By Chris Hedges

General George S. Patton famously said, Compared to war all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance. God, I do love it so! Though Patton was a notoriously single-minded general, it is nonetheless a sad fact that war gives meaning to many lives, a fact with which we have become familiar now that America is once again engaged in a military conflict. War is an enticing elixir. It gives us purpose, resolve, a cause. It allows us to be noble.

Chris Hedges ofThe New York Timeshas seen war up close in the Balkans, the Middle East, and Central America and he has been troubled by what he has seen: friends, enemies, colleagues, and strangers intoxicated and even addicted to wars heady brew. InWar Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, he tackles the ugly truths about humanitys love affair with war, offering a sophisticated, nuanced, intelligent meditation on the subject that is also gritty, powerful, and unforgettable.