50 Books like Pakistan on the Brink

The Afghanistan Papers

by Craig Whitlock • 2021

Washington’s own postmortem: the war was unwinnable, and they hid the truth for twenty years.

4.25

7k+

🇦🇫 Afghanistan War ⚔️ War On Terror 📜 Government Secrecy 🔍 Intelligence Failure 🪖 Counterinsurgency

The Afghanistan Papers 95%

Washington’s own postmortem: the war was unwinnable, and they hid the truth for twenty years.

by Craig Whitlock 2021

4.25

7k+ ratings

🇦🇫 Afghanistan War ⚔️ War On Terror 📜 Government Secrecy 🔍 Intelligence Failure 🪖 Counterinsurgency

The Struggle for Pakistan

by Ayesha Jalal • 2014

Pakistan's founders left their demand vague. The military has exploited that ambiguity ever since.

3.94

261

🕌 South Asian History 🌍 Postcolonial History 🇮🇳 Partition Of India 🥶 Cold War Proxy Wars 🪖 Military Rule

The Struggle for Pakistan 95%

Pakistan's founders left their demand vague. The military has exploited that ambiguity ever since.

by Ayesha Jalal 2014

3.94

261 ratings

🕌 South Asian History 🌍 Postcolonial History 🇮🇳 Partition Of India 🥶 Cold War Proxy Wars 🪖 Military Rule

The Last Warlord

by Brian Glyn Williams • 2013

America's first 9/11 victory relied on laser bombs and a brutal Uzbek warlord fighting on horseback.

4.30

120

🇦🇫 Afghan History 🎖️ Military Biography ⚔️ Guerrilla Warfare 💥 War On Terror 🎯 Special Forces

The Last Warlord 94%

America's first 9/11 victory relied on laser bombs and a brutal Uzbek warlord fighting on horseback.

by Brian Glyn Williams 2013

4.30

120 ratings

🇦🇫 Afghan History 🎖️ Military Biography ⚔️ Guerrilla Warfare 💥 War On Terror 🎯 Special Forces

Imperial Hubris

by Michael Scheuer • 2004

Al-Qaeda is not a terror group but an insurgency, and American policy is its top recruiter.

3.81

2k+

🎯 Counterterrorism ⚔️ Counterinsurgency 🔥 Blowback Politics 🕌 Islamist Movements 🌐 Realist Foreign Policy

Imperial Hubris 94%

Al-Qaeda is not a terror group but an insurgency, and American policy is its top recruiter.

by Michael Scheuer 2004

3.81

2k+ ratings

🎯 Counterterrorism ⚔️ Counterinsurgency 🔥 Blowback Politics 🕌 Islamist Movements 🌐 Realist Foreign Policy

Pakistan

by Anatol Lieven • 2011

Why Pakistan outlasts every prediction of its collapse: kinship, not government, runs the country.

4.12

2k+

🗳️ South Asian Politics 👥 Kinship Politics 💬 Failed State Debate 🪖 Military And Politics 🔬 Political Anthropology

Pakistan 94%

Why Pakistan outlasts every prediction of its collapse: kinship, not government, runs the country.

by Anatol Lieven 2011

4.12

2k+ ratings

🗳️ South Asian Politics 👥 Kinship Politics 💬 Failed State Debate 🪖 Military And Politics 🔬 Political Anthropology

Shopping for Bombs

by Gordon Corera • 2006

Pakistan's bomb architect ran a global nuclear black market that armed Iran, Libya, and North Korea.

3.80

123

☢️ Nuclear Proliferation 🌍 International Security 🕸️ Global Crime Networks 🕵️ Nuclear Espionage 🔍 Investigative Journalism

Shopping for Bombs 94%

Pakistan's bomb architect ran a global nuclear black market that armed Iran, Libya, and North Korea.

by Gordon Corera 2006

3.80

123 ratings

☢️ Nuclear Proliferation 🌍 International Security 🕸️ Global Crime Networks 🕵️ Nuclear Espionage 🔍 Investigative Journalism

Bangladesh

by Anthony Mascarenhas • 1986

Bangladesh's founders each betrayed the nation. The nation devoured each in turn.

4.12

945

🗺️ South Asian History 🪖 Military Coups 🏛️ Postcolonial States 🔫 Political Assassinations ✊ Revolution And Aftermath

Bangladesh 94%

Bangladesh's founders each betrayed the nation. The nation devoured each in turn.

by Anthony Mascarenhas 1986

4.12

945 ratings

🗺️ South Asian History 🪖 Military Coups 🏛️ Postcolonial States 🔫 Political Assassinations ✊ Revolution And Aftermath

The Way of the Knife

by Mark Mazzetti • 2013

After 9/11, the CIA started killing. The Pentagon started spying. The boundary never returned.

3.85

4k+

📡 Intelligence Agencies 🛸 Drone Warfare 🕵️ Covert Operations 🎯 Counterterrorism 💰 Privatization Of War

The Way of the Knife 93%

After 9/11, the CIA started killing. The Pentagon started spying. The boundary never returned.

by Mark Mazzetti 2013

3.85

4k+ ratings

📡 Intelligence Agencies 🛸 Drone Warfare 🕵️ Covert Operations 🎯 Counterterrorism 💰 Privatization Of War

The Management of Savagery

by Max Blumenthal • 2019

Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Trump: three products of the same American national security machine.

4.29

807

🏛️ American Empire ↩️ Blowback 🔄 Regime Change 📢 War Propaganda ☪️ Political Islam

The Management of Savagery 93%

Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Trump: three products of the same American national security machine.

by Max Blumenthal 2019

4.29

807 ratings

🏛️ American Empire ↩️ Blowback 🔄 Regime Change 📢 War Propaganda ☪️ Political Islam

Military Inc.

by Ayesha Siddiqa • 2007

Pakistan's military built a business empire off the books. Leaving power would bankrupt it.

3.77

562

🪖 Military Economy 🏛️ State Capture 💰 Institutional Corruption 🏞️ Land Appropriation ⚔️ Civil-Military Relations

Military Inc. 93%

Pakistan's military built a business empire off the books. Leaving power would bankrupt it.

by Ayesha Siddiqa 2007

3.77

562 ratings

🪖 Military Economy 🏛️ State Capture 💰 Institutional Corruption 🏞️ Land Appropriation ⚔️ Civil-Military Relations

Black Flags

by Joby Warrick • 2015

How a petty Jordanian criminal became the world's most hunted terrorist and the blueprint for ISIS.

4.32

17k+

🕌 Jihadist Movements 🔎 Terrorist Biography ☯️ Sectarian Conflict 🎯 Counterterrorism 💥 Radicalization

Black Flags 93%

How a petty Jordanian criminal became the world's most hunted terrorist and the blueprint for ISIS.

by Joby Warrick 2015

4.32

17k+ ratings

🕌 Jihadist Movements 🔎 Terrorist Biography ☯️ Sectarian Conflict 🎯 Counterterrorism 💥 Radicalization

The Great War for Civilisation

by Robert Fisk • 2005

One reporter's fifty-year witness to the West's century-long war on the Middle East.

4.41

6k+

🌍 Modern Middle East 🎤 Conflict Reporting 🎯 Western Intervention 👀 War Witnessing 🏛️ Imperial Legacy

The Great War for Civilisation 93%

One reporter's fifty-year witness to the West's century-long war on the Middle East.

by Robert Fisk 2005

4.41

6k+ ratings

🌍 Modern Middle East 🎤 Conflict Reporting 🎯 Western Intervention 👀 War Witnessing 🏛️ Imperial Legacy

Kashmir

by Tariq Ali • 2011

A 1947 promise of a vote. Sixty years of soldiers. Now a generation demands freedom with stones.

3.95

618

🧭 Kashmir Conflict 🗳️ South Asian Politics 🇮🇳 Partition Of India 🕊️ Self-Determination ⚠️ State Violence

Kashmir 93%

A 1947 promise of a vote. Sixty years of soldiers. Now a generation demands freedom with stones.

by Tariq Ali 2011

3.95

618 ratings

🧭 Kashmir Conflict 🗳️ South Asian Politics 🇮🇳 Partition Of India 🕊️ Self-Determination ⚠️ State Violence

The Envoy

by Zalmay Khalilzad • 2016

An Afghan immigrant becomes America's envoy in the Muslim world, finding a crisis wars cannot solve.

3.64

163

🇺🇸 American Foreign Policy 🌍 Middle East Politics 📜 Diplomatic Memoir 🏗️ State Building 💥 Post-9/11 Wars

The Envoy 93%

An Afghan immigrant becomes America's envoy in the Muslim world, finding a crisis wars cannot solve.

by Zalmay Khalilzad 2016

3.64

163 ratings

🇺🇸 American Foreign Policy 🌍 Middle East Politics 📜 Diplomatic Memoir 🏗️ State Building 💥 Post-9/11 Wars

Fiasco

by Thomas E. Ricks • 2006

A year planning the invasion, zero for the peace: how ideology and hubris lost Iraq.

4.09

8k+

🇮🇶 Iraq War 🇺🇸 American Foreign Policy 🪖 Counterinsurgency 🔍 Intelligence Failures 🏛️ Civil-Military Relations

Fiasco 93%

A year planning the invasion, zero for the peace: how ideology and hubris lost Iraq.

by Thomas E. Ricks 2006

4.09

8k+ ratings

🇮🇶 Iraq War 🇺🇸 American Foreign Policy 🪖 Counterinsurgency 🔍 Intelligence Failures 🏛️ Civil-Military Relations

1971

by Anam Zakaria • 2019

The 1971 war created Bangladesh and left three conflicting histories that still shape South Asia.

4.13

215

🎙️ Oral History 🌏 South Asian History 🕯️ War And Memory 💭 Contested Memory ✂️ Partition Studies

1971 93%

The 1971 war created Bangladesh and left three conflicting histories that still shape South Asia.

by Anam Zakaria 2019

4.13

215 ratings

🎙️ Oral History 🌏 South Asian History 🕯️ War And Memory 💭 Contested Memory ✂️ Partition Studies

The Shadow of the Great Game

by Narendra Singh Sarila • 2006

India's partition was engineered by Britain to secure a Cold War foothold, not just communal strife.

4.16

290

🇮🇳 Partition Of India 🇬🇧 British Imperialism 🗺️ Great Game 📜 Decolonization 🌏 South Asian Geopolitics

The Shadow of the Great Game 93%

India's partition was engineered by Britain to secure a Cold War foothold, not just communal strife.

by Narendra Singh Sarila 2006

4.16

290 ratings

🇮🇳 Partition Of India 🇬🇧 British Imperialism 🗺️ Great Game 📜 Decolonization 🌏 South Asian Geopolitics

Witness to Surrender

by Siddique Salik • 1977

East Pakistan's end: an insider's log of mutiny, guerrilla war, and the birth of Bangladesh.

3.86

246

🪖 Military Memoir 🌏 South Asian History ⚔️ Civil War 🌿 Guerrilla Warfare 🎯 Counterinsurgency

Witness to Surrender 92%

East Pakistan's end: an insider's log of mutiny, guerrilla war, and the birth of Bangladesh.

by Siddique Salik 1977

3.86

246 ratings

🪖 Military Memoir 🌏 South Asian History ⚔️ Civil War 🌿 Guerrilla Warfare 🎯 Counterinsurgency

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy

by John J. Mearsheimer • 2006

How a single interest group has reshaped U.S. Middle East policy, often against American interests.

4.12

4k+

🌍 Foreign Policy 🤝 Political Lobbying ⚔️ Middle East Conflict 📺 Media Influence 🎓 Realism

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy Summary

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy 92%

How a single interest group has reshaped U.S. Middle East policy, often against American interests.

by John J. Mearsheimer 2006

4.12

4k+ ratings

🌍 Foreign Policy 🤝 Political Lobbying ⚔️ Middle East Conflict 📺 Media Influence 🎓 Realism

They Must Be Stopped

by Brigitte Gabriel • 2008

The Muslim Brotherhood's hundred-year plan to infiltrate and dominate the West is already underway.

4.18

458

🔥 Islamist Movements 🌍 Islam And The West 🛡️ Counterterrorism 💣 Radicalization ✊ Counter-Jihad Movement

They Must Be Stopped 92%

The Muslim Brotherhood's hundred-year plan to infiltrate and dominate the West is already underway.

by Brigitte Gabriel 2008

4.18

458 ratings

🔥 Islamist Movements 🌍 Islam And The West 🛡️ Counterterrorism 💣 Radicalization ✊ Counter-Jihad Movement

A Great Place To Have A War

by Joshua Kurlantzick • 2017

Laos was where the CIA learned to wage war without asking Congress. The lesson stuck.

3.90

788

🔍 Cia History 🕵️ Covert Operations 🧊 Cold War History 🎭 Proxy Warfare 🏛️ American Foreign Policy

A Great Place To Have A War 92%

Laos was where the CIA learned to wage war without asking Congress. The lesson stuck.

by Joshua Kurlantzick 2017

3.90

788 ratings

🔍 Cia History 🕵️ Covert Operations 🧊 Cold War History 🎭 Proxy Warfare 🏛️ American Foreign Policy

Lone Survivor

by Marcus Luttrell • 2006

Three goatherds, four SEALs, one vote. The Taliban attacks, and only one man crawls out.

4.34

102k+

🎖️ Special Operations 🪖 Military Memoirs 🏔️ Survival Narratives ⚖️ Rules Of Engagement 🧠 Combat Trauma

Lone Survivor 92%

Three goatherds, four SEALs, one vote. The Taliban attacks, and only one man crawls out.

by Marcus Luttrell 2006

4.34

102k+ ratings

🎖️ Special Operations 🪖 Military Memoirs 🏔️ Survival Narratives ⚖️ Rules Of Engagement 🧠 Combat Trauma

Yemen

by Victoria Clark • 2010

How tribal resistance, a cynical president, and Saudi's shadow made Yemen a jihadist stronghold.

3.71

276

🌍 Middle Eastern Politics 🏔️ Yemeni History 🗡️ Tribal Dynamics 💣 Jihadism Origins 🌐 Foreign Intervention

Yemen 92%

How tribal resistance, a cynical president, and Saudi's shadow made Yemen a jihadist stronghold.

by Victoria Clark 2010

3.71

276 ratings

🌍 Middle Eastern Politics 🏔️ Yemeni History 🗡️ Tribal Dynamics 💣 Jihadism Origins 🌐 Foreign Intervention

The Blood Telegram

by Gary J. Bass • 2013

Nixon needed Pakistan for a secret China opening. When genocide began, he looked away.

4.35

3k+

🌐 Us Foreign Policy 🌏 South Asian History ❄️ Cold War History ⚖️ Genocide Studies ♟️ Realpolitik

The Blood Telegram 92%

Nixon needed Pakistan for a secret China opening. When genocide began, he looked away.

by Gary J. Bass 2013

4.35

3k+ ratings

🌐 Us Foreign Policy 🌏 South Asian History ❄️ Cold War History ⚖️ Genocide Studies ♟️ Realpolitik

The Ends of the Earth

by Robert D. Kaplan • 1996

Rivers and soil shape nations more than constitutions. A journey to the frontiers where states fail.

4.11

2k+

🗺️ Political Travelogue 🌍 Geopolitical Analysis 🌱 Environmental Determinism 🏚️ Fragile States 🏭 Modernization Critique

The Ends of the Earth 92%

Rivers and soil shape nations more than constitutions. A journey to the frontiers where states fail.

by Robert D. Kaplan 1996

4.11

2k+ ratings

🗺️ Political Travelogue 🌍 Geopolitical Analysis 🌱 Environmental Determinism 🏚️ Fragile States 🏭 Modernization Critique

House of Bush, House of Saud

by Craig Unger • 2004

Oil, covert wars, and a revolving door: the Bush-Saudi alliance that 9/11 nearly destroyed.

3.91

2k+

🛢️ Oil Politics 🇸🇦 Us-Saudi Relations 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💥 Blowback 🔄 Revolving Door

House of Bush, House of Saud 92%

Oil, covert wars, and a revolving door: the Bush-Saudi alliance that 9/11 nearly destroyed.

by Craig Unger 2004

3.91

2k+ ratings

🛢️ Oil Politics 🇸🇦 Us-Saudi Relations 🔍 Investigative Journalism 💥 Blowback 🔄 Revolving Door

Cobra II

by Michael R. Gordon • 2006

How the Pentagon fight over troop numbers toppled Saddam quickly and then lost the peace.

3.97

2k+

🏜️ Iraq War 🛡️ Defense Policy 🌐 Us Foreign Policy 🗺️ Military Planning ⚔️ Civil-Military Relations

Cobra II 92%

How the Pentagon fight over troop numbers toppled Saddam quickly and then lost the peace.

by Michael R. Gordon 2006

3.97

2k+ ratings

🏜️ Iraq War 🛡️ Defense Policy 🌐 Us Foreign Policy 🗺️ Military Planning ⚔️ Civil-Military Relations

Devil's Game

by Robert Dreyfuss • 2005

The United States armed Islamism for sixty years. Al Qaeda was the bill that came due.

3.99

272

🌐 Cold War Geopolitics 🕌 Middle Eastern History 🕵️ Covert Foreign Policy ☪️ Islamism And The West 💥 Imperial Blowback

Devil's Game 92%

The United States armed Islamism for sixty years. Al Qaeda was the bill that came due.

by Robert Dreyfuss 2005

3.99

272 ratings

🌐 Cold War Geopolitics 🕌 Middle Eastern History 🕵️ Covert Foreign Policy ☪️ Islamism And The West 💥 Imperial Blowback

The Art of Intelligence

by Henry A. Crumpton • 2012

Recruiting a spy means navigating greed, ideology, and revenge, and why it still beats technology.

3.84

3k+

🕵️ Intelligence Tradecraft 🤝 Human Intelligence 🤫 Spy Recruitment 🧠 Spy Motivations ⚖️ Ethical Ambiguity

The Art of Intelligence 92%

Recruiting a spy means navigating greed, ideology, and revenge, and why it still beats technology.

by Henry A. Crumpton 2012

3.84

3k+ ratings

🕵️ Intelligence Tradecraft 🤝 Human Intelligence 🤫 Spy Recruitment 🧠 Spy Motivations ⚖️ Ethical Ambiguity

Monsoon

by Robert D. Kaplan • 2010

Half the world's oil passes through one ocean; two giants are racing to control it.

3.96

3k+

🏝️ Indian Ocean World 🚢 Maritime Geopolitics 📓 Geopolitical Travelogue ⛽ Energy Security ⚔️ China India Rivalry

Monsoon 92%

Half the world's oil passes through one ocean; two giants are racing to control it.

by Robert D. Kaplan 2010

3.96

3k+ ratings

🏝️ Indian Ocean World 🚢 Maritime Geopolitics 📓 Geopolitical Travelogue ⛽ Energy Security ⚔️ China India Rivalry

On Democracies and Death Cults

by Douglas Murray • 2025

Hamas filmed their massacre. The West protested Israel. The ideology that fuels both.

4.41

5k+

🌍 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 🔍 Anti-Semitism 🎯 Proxy Warfare 🗣️ Political Polemic 🛡️ Counterterrorism

On Democracies and Death Cults 91%

Hamas filmed their massacre. The West protested Israel. The ideology that fuels both.

by Douglas Murray 2025

4.41

5k+ ratings

🌍 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 🔍 Anti-Semitism 🎯 Proxy Warfare 🗣️ Political Polemic 🛡️ Counterterrorism

It IS About Islam

by Glenn Beck • 2015

Islamic terrorism isn't a misreading. The text commands, the history records, and the polls confirm.

4.06

2k+

📜 Islamic Fundamentalism 🌐 Islam And The West 🏛️ Political Islam 💣 Religious Terrorism ⚖️ Sharia Law

It IS About Islam 91%

Islamic terrorism isn't a misreading. The text commands, the history records, and the polls confirm.

by Glenn Beck 2015

4.06

2k+ ratings

📜 Islamic Fundamentalism 🌐 Islam And The West 🏛️ Political Islam 💣 Religious Terrorism ⚖️ Sharia Law

The Upstairs Wife

by Rafia Zakaria • 2015

A family memoir that is also the history of Pakistan, seen from the women's quarters.

3.78

1k+

🧳 Partition Of India 🧕 Muslim Women 🏡 Family Memoir 🗳️ Women In Politics 🏛️ Pakistani Politics

The Upstairs Wife 91%

A family memoir that is also the history of Pakistan, seen from the women's quarters.

by Rafia Zakaria 2015

3.78

1k+ ratings

🧳 Partition Of India 🧕 Muslim Women 🏡 Family Memoir 🗳️ Women In Politics 🏛️ Pakistani Politics

The Melting Point

by Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. • 2024

The general who killed Soleimani tells the inside story of America's Middle East wars.

4.30

175

🎖️ Military Command 🎯 Counterterrorism Operations 🏛️ Civil-Military Relations 🌍 Middle East Conflicts ⚔️ Modern Warfare

The Melting Point 91%

The general who killed Soleimani tells the inside story of America's Middle East wars.

by Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. 2024

4.30

175 ratings

🎖️ Military Command 🎯 Counterterrorism Operations 🏛️ Civil-Military Relations 🌍 Middle East Conflicts ⚔️ Modern Warfare

Stones Into Schools

by Greg Mortenson • 2009

What actually defeats the Taliban: girls' schools in places helicopters can't reach.

3.85

17k+

🎓 Girls' Education 🌱 Social Entrepreneurship 🏥 Humanitarian Work 🏘️ Community Development 🌍 Sustainable Aid

Stones Into Schools 91%

What actually defeats the Taliban: girls' schools in places helicopters can't reach.

by Greg Mortenson 2009

3.85

17k+ ratings

🎓 Girls' Education 🌱 Social Entrepreneurship 🏥 Humanitarian Work 🏘️ Community Development 🌍 Sustainable Aid

Power, Terror, Peace, and War

by Walter Russell Mead • 2004

America's soft power will not recover via Hollywood, but via microfinance in Khayelitsa.

3.67

108

🗽 American Foreign Policy 🧭 Grand Strategy 💡 Soft Power 🛡️ Counterterrorism 🕊️ Israel Palestine Peace

Power, Terror, Peace, and War 91%

America's soft power will not recover via Hollywood, but via microfinance in Khayelitsa.

by Walter Russell Mead 2004

3.67

108 ratings

🗽 American Foreign Policy 🧭 Grand Strategy 💡 Soft Power 🛡️ Counterterrorism 🕊️ Israel Palestine Peace

The Battle For Syria

by Christopher Phillips • 2016

Syria's uprising became a proxy war: six outside powers picking sides and arming their own factions.

4.16

291

🌍 Middle East Politics ⚔️ Syrian Civil War 🌸 Arab Spring ♟️ Proxy Warfare 🕌 Sectarian Conflict

The Battle For Syria 91%

Syria's uprising became a proxy war: six outside powers picking sides and arming their own factions.

by Christopher Phillips 2016

4.16

291 ratings

🌍 Middle East Politics ⚔️ Syrian Civil War 🌸 Arab Spring ♟️ Proxy Warfare 🕌 Sectarian Conflict

India's Wars

by Arjun Subramaniam • 2016

Four wars forged modern India. The military history its own universities still don't teach.

4.19

515

🇮🇳 Modern Indian History 🕌 South Asian History ⚔️ Military Statecraft 🌍 Postcolonial Conflicts 🗺️ Border Wars

India's Wars 91%

Four wars forged modern India. The military history its own universities still don't teach.

by Arjun Subramaniam 2016

4.19

515 ratings

🇮🇳 Modern Indian History 🕌 South Asian History ⚔️ Military Statecraft 🌍 Postcolonial Conflicts 🗺️ Border Wars

The Accidental Admiral

by James G. Stavridis • 2014

What a Navy admiral learned commanding NATO through Afghanistan, Libya, and a balky Russia.

4.00

248

📖 Military Memoir 🎖️ Military Leadership 🤝 Alliance Politics ⚔️ Military Strategy 🛡️ Counterinsurgency

The Accidental Admiral 91%

What a Navy admiral learned commanding NATO through Afghanistan, Libya, and a balky Russia.

by James G. Stavridis 2014

4.00

248 ratings

📖 Military Memoir 🎖️ Military Leadership 🤝 Alliance Politics ⚔️ Military Strategy 🛡️ Counterinsurgency

How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything

by Rosa Brooks • 2016

War, law, and state fray together. A Pentagon insider on where the seams gave way.

3.93

2k+

🪖 Military Policy ⚖️ Laws Of War ⚔️ Asymmetric Warfare 🏛️ Executive Power 🛸 Drone Warfare

How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything Summary

How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything 91%

War, law, and state fray together. A Pentagon insider on where the seams gave way.

by Rosa Brooks 2016

3.93

2k+ ratings

🪖 Military Policy ⚖️ Laws Of War ⚔️ Asymmetric Warfare 🏛️ Executive Power 🛸 Drone Warfare

The Muslim Brotherhood and the West

by Martyn Frampton • 2018

The West tried suppressing, bribing, and ignoring the Muslim Brotherhood. Every approach backfired.

3.69

🕌 Political Islam 🕋 Muslim Brotherhood 🌍 Western Intervention 📜 Egyptian History 🏛️ Islam And The West

The Muslim Brotherhood and the West Summary

The Muslim Brotherhood and the West 91%

The West tried suppressing, bribing, and ignoring the Muslim Brotherhood. Every approach backfired.

by Martyn Frampton 2018

3.69

13 ratings

🕌 Political Islam 🕋 Muslim Brotherhood 🌍 Western Intervention 📜 Egyptian History 🏛️ Islam And The West

Beyond Fundamentalism

by Reza Aslan • 2009

When God is drafted into warfare, conflicts become eternal. A strategy for breaking the spell.

3.99

2k+

⚠️ Religious Extremism 🕌 Political Islam 🌍 Globalization And Religion ⚔️ Holy War 💥 Religious Violence

Beyond Fundamentalism 91%

When God is drafted into warfare, conflicts become eternal. A strategy for breaking the spell.

by Reza Aslan 2009

3.99

2k+ ratings

⚠️ Religious Extremism 🕌 Political Islam 🌍 Globalization And Religion ⚔️ Holy War 💥 Religious Violence

The Palestinian Delusion

by Robert Spencer • 2019

The conflict is religious, not territorial. There is no solution, only management.

4.01

506

🕊️ Israel-Palestine 🏛️ Middle East Politics ☪️ Islam Criticism ⚔️ Religious Warfare 🔥 Jihad Ideology

The Palestinian Delusion 91%

The conflict is religious, not territorial. There is no solution, only management.

by Robert Spencer 2019

4.01

506 ratings

🕊️ Israel-Palestine 🏛️ Middle East Politics ☪️ Islam Criticism ⚔️ Religious Warfare 🔥 Jihad Ideology

War on Peace

by Ronan Farrow • 2018

Before Trump, before forever war, Washington gutted the one tool that could prevent them: diplomacy.

4.14

9k+

📜 Us Foreign Policy 🕊️ American Diplomacy 🛡️ National Security State 🌐 Liberal Internationalism 💬 Soft Power

War on Peace 91%

Before Trump, before forever war, Washington gutted the one tool that could prevent them: diplomacy.

by Ronan Farrow 2018

4.14

9k+ ratings

📜 Us Foreign Policy 🕊️ American Diplomacy 🛡️ National Security State 🌐 Liberal Internationalism 💬 Soft Power

The Complete Infidel's Guide to Iran

by Robert Spencer • 2016

Iran's theology commands deception and world conquest. The nuclear deal ignored both.

3.53

🏛️ Iranian Politics 🕌 Islamic Theocracy 📜 Political Islam 🗺️ Shia Geopolitics 🎯 Proxy Warfare

The Complete Infidel's Guide to Iran Summary

The Complete Infidel's Guide to Iran 91%

Iran's theology commands deception and world conquest. The nuclear deal ignored both.

by Robert Spencer 2016

3.53

73 ratings

🏛️ Iranian Politics 🕌 Islamic Theocracy 📜 Political Islam 🗺️ Shia Geopolitics 🎯 Proxy Warfare

An Economy and a State for Lebanon

by Charbel Nahas • 2020

Behind Lebanon's crisis: a currency illusion, a sectarian spoils system, and a generation that fled.

4.33

🏛️ Political Economy 🌍 Middle Eastern Politics 💥 Financial Crises 🏗️ State Building 🛢️ Rentier States

An Economy and a State for Lebanon Summary

An Economy and a State for Lebanon 91%

Behind Lebanon's crisis: a currency illusion, a sectarian spoils system, and a generation that fled.

by Charbel Nahas 2020

4.33

15 ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🌍 Middle Eastern Politics 💥 Financial Crises 🏗️ State Building 🛢️ Rentier States

All the Shah's Men

by Stephen Kinzer • 2003

The 1953 CIA coup in Iran: how a quick win for oil created decades of blowback.

4.29

12k+

🏛️ Iranian History 🕵️ Covert Operations 🛢️ Oil Geopolitics ❄️ Cold War Interventions 💥 Regime Change

All the Shah's Men 91%

The 1953 CIA coup in Iran: how a quick win for oil created decades of blowback.

by Stephen Kinzer 2003

4.29

12k+ ratings

🏛️ Iranian History 🕵️ Covert Operations 🛢️ Oil Geopolitics ❄️ Cold War Interventions 💥 Regime Change

Dark Alliance

by Gary Webb • 1998

The CIA's Contra army needed money. The cocaine they smuggled to get it fueled LA's crack epidemic.

4.30

2k+

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 💥 Crack Epidemic 🕶️ Covert Operations 💊 Drug War Origins 🌎 Cold War Interventions

Dark Alliance 91%

The CIA's Contra army needed money. The cocaine they smuggled to get it fueled LA's crack epidemic.

by Gary Webb 1998

4.30

2k+ ratings

🕵️ Investigative Journalism 💥 Crack Epidemic 🕶️ Covert Operations 💊 Drug War Origins 🌎 Cold War Interventions

Covert Regime Change

by Lindsey A. O'Rourke • 2018

64 covert regime changes, a 39% success rate, and blowback that erased the gains.

4.14

🥶 Cold War History 🇺🇸 American Foreign Policy 🕵️ Covert Operations 💣 Regime Change 💥 Blowback

Covert Regime Change 91%

64 covert regime changes, a 39% success rate, and blowback that erased the gains.

by Lindsey A. O'Rourke 2018

4.14

85 ratings

🥶 Cold War History 🇺🇸 American Foreign Policy 🕵️ Covert Operations 💣 Regime Change 💥 Blowback

The Oil Kings

by Andrew Scott Cooper • 2011

Secret U.S. deals armed the Shah and quadrupled oil prices. The world never recovered.

4.10

831

🛢️ Oil Politics 🕌 Middle Eastern History 🤝 Secret Diplomacy 💰 Economic Warfare 🔫 Arms Trade

The Oil Kings 91%

Secret U.S. deals armed the Shah and quadrupled oil prices. The world never recovered.

by Andrew Scott Cooper 2011

4.10

831 ratings

🛢️ Oil Politics 🕌 Middle Eastern History 🤝 Secret Diplomacy 💰 Economic Warfare 🔫 Arms Trade

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