Why read Victory at Sea?

Book cover of Victory at Sea: Naval Power and the Transformation of the Global Order in World War II

Book description

A sweeping, lavishly illustrated one-volume history of the rise of American naval power during World War II

"When he is at his best, as he often is in these pages, Kennedy can be dazzling."-Ian W. Toll, New York Times

"The book makes for enjoyable reading, owing to the author's easygoing…

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Naval warfare

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Why read it?

1 author picked Victory at Sea as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

John A. Nagl

Author

Paul Kennedy examines the role of naval power in the Second World War in a new and comprehensive way that has huge implications for the naval arms race between China and the United States and our allies—and not in a good way for America’s pacing challenge.

What I most love about Victory at Sea, however, is the pictures! Unusually for a book on strategic studies, this book on naval history is illustrated with two dozen pictures by the late great Ian Marshall; his paintings of the ships discussed in the book are more than worth the price of admission!

From John's 3 favorite reads in 2023.