This book is written by a general who has experienced most of the conflicts since Vietnam. Our politicians should be listening to him. He stresses the need for diplomatic solutions and planning for what happens after the military battle is won. ( )

I enjoyed this book. General Zinni writes in a way that causes you to step back and think. Personally I think that there are rarely easy answers to military questions. However, I think this book helps frame some of the big questions around military action. Whether you agree or disagree with American military policy as it stands or with General Zinni's perspective, this book will have you pondering the big questions. That is part of what I like about this book, I have to engage with it. There is a bit of redundancy which can be off-putting, however, perhaps that is needed to drive a point home. This is readable in sections which also makes it easy to travel with and enjoy. ( )

A delicate takedown of the mismanagement of the military, published years after it would have been useful. I understand why it would have been difficult for Zinni to come forward about his misgivings before the invasion of Iraq, and appreciate that he is evenhanded in this book without pussyfooting around the fact that the Bush administration willfully ignored intelligence when it made the case for invasion, but at this point those of us who suspected the war would be a disaster have been vindicated by the facts, and those who still think the invasion was a good idea are not going to be convinced otherwise by a book like this.

While Zinni's overall points are excellent, and his ability to support them with his long experience in the military is a boon, I did not feel like I learned anything particularly new when reading. That said, the book is a strong case for reform on the civilian end of the US's wars, and a collection of insights that I can only hope will be heeded by our leaders in the future. ( )

While this book is not on WWII or focused on any other particular past war. I was interested in reading this book. I wanted to know how we as America could win or lose off the battlefield. Plus the author sounded like he had past experience and great knowledge about this subject matter. Which the author did have a lot of insight. This book is divided into sections. Each one focusing on a different part of war. Like...intelligence, political pressures, goals and visions, outsourcing war, and the operational art to name a few.

While I did like reading this book. I did also feel at the same time that the details sometimes grew old quick. I would fine myself skimming parts. Luckily you can get away with doing this with this book and still get the high points of the book that the author is trying to get across. One thing that I did really like about this book is that if you are a history buff or just interested in reading about history or military themed books you can read this one with ease. You don't have to have lots of knowledge because even with the author's knowledge he breaks it down into a easy, understandable way that the layperson can get. ( )

I have to say this book really makes you think about the wars that have happened and the wars to come. It opens the layperson's eyes to what needs to be done and who should be doing it. I am not usually interested in military reads but I am trying to read different things and I am really glad I read this one. "Before the First Shots are Fired" is a great read and one that really gets you asking questions. General Zinni is a man with decades of experience and it shows. You can relate to him even though he is political and military. I will definitely suggest this book for anyone to read. ( )