Book Review: "A Short History of the Long War: The Global Struggle Against Militant Islamism, by Michael Phelps

     Reviewed by Marianne Salvatore

         Every American needs to read this book!  Mr. Phelps has definitely hit the mark.  This book is a tour de force; both well researched and comprehensive.  It covers how Militant Islamism began, what it stands for, and how its negative extremist values impact not only the United States, but the world at large.  Each of the fourteen chapters focuses on a particular aspect of the war.  For example, the Transformation chapter describes how the United States Military must be proactive, flexible, and ready to change and improvise in order to defeat this enemy in the long run. 

         Other chapters describe the history, ideology and goals of al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the Iranian terrorist group Hezbollah. Mr. Phelps’s book is not written for the professional historian or political class, but for the buffs and concerned citizens who are bombarded by our information culture and want to gain a clear insight into the Global War on Terror.  It is an even toned and easy to read narrative that provides a wide range of historical information and interesting details. This book methodically covers all sides of the issues and leaves no stoned unturned.  It enables reader s to soak up a manageable volume that has distilled disparate events, concepts and personalities then allows them to draw their own conclusions. This is a must read!