{"product_id":"the-march-of-folly-from-troy-to-vietnam-9780345308238","title":"The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam","description":"\u003cb\u003ePulitzer Prize-winning historian Barbara W. Tuchman, author of the World War I masterpiece \u003ci\u003eThe Guns of August, \u003c\/i\u003e grapples with her boldest subject: the pervasive presence, through the ages, of failure, mismanagement, and delusion in government. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Drawing on a comprehensive array of examples, from Montezuma's senseless surrender of his empire in 1520 to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Barbara W. Tuchman defines folly as the pursuit by government of policies contrary to their own interests, despite the availability of feasible alternatives. In brilliant detail, Tuchman illuminates four decisive turning points in history that illustrate the very heights of folly: the Trojan War, the breakup of the Holy See provoked by the Renaissance popes, the loss of the American colonies by Britain's George III, and the United States' own persistent mistakes in Vietnam. Throughout \u003ci\u003eThe March of Folly, \u003c\/i\u003e Tuchman's incomparable talent for animating the people, places, and events of history is on spectacular display. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe March of Folly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A glittering narrative . . . a moral  book] on the crimes and follies of governments and the misfortunes the governed suffer in consequence.\"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--The New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"An admirable survey . . . I haven't read a more relevant book in years.\"\u003cb\u003e--John Kenneth Galbraith, \u003ci\u003eThe Boston Sunday Globe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A superb chronicle . . . a masterly examination.\"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Chicago Sun-Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBarbara W. Tuchman \u003c\/b\u003e(1912-1989) achieved prominence as a historian with \u003ci\u003eThe Zimmermann Telegram \u003c\/i\u003eand international fame with \u003ci\u003eThe Guns of August\u003c\/i\u003e--a huge bestseller and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Her other works include \u003ci\u003eBible and Sword, The Proud Tower, Stilwell and the American Experience in China \u003c\/i\u003e(for which Tuchman was awarded a second Pulitzer Prize), \u003ci\u003eNotes from China, A Distant Mirror, Practicing History, The March of Folly, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe First Salute\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Random House Trade","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50623091933458,"sku":"9780345308238","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_29aa73fc-c5b7-4e3f-8471-eb6596a1d26a.jpg?v=1732591688","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-march-of-folly-from-troy-to-vietnam-9780345308238","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}