Kuehn, John T./Holden, David W. The 100 Worst Military Disasters in History

This is a fascinating collection that will help educators, students, and historians understand the causes and consequences of history's most notorious military failures. The dynamics of military disasters are as important as understanding how to achieve success on the battlefield, if not more so. This comprehensive book covers the entire span of human history and tells the gripping stories of the worst military debacles of all time. It covers battles, campaigns and wars, beginning with the ancient Persians and Greeks and continuing through to the US conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the book is not limited to land wars, but also includes some of the most disastrous naval battles and campaigns in world history. The title begins with a detailed introduction that highlights the role of military strategy and politics in some of the worst defeats on the battlefield throughout history. The entries are supplemented by several interesting side notes on various military disasters. This diverse collection also includes many lesser-known military disasters, such as the Taiping Rebellion, which killed 20 times more people than the American Civil War.