On Grand Strategy is a collection of leadership strategies deployed by famous leaders. In this book, John Lewis Gaddis tries to analyze which strategies work and what one should avoid.
The author starts with a scenario of Xerces crossing Hellespont. Xerces is looking for final counsel before he marches on and he is given a non-committal answer by his counselor and uncle Artabaun. He marches ahead without any strategy on how he plans to fight Greeks. From here author starts comparing fox vs hedgehog analogy. Xerces is a hedgehog who knows only to move ahead.
In "Long walls" chapter Peloponnesian war is discussed in the context of Pericles. The author argues that the walls surrounding Athens were created to serve two purposes. One to defend itself, at the same time it also created a kind of focus boundary for Athenians. Pericles didn't respect this boundary and got involved in a war which didn't concern Athens. One of the possible reasons attributed is that he may look weak to his adversaries and didn't want to lose his position. His rigidity in later stages of life leads to the Athenian empire's decline.
In Teachers and Tethers, chapter life of Octavian Caeser aka Augustus Caesar is discussed. Augustus was physically weak, wasn't a great military commander and as per those days unfit to rule. But he overcame his weakness by being a fox and navigating his path carefully in adverse scenarios. He faced challenges from a much powerful adversary such as Mark Anthony but was able to make him an ally first and then crush him in the end. He left the legacy of a strong roman empire at the age of late seventies.
"Souls and states" focuses on Machiavelli and Augustine. Augustine has prescribed how rulers can conduct the affairs of state such as war, punishment, etc and still reach the city of God. God is the ultimate authority over these matters. Thus Augustine has achieved sainthood despite his previous shocking work of Confessions. On the contrast Machiavelli likes to keep the affairs of state and God separate, thus being labeled a sinner. Augustine imagines a city of God whereas in Machiavelli's mind is occupied with public affairs on earth. Machiavelli maintains that there is no single standard by which men must live and they should take it easy (don't sweat over it) in contradictions. Whereas Augustine prescribes a path of doing this and does that.
Life of Queen Elizabeth of England and King Philip of Spain is compared in "Princes as Pivots". Elizabeth's rule is decentralized. She delegates responsibility and still has complete control over her kingdom and life. Whereas Phillip likes to control each and every aspect of his large empire. He is continuously swamped with work.
The author starts with a scenario of Xerces crossing Hellespont. Xerces is looking for final counsel before he marches on and he is given a non-committal answer by his counselor and uncle Artabaun. He marches ahead without any strategy on how he plans to fight Greeks. From here author starts comparing fox vs hedgehog analogy. Xerces is a hedgehog who knows only to move ahead.
In "Long walls" chapter Peloponnesian war is discussed in the context of Pericles. The author argues that the walls surrounding Athens were created to serve two purposes. One to defend itself, at the same time it also created a kind of focus boundary for Athenians. Pericles didn't respect this boundary and got involved in a war which didn't concern Athens. One of the possible reasons attributed is that he may look weak to his adversaries and didn't want to lose his position. His rigidity in later stages of life leads to the Athenian empire's decline.
In Teachers and Tethers, chapter life of Octavian Caeser aka Augustus Caesar is discussed. Augustus was physically weak, wasn't a great military commander and as per those days unfit to rule. But he overcame his weakness by being a fox and navigating his path carefully in adverse scenarios. He faced challenges from a much powerful adversary such as Mark Anthony but was able to make him an ally first and then crush him in the end. He left the legacy of a strong roman empire at the age of late seventies.
"Souls and states" focuses on Machiavelli and Augustine. Augustine has prescribed how rulers can conduct the affairs of state such as war, punishment, etc and still reach the city of God. God is the ultimate authority over these matters. Thus Augustine has achieved sainthood despite his previous shocking work of Confessions. On the contrast Machiavelli likes to keep the affairs of state and God separate, thus being labeled a sinner. Augustine imagines a city of God whereas in Machiavelli's mind is occupied with public affairs on earth. Machiavelli maintains that there is no single standard by which men must live and they should take it easy (don't sweat over it) in contradictions. Whereas Augustine prescribes a path of doing this and does that.
Life of Queen Elizabeth of England and King Philip of Spain is compared in "Princes as Pivots". Elizabeth's rule is decentralized. She delegates responsibility and still has complete control over her kingdom and life. Whereas Phillip likes to control each and every aspect of his large empire. He is continuously swamped with work.
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