Conflict

The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine

By: David Petraeus, Andrew Roberts

Narrated by: David Petraeus, Robert Fass

Two leading authorities—an acclaimed historian and the outstanding battlefield commander and strategist of our time—collaborate on a landmark examination of war since 1945. Conflict is both a sweeping history of the evolution of warfare up to Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine, and a penetrating analysis of what we must learn from the past—and anticipate in the future—in order to navigate an increasingly perilous world.

In this deep and incisive study, General David Petraeus, who commanded the US-led coalitions in both Iraq, during the Surge, and Afghanistan and former CIA director, and the prize-winning historian Andrew Roberts, explore over 70 years of conflict, drawing significant lessons and insights from their fresh analysis of the past.Drawing on their different perspectives and areas of expertise, Petraeus and Roberts show how often critical mistakes have been repeated time and again, and the challenge, for statesmen and generals alike, of learning to adapt to various new weapon systems, theories and strategies. Among the conflicts examined are the Arab-Israeli wars, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the two Gulf Wars, the Balkan wars in the former Yugoslavia, and both the Soviet and Coalition wars in Afghanistan, as well as guerilla conflicts in Africa and South America. Conflict culminates with a bracing look at Putin’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine, yet another case study in the tragic results when leaders refuse to learn from history, and an assessment of the nature of future warfare. Filled with sharp insight and the wisdom of experience, Conflict is not only a critical assessment of our recent past, but also an essential primer of modern warfare that provides crucial knowledge for waging battle today as well as for understanding what the decades ahead will bring.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Timely and relevant

The views ascribed clearly show the successes and failures of strategic civilian and military leaders in modern war. I imagine this will be a mainstay of reading at our war colleges.

Amazing collection of war wisdom

Listening in mid-2025, this 2023 title has already proven its prophetical value. The entire work is fascinating, but the last chapters on Ukraine and the future of warfare are riveting. Great narration quality, half by Patraeus himself.

Experience of writers

War on a first hand level.
Great read if you like the subject.
war today and tomorrow will be difficult to accomadate.

I appreciate the analysis of the various aspects of conflicts past and present.

N/A. Thank you. I do not wish to add additional content. Let’s not make this harder.

Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it

The memes about conflict in the 20th century were mostly wrong and I didn't know it. We won 2 "Vietnams" before Vietnam, and could have won Vietnam with competent leadership. We almost lost Korea. Tge initial Iraq war commander made 1 very dumb decision 4 weeks in that took 6 years of fighting to fix. Amazing, readable history!