Best books on counter-insurgency

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A counterinsurgency reading list

Lt. Col. John Nagl was one of the most respected voices for reforming the US Army's approach to counter-insurgency. He retired from active service to continue his agitation as a civilian, and among other things posted this list of best books (and a video) on Amazon. Click on the cover image or title for the US Amazon page, or search out the titles at Amazon stores elsewhere. If I have reviewed the book, I link to that as well. Blue skies! -- Daniel Ford

Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice

(David Galula)

"The best available explanation of insurgency and counterinsurgency strategy, by a French counterinsurgent" (For my review of this book, go here -- DF)

Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam

(John Nagl)

"How to learn to defeat an insurgency while fighting it, by an Iraq war veteran"

The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century

(Thomas X. Hammes)

"The best explanation of Fourth Generation Warfare, by a Marine with Iraq experience"

Seven Pillars of Wisdom

(T. E. Lawrence)

"The classic account of insurgency, by the most famous insurgent in history"

The War for Muslim Minds: Islam and the West

(Gilles Kepel)

"An outstanding explanation of the civil war inside Islam and how the West must adapt to help mainstream Muslims defeat it"

Understanding Terror Networks

(Marc Sageman)

"A former CIA officer with degrees in sociology and psychology intellectually dismantles Al Queda"

The Battle of Algiers (DVD)

"Brutally honest 1966 movie on the French counter-insurgency experience in Algeria. Depicts the moral quagmire that often results from these difficult and messy wars"

Question? Comment? Newsletter? Send me an email. Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Cowboy: interpreter, warlord, one more casualty