A sweeping, vividly told journey through the clashes that reshaped warfare and the course of history, from renowned military historian Iain MacGregor

Across three millennia, the ways we’ve waged war have changed beyond recognition. The bow stretched killing range and reshaped battle formations; gunpowder enabled armies to turn chemical energy into firepower; steel and oil increased mobility and protection; engines and airframes lifted combatants to new dimensions; radar made the invisible visible; computers have rendered information no less lethal than bullets. But the heart of a battle is still human, and the story of warfare is one of human brilliance and courage.

In Battle, military historian Iain MacGregor takes readers on a guided tour of warfare, recounting 40 battles that changed conflict forever and continue to shape our world today. Divided into five categories—morale, leadership, innovation, subterfuge, and timing and numbers—he draws lessons from familiar battles like Stalingrad and Chancellorsville, as well as from others that may not be known by as many readers, like the 1565 Siege of Malta. From Marathon in 490 BCE to Kiev in 2022, this is a richly detailed, powerful, accessible, and thoroughly engrossing work.