The March of Folly

This classic, from the 1980s, is a must-read for history buffs and those interested in international affairs. The author cites examples from ancient Greece to the 1970s, to demonstrate how empires and nations often make decisions that are detrimental to their long-term interests. I love this book for its writing style which is captivating, for the breath of its examples which range from ancient times to modern-day and for the recommendations this book gives not just for political leaders but those in business and other walks of life.

Why have we ignored innumerable warnings and blatant indications of trouble ahead, to the point that normally conservative scientists have begun to throw around words like “catastrophe” and “extinction”? Tuchman has a big part of the answer: human beings, even very well educated and well informed human beings, are too often “woodenheaded”—that is they obstinately persist in their folly and delusion until catastrophe descends.