What do you think?
Rate this book
Turn Around and Run Like Hell: Amazing Stories of Military Strategies That Worked
Book by Cummins, Joseph
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
7 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Cummins
79 books32 followersJoseph Cummins is the author of numerous books, including Anything for a Vote: Dirty Tricks, Cheap Shots and October Surprises in U.S. Presidential Elections; A Bloody History of the World, which won the 2010 Our History Project Gold Medal Award; and the forthcoming Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot. He lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, with his wife and daughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 20, 2009
I am not a big reader of history books, but am a fan of the military overall and saw this on the bargain rack at B&N, so I thought, what the hell.
The book basically jumps around to different eras and discusses one military battle which was won or utilized some unorthodox strategy. The author did a great job of setting up each situation very well so even if you didn't know about that era, he told you enough that you got the significance of everything.
Overall, I found it enjoyable. There were alot of "Whoa" moments that history people can appreciate. I didn't rate it higher mainly because sometimes it read a little bit like a textbook and was just a bit dry at times, but overall not bad enough that you can't get through.
If you love military history, this is a must read.
The book basically jumps around to different eras and discusses one military battle which was won or utilized some unorthodox strategy. The author did a great job of setting up each situation very well so even if you didn't know about that era, he told you enough that you got the significance of everything.
Overall, I found it enjoyable. There were alot of "Whoa" moments that history people can appreciate. I didn't rate it higher mainly because sometimes it read a little bit like a textbook and was just a bit dry at times, but overall not bad enough that you can't get through.
If you love military history, this is a must read.
March 9, 2015
A brief look at some interesting strategies
17 April 2009
The version of this book that I read was actually called 'Turning the Tide of Battle' but after a bit of research I discovered that these books are the same (I think). However, I have read a lot of books like this and most of them have titles like 'Great Idiots and their Impact on History' (not a real book, but you get the picture). This book is different in that it does not look at the great bungles of history (and try to turn them into a joke) but rather explores a number of battles through which the commander used ingenuity to save the day, usually against much greater odds. I have actually found that this approach is much better and heart warming than simply looking at people's stupidity (which does get draining after a while).
This book looks at a number of battles from Salamis (the Athenians vs the Persians) to the Japanese occupation of the Aleutians during World War II. What is good about Cummin's style is that he gives a good, well rounded, background to the battle and he does it in a readable and interesting way.
The parts of the book that I found most interesting were the two sections on the Mongols. While I had a vague idea about the Mongol Empire, Cummins, though brief, was able to outline this powerful nation in a much better way than normal. In fact he portrayed the Mongols as a very capable, and powerful, force. However, it was pure chance that prevented Western Europe from coming under their dominion.
His chapter on the Black Plague was also very interesting, and while he focuses on the battle of Caffa on the Black Sea, he gives a very good picture of the black plague as it arose in China and spread quickly across Asia. However, it his description of the Mongol besiegers of Caffa dying of this plague while the Christians proudly looked on that was the most interesting. Why do I say that? Well, because the Mongols won that battle by lobbing the bodies of the infected dead over the wall and thus the plague came to Europe, and the rest, they say, is history. The lesson from this? Just because your enemy is suffering does not necessarily mean that God's hand is against them and that you are immune. God does not play favourites, and indeed, it is this event that clearly shows that while the Europeans were Christian, they did not necessarily understand the Christian faith.
17 April 2009
The version of this book that I read was actually called 'Turning the Tide of Battle' but after a bit of research I discovered that these books are the same (I think). However, I have read a lot of books like this and most of them have titles like 'Great Idiots and their Impact on History' (not a real book, but you get the picture). This book is different in that it does not look at the great bungles of history (and try to turn them into a joke) but rather explores a number of battles through which the commander used ingenuity to save the day, usually against much greater odds. I have actually found that this approach is much better and heart warming than simply looking at people's stupidity (which does get draining after a while).
This book looks at a number of battles from Salamis (the Athenians vs the Persians) to the Japanese occupation of the Aleutians during World War II. What is good about Cummin's style is that he gives a good, well rounded, background to the battle and he does it in a readable and interesting way.
The parts of the book that I found most interesting were the two sections on the Mongols. While I had a vague idea about the Mongol Empire, Cummins, though brief, was able to outline this powerful nation in a much better way than normal. In fact he portrayed the Mongols as a very capable, and powerful, force. However, it was pure chance that prevented Western Europe from coming under their dominion.
His chapter on the Black Plague was also very interesting, and while he focuses on the battle of Caffa on the Black Sea, he gives a very good picture of the black plague as it arose in China and spread quickly across Asia. However, it his description of the Mongol besiegers of Caffa dying of this plague while the Christians proudly looked on that was the most interesting. Why do I say that? Well, because the Mongols won that battle by lobbing the bodies of the infected dead over the wall and thus the plague came to Europe, and the rest, they say, is history. The lesson from this? Just because your enemy is suffering does not necessarily mean that God's hand is against them and that you are immune. God does not play favourites, and indeed, it is this event that clearly shows that while the Europeans were Christian, they did not necessarily understand the Christian faith.
May 17, 2020
Timur the Lane was buried in Samarkand for 600 years. There was a curse to fall on the land of anyone who tampered with it. Russian archeologists decided to open the tomb and confirmed the skeleton had an injury to his right leg. Just above the knee. Hours after the tomb opened in 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa to invade Russia. The book is a work of a story telling genius. Every page is a gem.
December 17, 2021
A very congenial book detailing some of the more maverick strategies in global military history. The only downside is that Cummins is more storyteller than analyst and this renders the book's narrative a bit childish at times.
October 16, 2024
Interesting snapshots of historic battles and events. Appreciated the layout and greatly enjoyed the read.
May 11, 2009
Okay, but the title is overblown. Most of the stories aren't really amazing, and most of the strategies described aren't all that unconventional - basic stuff like faking a retreat to lure your enemy into a vulnerable position, feeding them phony intelligence information, setting ambushes, eavesdropping on military communication circuits, and so on. Rather than unconventional, I'd have said "indirect."
Still, an interesting read with some vivid accounts and portrayals of key people. Worth reading - just don't expect to be amazed or learn about anything really mind-blowing.
Still, an interesting read with some vivid accounts and portrayals of key people. Worth reading - just don't expect to be amazed or learn about anything really mind-blowing.
February 5, 2017
Delightful and informative!
March 6, 2009
Good book, interesting stuff well told. The Maori could build a fortress like nobody's business, damn.
May 21, 2009
This book is for the History Channel crowd. Its a fun read though. Particularly some of the events i wasn't so familiar with.
January 2, 2011
Loose with the detailed facts but an interesting perspective on some war stories
August 5, 2011
Never fails to put me to sleep. May have to keep this on on the night stand.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews