennial North Korean and Iranian menaces’
TLS

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Intelligent, insightful, and well written

This book is not about petty domestic politics, or cheap talking points. In short it is an intelligent individuals attempt to better educate the population on a particular world perspective. It is a must have, and you'll be better off for reading/listening to it.

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Thorough and insightful but depressing

The writer thoroughly covers current and potential threats to the Free World.

His central theme of ‘Strategic Narcissism’ is a valuable one and explains the continual missteps of both liberal and conservative US Administrations.

While not within the author’s already wide scope, his insights raise an even more fundamental question: Given the runaway internal cultural changes with the US and the West generally; what ideals are we now supposed to be defending; and are they worth it?

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Comprehensive and well balanced

An excellent overview of the main conflicts holding both the right and the left to account. I particularly liked the concept of Strategic Narcissism, and how it has led to so many failures. Though this book was often depressing it is honest

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