This fascinating book examines a question that continues to puzzle soldiers, statesmen, and scholars: why do major powers--including the ostensible superpower United States--repeatedly perform poorly against seemingly overmatched adversaries? And what can they, and the United States, do to better achieve their military objectives?

"How Wars are Won and Lost: Vulnerability and Military Power" argues that beyond relying solely on overwhelming military might, the United States needs to focus more on exploiting weaknesses in their adversaries--such as national will, resource mobilization,...