Typepad ate my post up, so I decided to retype it and make it shorter. I've already alluded to my habit of skipping around when reading books, and I've been consistently in awe of Zenpundit's discipline in conquering his industrial-strength booklist. I, on the other hand, can't resist the temptation to jump my scheduled reading lists (especially when a new biography of Orde Wingate is almost published!).
It's also got me thinking somewhat, as I've been re-reading parts of both the 1943 and 1987 editions of Makers of Modern Strategy as well as Azar Gat's History of Military Thought, about personal and professional reading in defense in the premodern era. Even when I keep to my reading lists, I still feel like a laggard when I read about the extensive research and reading of figures like Machiavell, Jomini, or Hans Delbruck. Of many writers and individuals with interest in the national security and foreign policy fireld, only polymathic writers like Dr. Gat himself seems to keep up with the wide-ranging reading of those centuries-old figures. In general, a range of thinkers and practitioners from times that we might regard today as completely primitive accomplished impressive scholarship and personal reading --before Amazon.com, Kindle, Googlebooks, Worldcat, or rapid interlibrary/institutional loan.
Of course, maybe the lack of Facebook, Twitter, or lolcats had something to do with it. Maybe Schlieffen wouldn't have completed his study of Cannae if he got too wrapped up making demotivational posters, Rickrolling other members of the General Staff, or trolling sites that might have indirectly inspired Jersey Shore. Or, worse yet, he might have discovered Lady Gaga or the awesomeness that was the first two Terminator movies. In short, he might have ended up like these unfortunate fellows.
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