On War — Volume 1

Clausewitz, Carl von, 1780-1831Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.5

Word count: 618K words
Chapters: 62

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.On War — Volume 1 by Carl von ClausewitzAuthor: Clausewitz, Carl von, 1780-1831,Language: English, Class: U: Military science, Release Date: Feb 26, 2006

Editor's review

Volume 1 of On War is the foundational part of Clausewitz's military thought; this edition is the Project Gutenberg public-domain English ebook. Its core value lies in elevating war from a purely tactical question to a comprehensive phenomenon to be examined through politics, society, and psychology, proposing a theoretical framework for the nature of war and the relationship between ends and means. Volume 1 focuses on the nature of war and the construction of theory; it is conceptually dense, with arguments advancing layer by layer, reading more like philosophical analysis than a story of military history. It holds enduring reference value for readers of military theory, strategic studies, international relations, and the history of political thought, and is often used to understand the context of the proposition that "war is the continuation of politics." It should not be treated as a campaign guide or light reading; it is best approached with an introduction, a glossary, and notes, advancing slowly chapter by chapter, grasping concepts before entering details.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students and researchers in military theory, strategic studies, and international relations
Serious readers interested in the history of political thought and the philosophy of war
Advanced readers who need to understand Clausewitz's core concepts and take notes
Readers who wish to train theoretical reading skills through a classic text

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for specific campaign narratives or practical tactical manuals
General readers who prefer light reading and are unwilling to grapple with abstract concepts
Readers who only want a Chinese translation and will not engage with the English original

Reading tips

Read the introduction or preface first to understand this volume's place in the whole work, then enter the main text.
Prepare a glossary to record the usage of core concepts such as the nature of war, ends, and means.
Summarize chapter by chapter, restating the chain of argument in your own words after each section.
Slow down at abstract passages, using military history cases or annotations to aid understanding.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can Volume 1 be read on its own, or must I read the whole set?

Volume 1 can be read on its own; it mainly discusses the nature of war and the construction of theory and forms a relatively complete unit of argument. But On War as a whole is a vast system, with later volumes developing specific theory; to grasp the whole, it is advisable to use Volume 1 as an entry point and then extend your reading according to interest.

Can I understand it without a background in military science?

You can try, but it is not easy. The text is abstract and conceptually dense, and without experience in military history or philosophical reading you may get stuck. It is advisable to use introductions, glossaries, and secondary studies, grasping core propositions first and gradually entering details, without insisting on fully mastering it in one reading.

Is this edition suitable for academic citation?

It is a public-domain English electronic text, usable for general reading and preliminary citation, but academic writing should check authoritative translations or critical editions to confirm page numbers and wording. When citing concepts, also note terminological differences among translations, and avoid treating an English retranslation as the sole basis.

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About the author

Clausewitz, Carl von, 1780-1831 Author · Prussian · 1780–1831

Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831) was a Prussian officer and military theorist, best known for On War. Having served in the army for many years, he combined his own experience with the study of historical campaigns to think systematically about the nature, aims, and means of war, seeking to examine military questions within the broader framework of politics and society. His writing does not settle for listing tactical regulations but stresses conceptual analysis and theoretical construction, and his prose has a distinctly speculative character. Besides Volume 1 of On War, the collection also includes his Fundamental Ideas on War and the Conduct of War. His works were edited and published after his death and have had a profound influence on later military thought and strategic studies. Given the limited sources available, details of his early life and appointments are not elaborated here.