adrianhon's review
4.0
An extraordinarily well-researched book investigating the deep-seated failures of the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, from the ground all the way up to the most senior officers. Akam has an impressive grasp of the military and despite his obvious views, goes out of his way to be fair to all perspectives.
Given the utter failure of the war in Afghanistan, one might assume the British public would have realised the limitations and problems of the army, and Akam's book would not be necessary. However, the continued calls from both the left and right wing that we should "go back in" suggests that people still incorrectly think the British Army can do... anything meaningful at all in terms of nation-building. So this really is an essential read and, at the very least, demonstrates why the US could not give a single shit what the UK thinks with regards to any military endeavour whatsoever.
Unfortunately, there are a few stylistic issues with this book that I suspect will limit its reach. Akam's insistence on proving his military bona fides is understandable, but becomes utterly exhausting to general audiences after you've read the 500th acronym. His use of the present tense throughout is propulsive, but also wearying after a while – especially when combined with his elongated garden path sentences (and chapters, really). I didn't quite get his obsession with the orientation of buildings relative to each other, either.
More seriously, Akam pulls his punches in terms of the most senior military staff. Yes, he thinks they should have been fired or made to resign – but he never quite spells out why, unlike the highly detailed treatment he gives to more junior figures. Maybe I skipped over it, but I would have appreciated a really detailed reckoning for people like Jock Stirrup.
Finally, the highly personal introduction and conclusion felt like it came from a different book. It wasn't bad per se, but it seemed strange when put alongside the more dispassionate bulk of the book. His ending bit about his school teacher, who he pronounces to be a "good man", is oddly deflating – hasn't the entire book taught us that this is not about whether men are good or not? Even if you disagree, it's a strange moment to introduce the idea.
Despite my nitpicks – and they really are nitpicks – this is an impressive book.
Given the utter failure of the war in Afghanistan, one might assume the British public would have realised the limitations and problems of the army, and Akam's book would not be necessary. However, the continued calls from both the left and right wing that we should "go back in" suggests that people still incorrectly think the British Army can do... anything meaningful at all in terms of nation-building. So this really is an essential read and, at the very least, demonstrates why the US could not give a single shit what the UK thinks with regards to any military endeavour whatsoever.
Unfortunately, there are a few stylistic issues with this book that I suspect will limit its reach. Akam's insistence on proving his military bona fides is understandable, but becomes utterly exhausting to general audiences after you've read the 500th acronym. His use of the present tense throughout is propulsive, but also wearying after a while – especially when combined with his elongated garden path sentences (and chapters, really). I didn't quite get his obsession with the orientation of buildings relative to each other, either.
More seriously, Akam pulls his punches in terms of the most senior military staff. Yes, he thinks they should have been fired or made to resign – but he never quite spells out why, unlike the highly detailed treatment he gives to more junior figures. Maybe I skipped over it, but I would have appreciated a really detailed reckoning for people like Jock Stirrup.
Finally, the highly personal introduction and conclusion felt like it came from a different book. It wasn't bad per se, but it seemed strange when put alongside the more dispassionate bulk of the book. His ending bit about his school teacher, who he pronounces to be a "good man", is oddly deflating – hasn't the entire book taught us that this is not about whether men are good or not? Even if you disagree, it's a strange moment to introduce the idea.
Despite my nitpicks – and they really are nitpicks – this is an impressive book.
scribepub's review
Akam’s beautifully written, from the inside out, account of the British Army’s reluctance to engage with the realities of recent small wars, in Afghanistan in particular, is a must-read for every serious student of modern military history. At one level, it explains how and why we managed to turn victory over Al Qaeda in Afghanistan into defeat at the hands of the Taliban. But this book is about much more than the army in Afghanistan — it is a parable about failure, the failure of a revered institution, with a proud history and an uncritical public, to come to terms with a changed and changing world.
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Former British Ambassador to Afghanistan
Simon Akam delivers a devastating indictment of Britain’s military chiefs for overseeing the shocking decline of the nation’s armed forces.
Tom Bower, Biographer
Simon Akam has written a perceptive, challenging and passionate book that looks at modern soldiering. In doing so, Akam provides an invaluable look at how the British Army works — and how the changing world in the 21st century is asking new and complex questions for soldiers and military strategy alike.
Peter Frankopan, Author of The Silk Roads
This brave, absorbing and prodigiously well-researched tour de force renders every previous account of the British Army in its disastrous recent campaigns obsolete. Akam makes an unanswerable case that we are no longer very good at fighting wars, building his arguments with panache and good sense. In doing so he has done his country, and the army, a great service — although the Generals may not see it quite that way just yet. Put away the self-serving autobiographies and the obsequious histories of in-house academics; this is the definitive account of the British Army in its 21st Century misadventures.
Frank Ledwidge, Author of Losing Small Wars
[An] excellent and valuable book.
Jason Burke, The Guardian
Akam is an angry young man and the book is better for it.
The Times
A passionate book.
The Sunday Times
It’s compellingly written – I got through all 500-plus pages in two sittings – and it is certainly worth the effort.
Mail on Sunday
This detailed, academic book argues flawed leadership led to military disaster in Iraq and Afghanistan … Akam just manages to prevent his detailed account from becoming too crowded in military jargon, with some illuminating tales from barracks, brothel and battlefield.
Anthony Loyd, New Statesman
Impassioned … It is a valuable addition to analysing the past, present and future of a venerated institution.
Kim Sengupta
A scathing account of the British army in the years after 9/11.
Shashank Joshi, Spectator Australia
Akam makes many important points and reports in depth on officers’ recollections of specific episodes.
Prospect
The Changing of the Guard is a major book that provides the first serious analysis of the effectiveness of the modern British Army … With a particular focus on the failure of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he gives a brunt assessment of the Army as an institution and its role in society. There is lots of interesting material here and some relevant lessons for Australia.
Jeff Popple, Canberra Weekly
It is a review of the British Army … It does not tell a ‘pretty’ story — rather, it is a ‘warts and all’ tale … Simon Akman has written a fine book on how and why the British Army has changed, between
2001 and 2020. For those who have seen military service, it will provide a broad picture of the conditions some soldiers have faced in the early 21st Century. For those who have not, it shows clearly the true face of war, as it is fought in this day and age, and may, possibly, be fought in the near future and within current social value sets.
Rob Ellis, RUSI VIC Library
[A] valuable and salutary read.
Foreign Affairs
The Changing of the Guard has contributed to the ongoing debate over how the British Army might change further as it enters a post-pandemic world where security challenges demand considerable flexibility of mind… Anything that provokes such self-awareness is good for institutions.
War on the Rock
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Former British Ambassador to Afghanistan
Simon Akam delivers a devastating indictment of Britain’s military chiefs for overseeing the shocking decline of the nation’s armed forces.
Tom Bower, Biographer
Simon Akam has written a perceptive, challenging and passionate book that looks at modern soldiering. In doing so, Akam provides an invaluable look at how the British Army works — and how the changing world in the 21st century is asking new and complex questions for soldiers and military strategy alike.
Peter Frankopan, Author of The Silk Roads
This brave, absorbing and prodigiously well-researched tour de force renders every previous account of the British Army in its disastrous recent campaigns obsolete. Akam makes an unanswerable case that we are no longer very good at fighting wars, building his arguments with panache and good sense. In doing so he has done his country, and the army, a great service — although the Generals may not see it quite that way just yet. Put away the self-serving autobiographies and the obsequious histories of in-house academics; this is the definitive account of the British Army in its 21st Century misadventures.
Frank Ledwidge, Author of Losing Small Wars
[An] excellent and valuable book.
Jason Burke, The Guardian
Akam is an angry young man and the book is better for it.
The Times
A passionate book.
The Sunday Times
It’s compellingly written – I got through all 500-plus pages in two sittings – and it is certainly worth the effort.
Mail on Sunday
This detailed, academic book argues flawed leadership led to military disaster in Iraq and Afghanistan … Akam just manages to prevent his detailed account from becoming too crowded in military jargon, with some illuminating tales from barracks, brothel and battlefield.
Anthony Loyd, New Statesman
Impassioned … It is a valuable addition to analysing the past, present and future of a venerated institution.
Kim Sengupta
A scathing account of the British army in the years after 9/11.
Shashank Joshi, Spectator Australia
Akam makes many important points and reports in depth on officers’ recollections of specific episodes.
Prospect
The Changing of the Guard is a major book that provides the first serious analysis of the effectiveness of the modern British Army … With a particular focus on the failure of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he gives a brunt assessment of the Army as an institution and its role in society. There is lots of interesting material here and some relevant lessons for Australia.
Jeff Popple, Canberra Weekly
It is a review of the British Army … It does not tell a ‘pretty’ story — rather, it is a ‘warts and all’ tale … Simon Akman has written a fine book on how and why the British Army has changed, between
2001 and 2020. For those who have seen military service, it will provide a broad picture of the conditions some soldiers have faced in the early 21st Century. For those who have not, it shows clearly the true face of war, as it is fought in this day and age, and may, possibly, be fought in the near future and within current social value sets.
Rob Ellis, RUSI VIC Library
[A] valuable and salutary read.
Foreign Affairs
The Changing of the Guard has contributed to the ongoing debate over how the British Army might change further as it enters a post-pandemic world where security challenges demand considerable flexibility of mind… Anything that provokes such self-awareness is good for institutions.
War on the Rock
scribepub's review against another edition
Akam’s beautifully written, from the inside out, account of the British Army’s reluctance to engage with the realities of recent small wars, in Afghanistan in particular, is a must-read for every serious student of modern military history. At one level, it explains how and why we managed to turn victory over Al Qaeda in Afghanistan into defeat at the hands of the Taliban. But this book is about much more than the army in Afghanistan — it is a parable about failure, the failure of a revered institution, with a proud history and an uncritical public, to come to terms with a changed and changing world.
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Former British Ambassador to Afghanistan
Simon Akam delivers a devastating indictment of Britain’s military chiefs for overseeing the shocking decline of the nation’s armed forces.
Tom Bower, Biographer
Simon Akam has written a perceptive, challenging and passionate book that looks at modern soldiering. In doing so, Akam provides an invaluable look at how the British Army works — and how the changing world in the 21st century is asking new and complex questions for soldiers and military strategy alike.
Peter Frankopan, Author of The Silk Roads
This brave, absorbing and prodigiously well-researched tour de force renders every previous account of the British Army in its disastrous recent campaigns obsolete. Akam makes an unanswerable case that we are no longer very good at fighting wars, building his arguments with panache and good sense. In doing so he has done his country, and the army, a great service — although the Generals may not see it quite that way just yet. Put away the self-serving autobiographies and the obsequious histories of in-house academics; this is the definitive account of the British Army in its 21st Century misadventures.
Frank Ledwidge, Author of Losing Small Wars
[An] excellent and valuable book.
Jason Burke, The Guardian
Akam is an angry young man and the book is better for it.
The Times
A passionate book.
The Sunday Times
It’s compellingly written – I got through all 500-plus pages in two sittings – and it is certainly worth the effort.
Mail on Sunday
This detailed, academic book argues flawed leadership led to military disaster in Iraq and Afghanistan … Akam just manages to prevent his detailed account from becoming too crowded in military jargon, with some illuminating tales from barracks, brothel and battlefield.
Anthony Loyd, New Statesman
Impassioned … It is a valuable addition to analysing the past, present and future of a venerated institution.
Kim Sengupta
A scathing account of the British army in the years after 9/11.
Shashank Joshi, Spectator Australia
Akam makes many important points and reports in depth on officers’ recollections of specific episodes.
Prospect
The Changing of the Guard is a major book that provides the first serious analysis of the effectiveness of the modern British Army … With a particular focus on the failure of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he gives a brunt assessment of the Army as an institution and its role in society. There is lots of interesting material here and some relevant lessons for Australia.
Jeff Popple, Canberra Weekly
It is a review of the British Army … It does not tell a ‘pretty’ story — rather, it is a ‘warts and all’ tale … Simon Akman has written a fine book on how and why the British Army has changed, between
2001 and 2020. For those who have seen military service, it will provide a broad picture of the conditions some soldiers have faced in the early 21st Century. For those who have not, it shows clearly the true face of war, as it is fought in this day and age, and may, possibly, be fought in the near future and within current social value sets.
Rob Ellis, RUSI VIC Library
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Former British Ambassador to Afghanistan
Simon Akam delivers a devastating indictment of Britain’s military chiefs for overseeing the shocking decline of the nation’s armed forces.
Tom Bower, Biographer
Simon Akam has written a perceptive, challenging and passionate book that looks at modern soldiering. In doing so, Akam provides an invaluable look at how the British Army works — and how the changing world in the 21st century is asking new and complex questions for soldiers and military strategy alike.
Peter Frankopan, Author of The Silk Roads
This brave, absorbing and prodigiously well-researched tour de force renders every previous account of the British Army in its disastrous recent campaigns obsolete. Akam makes an unanswerable case that we are no longer very good at fighting wars, building his arguments with panache and good sense. In doing so he has done his country, and the army, a great service — although the Generals may not see it quite that way just yet. Put away the self-serving autobiographies and the obsequious histories of in-house academics; this is the definitive account of the British Army in its 21st Century misadventures.
Frank Ledwidge, Author of Losing Small Wars
[An] excellent and valuable book.
Jason Burke, The Guardian
Akam is an angry young man and the book is better for it.
The Times
A passionate book.
The Sunday Times
It’s compellingly written – I got through all 500-plus pages in two sittings – and it is certainly worth the effort.
Mail on Sunday
This detailed, academic book argues flawed leadership led to military disaster in Iraq and Afghanistan … Akam just manages to prevent his detailed account from becoming too crowded in military jargon, with some illuminating tales from barracks, brothel and battlefield.
Anthony Loyd, New Statesman
Impassioned … It is a valuable addition to analysing the past, present and future of a venerated institution.
Kim Sengupta
A scathing account of the British army in the years after 9/11.
Shashank Joshi, Spectator Australia
Akam makes many important points and reports in depth on officers’ recollections of specific episodes.
Prospect
The Changing of the Guard is a major book that provides the first serious analysis of the effectiveness of the modern British Army … With a particular focus on the failure of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he gives a brunt assessment of the Army as an institution and its role in society. There is lots of interesting material here and some relevant lessons for Australia.
Jeff Popple, Canberra Weekly
It is a review of the British Army … It does not tell a ‘pretty’ story — rather, it is a ‘warts and all’ tale … Simon Akman has written a fine book on how and why the British Army has changed, between
2001 and 2020. For those who have seen military service, it will provide a broad picture of the conditions some soldiers have faced in the early 21st Century. For those who have not, it shows clearly the true face of war, as it is fought in this day and age, and may, possibly, be fought in the near future and within current social value sets.
Rob Ellis, RUSI VIC Library
More...