Book excerpt: An in-depth look at the strategy and tactics of the visionary commander who beat the United States in the Vietnam War—includes maps and photos. General Vo Nguyen Giap was the commander in chief of the communist armed forces during two of his country’s most difficult conflicts—the first against Vietnam’s colonial masters, the French, and the second against the most powerful nation on earth, the United States. After long and bloody efforts, he defeated both Western powers and their Vietnamese allies, forever changing modern warfare. In Giap, military historian James A. Warren dives deep into the conflict to bring to life a revolutionary general and reveal the groundbreaking strategies that defeated world powers against incredible odds. Synthesizing ideas and tactics from an extraordinary range of sources, Giap was one of the first to realize that war is more than a series of battles between two armies and that victory can be won through the strength of a society’s social fabric. As America contemplates its more recent wars and its future challenges, this is an important and timely look at a man who was a master at defeating his enemies even as they thought they were winning. Praise for James A. Warren’s military histories: “A solid study of the Vietnam War . . . a worthy introduction to a conflict that continues to haunt American politics and culture.” —Publishers Weekly “A very useful contribution to the lively ongoing debate on the role, creation, training, and use of elite troops.” —Booklist “Thought-provoking . . . deftly written.” —Kirkus Reviews