Why read The Calculus of Violence?

Book cover of The Calculus of Violence: How Americans Fought the Civil War

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Winner of the Jefferson Davis Award
Winner of the Johns Family Book Award
Winner of the Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award

"A work of deep intellectual seriousness, sweeping and yet also delicately measured, this book promises to resolve longstanding debates about the nature of the Civil War."
-Gregory P.…

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American history

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Calculus of Violence as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

George C. Rable

Author

From its wonderfully apropos title to its cautionary final paragraph, The Calculus of Violence is a deeply thoughtful and original analysis of who was killed and did the killing in the American Civil War—and why.

Aaron Sheehan-Dean argues that a very bloody civil war could have been much bloodier. The book is powerful but never preachy because complex human beings with complex beliefs and motivations are always at the forefront. This superb work forces readers to rethink many supposedly settled questions about the American Civil War.

From George's list on The best books on the American Civil War that creatively and provocatively go beyond the usual battles and leaders.