Book Review: ‘The Art of War and Peace’ by David Kilcullen and Greg Mills

Book Title: The Art of War and Peace : The Changing Face of 21st Century Warfare
Author: Dr David Kilcullen and Dr Greg Mills
Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1785126864
Date Published: Jul. 15, 2025
Price: INR 501

Book Review

“The Art of War and Peace” by David Kilcullen and Greg Mills is a thought-provoking book that offers a deep dive into some of the world’s most troubled conflict zones, drawing on decades of firsthand experience from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, through to Ukraine. This powerful quote, “Victory was determined by the ability to harness all instruments of national power,” more or less serves as a prelude to what the authors wish to share with their readers through this book on so-called quantitative War(s). The variety of case studies and on-the-ground reporting bring a gritty realism to the narrative, rooted in contemporary warfare and international relations.

The authors’ direct association is quite evident in the way they evaluate the metamorphosis from active conflict to enduring peace, offering a trenchant treatise and decoding that often proves more dialectic in accentuating what has gone wrong rather than proposing unraveling resolutions. David and Greg’s emphasis on “translating military victory into a truly stable peace demands a clear political strategy, thoughtful leadership, and a vision for the endgame that avoids illusions of quick fixes” made me see age-old warfare in a different dimension. I hope this paradigm serves as food for thought in handling future war-like conflicts.

I deeply understood that the authors emphasized throughout the book that success on the battlefield alone is insufficient; instead, it is crucial to recognize and address the dangers of prioritizing short-term national or personal interests over long-term stability and the nation’s peace. The author duo addresses the rise of asymmetric, urban, and hybrid conflicts plus the unpredictable battle ways throughout this read. During the read, I grasped the authors echoing the importance of adapting military, diplomatic, and economic tools to these new realities, which is reflected in their analysis of case studies such as Gaza, South Africa’s migration crises, and Taiwan’s defence strategy.

Unlike my recent War & Peace series, the author duo’s perspective on war emphasizes the crucial responsibility of leaders and states not only in waging conflict but in actively shaping peace. Their discussion on achieving lasting peace is exceptionally challenging and requires painful honesty about national priorities and values—a truth that is especially relevant in today’s technology-driven era. This is undoubtedly a compelling read for anyone interested in the gritty realities of twenty-first-century conflict and its aftermath, broadly relevant and transcending any single geography or conflict.

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“The Art of War and Peace” is a true reverberation of sharp, insightful analysis of war’s aftermath and the tough road to achievable success translated into a stable and enduring peace.

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