H. R. McMaster
Born: July 24, 1962 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
H. R. McMaster is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, military historian, and national security strategist whose work focuses on war, leadership, and foreign policy. He served as U.S. national security adviser in 2017–2018 and wrote Dereliction of Duty and Battlegrounds, influential books on civil-military decision-making and global strategy.
Biography & Author's Journey
H. R. McMaster’s public life took shape at the intersection of soldiering, scholarship, and policy. A Philadelphia native, he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1984, later earned a Ph.D. in military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and returned to West Point as an assistant professor of history. Those academic credentials developed alongside a 34-year Army career that gave him firsthand experience in modern war, from Eagle Troop at the 1991 Battle of 73 Easting to command in Tal Afar during the Iraq War, before culminating in senior strategic roles and, eventually, service as national security adviser in 2017–18. ((https://www.hoover.org/profiles/h-r-mcmaster))
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Battlegrounds
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A provocative analysis of U.S. foreign policy challenges and a call to action for preserving America's global standing.
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Community Voices
"H. R. McMaster might be the 21st century Army’s pre-eminent warrior-thinker"
— TIME
"H. R. McMaster is an unusual combination of academic and on-the-ground fighter"
— The Guardian
"H. R. McMaster's Dereliction of Duty stands out as a particularly well-documented, searing indictment of civilian and military leadership"
— Edward M. Coffman
"H. R. McMaster is widely known as smart, intense and fiercely outspoken"
— The Washington Post
"H. R. McMaster's book adds a new and disturbing dimension to understanding the decisions that propelled us into Vietnam"
— Stanley Karnow
"H. R. McMaster is a man of genuine intellect, character, and ability"
— John McCain
"H. R. McMaster is viewed as a soldier-scholar and creative thinker"
— Associated Press
"H. R. McMaster's book is vital in understanding those times and those critical decisions"
— Frederick Franks
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
