The Worst Military Leaders in History

Author: Jennings, John M.

Military history

Published on 1 July 2023 by REAKTION BOOKS in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 336 pages, 16 illustrations
157 x 233 x 27 | 564g

For this book, fifteen distinguished historians were given a deceptively simple task: identify their choice for the worst military leader in history, and then explain why theirs is the worst.

From the clueless Conrad von Hoetzendorf and George A. Custer, to the criminal Baron Roman F. von Ungern-Sternberg and the bungling Garnet Wolseley, this book presents a rogues' gallery of military incompetents. Rather than merely rehashing biographical details, the contributors take an original and unconventional look at military leadership in a way that will appeal to both specialists and general readers alike.

While there are plenty of books that analyse the keys to success, The Worst Military Leaders in History offers lessons of failure to avoid. In other words, this book is a 'how-not-to' guide to leadership.