Who should read *Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World*?

This book suits policymakers, military professionals, and readers interested in geopolitics. McMaster’s blend of historical analysis (e.g., Vietnam War parallels) and modern security insights makes it valuable for understanding 21st-century threats. It’s also relevant for students of international relations seeking a framework for evaluating great-power competition.

Is *Battlegrounds* worth reading in 2025?

Yes—its analysis of authoritarian regimes and hybrid warfare remains timely amid ongoing U.S.-China tensions and Russian aggression. McMaster’s critique of bureaucratic inertia in foreign policy and emphasis on technological competition (AI, cyber) align with 2025 security debates. The book’s actionable strategies for democratic resilience make it a practical guide.

What are the main ideas in *Battlegrounds*?

Key themes include: - **Strategic empathy**: Understanding adversaries’ motivations to counter threats. - **Alliance revitalization**: Strengthening NATO and Indo-Pacific partnerships. - **Hybrid warfare**: Combating disinformation and cyberattacks. - **Bureaucratic reform**: Streamlining decision-making to avoid past policy failures. McMaster argues these steps are vital to counter China’s rise and Russia’s destabilizing actions.

How does *Battlegrounds* compare to McMaster’s *Dereliction of Duty*?

While *Dereliction of Duty* critiques Vietnam-era leadership failures, *Battlegrounds* addresses modern geopolitical risks. Both emphasize strategic clarity, but the latter expands to cyber, AI, and alliance management. McMaster’s focus on institutional learning ties his historical analysis to contemporary policy challenges.

What criticisms exist about *Battlegrounds*?

Some experts note McMaster avoids discussing domestic politics’ impact on foreign policy, such as partisan divides affecting U.S. strategy. Others argue the book prioritizes military solutions over diplomatic avenues. However, its actionable frameworks for countering authoritarianism are widely praised.

How does *Battlegrounds* address China’s geopolitical strategy?

McMaster details China’s belt-and-road expansion, intellectual property theft, and South China Sea militarization. He advocates for technology export controls, Indo-Pacific military partnerships, and countering CCP disinformation. The book warns against underestimating China’s long-term goal of displacing U.S. global influence.

What role does history play in *Battlegrounds*?

McMaster uses historical case studies—like Cold War deterrence and post-9/11 counterterrorism—to highlight recurring policy mistakes. He argues understanding past failures (e.g., inadequate responses to Russia’s 2014 Crimea annexation) is essential to avoid future strategic blunders.

배틀그라운드

Q: What is *Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World* about?

*Battlegrounds* offers a critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy since the Cold War, focusing on challenges like authoritarian regimes (Russia, China), jihadist terrorism, and nuclear threats. Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster draws from his military service and tenure as National Security Advisor to advocate for strategic reforms, emphasizing the need to counter disinformation and strengthen alliances. The book also examines emerging "arenas" like cyber warfare and climate change.

자유 세계를 수호하기 위한 투쟁

H. R. 맥마스터

4.11(1723 Reviews)

배틀그라운드 개요

전 국가안보보좌관 맥마스터가 전략적 공감을 통해 미국의 가장 큰 위협들을 해부하며 지정학적 거장다운 강의를 선사합니다. 당파 정치를 초월한 뉴욕 타임스 베스트셀러인 이 책은 묻습니다. 적의 관점을 이해하는 것이 민주주의를 수호하는 열쇠라면 어떨까요?

전달 방식을 선택하세요

한 권의 책, 다양한 듣기 방식.

배틀그라운드의 같은 아이디어를 담았습니다. 나에게 맞는 목소리, 깊이, 속도를 고르고 언제든 바꿔 보세요.

1장

A General's Warning: The Fight for Global Security in an Era of Strategic Competition

In February 2017, H.R. McMaster received an unexpected call from the White House. Just three days later, this career military officer with 34 years of service found himself sitting in the Oval Office as President Trump's new National Security Advisor. Having spent nearly half his career overseas, including five years in combat zones, McMaster brought a unique perspective to an administration that desperately needed strategic clarity. "Battlegrounds" arrived at a critical moment in American history. Named one of the Top 10 books of 2020 by The Washington Post and widely praised across the political spectrum, McMaster's analysis transcends partisan divides to address fundamental threats to global security. Unlike the tell-all memoirs that dominate political bestseller lists, McMaster deliberately avoided the White House palace intrigue to focus on something more enduring: a clear-eyed assessment of America's position in a rapidly changing world order. As former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates noted, the book offers "an unvarnished, fact-based look at the challenges America faces and a reasoned way forward based on sober analysis rather than wishful thinking."

2장

Strategic Narcissism: America's Self-Defeating Worldview

At the turn of the millennium, America was flying high-perhaps too high. Like Icarus of Greek legend who soared toward the sun only to plummet to his death, the United States was setting itself up for a rude awakening. Three successive shocks shattered American confidence: the September 11th attacks that killed nearly 3,000 innocents, the unanticipated length and difficulty of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the 2008 financial crisis that devastated the global economy. These events exposed critical vulnerabilities in American security, military strategy, and economic foundations that many had previously considered unassailable. These traumas fundamentally altered America's approach to the world. The optimism that characterized the immediate post-Cold War era gave way to pessimism and retrenchment. Both the Bush and Obama administrations, in their own ways, fell victim to what McMaster calls "strategic narcissism"-viewing the world only in relation to the United States and assuming future events depend primarily on American decisions. This mindset manifested in policies that often ignored regional complexities, historical contexts, and the legitimate interests of other nations. This narcissism manifested in two opposing but equally flawed approaches. The Bush administration displayed overconfidence, believing American power could easily transform foreign societies. This was evident in the administration's assumption that Iraq would quickly become a Western-style democracy after Saddam Hussein's removal, overlooking centuries of sectarian divisions and regional power dynamics. The Obama administration, by contrast, embraced resignation, assuming American withdrawal would allow natural harmony to emerge. This was demonstrated in the precipitous withdrawal from Iraq, which created a power vacuum that contributed to the rise of ISIS, and in the "leading from behind" approach to Libya that left chaos in its wake. Both perspectives failed to appreciate what McMaster calls "strategic empathy"-understanding what drives and constrains other actors rather than projecting our own preferences onto them. This concept requires deep knowledge of other cultures, histories, and motivations. For instance, American leaders often misread the Taliban's resilience in Afghanistan, failing to understand how tribal loyalties and local power structures would trump centralized authority. "We consistently engaged in strategic narcissism," McMaster writes, "defining problems as we would like them to be and assuming that others would react to events as we would." This failure of imagination left America vulnerable to adversaries who studied our weaknesses and developed strategies to exploit them. China's strategy of economic coercion, Russia's hybrid warfare tactics, and Iran's use of proxy forces all demonstrated how adversaries learned to circumvent traditional American military advantages while exploiting our political divisions and decision-making processes. The consequences of strategic narcissism continue to shape American foreign policy debates, influencing everything from counter-terrorism strategy to great power competition. Understanding and overcoming this tendency requires a fundamental shift in how America views its role in the world and how it engages with both allies and adversaries.

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배틀그라운드의 각 단어가 오디오에 맞춰 실시간으로 강조되어 편하게 따라 읽을 수 있습니다.

3장

Russia's Firehose of Falsehood: Putin's Campaign to Divide the West

Vladimir Putin's strategy toward the West resembles the Russian joke about a farmer who, when offered any wish, asks only to kill his neighbor's cow. Rather than building Russia up, Putin seeks to tear others down through a sophisticated strategy that combines disinformation, plausible deniability, disruptive technologies, economic coercion, and military capabilities. This approach, deeply rooted in Soviet-era active measures, has been modernized for the digital age with remarkable effectiveness. At the heart of this approach lies what RAND Corporation researchers call a "firehose of falsehood"-a propaganda technique that bombards audiences with rapid, continuous, and repetitive disinformation. The goal isn't to convince people of a particular narrative but to create doubt about everything, fostering a cynical worldview where truth becomes impossible to discern. With a $300 million annual budget, RT (formerly Russia Today) broadcasts propaganda disguised as news, reaching more YouTube subscribers than CNN, Fox News, and ABC News combined. RT's success stems from its ability to blend legitimate news coverage with subtle distortions and outright fabrications, making it difficult for viewers to separate fact from fiction. Russian disinformation operations are carefully tailored to each target country's vulnerabilities, exploiting specific cultural, political, and social fault lines. In smaller nations like Montenegro, Russia attempted comprehensive operations including election interference, disinformation, cyberattacks, and even a planned coup to prevent NATO membership. The Montenegro operation revealed the full spectrum of Russian capabilities, from traditional espionage to social media manipulation and economic pressure through oligarch-controlled investments. In larger countries like the United States, Russia focused on polarizing society and undermining democratic confidence through more sophisticated means, including targeted social media campaigns and strategic leaks of hacked information. The 2016 U.S. election interference demonstrated the sophistication of Russia's approach. The Internet Research Agency (IRA) reached 126 million Facebook users and posted 10.4 million tweets, creating a vast web of false personas and inflammatory content. Russian agents cultivated relationships within social media groups, drove extreme positions, created "media mirages" of manipulated content, and exploited algorithms that prioritize engagement over accuracy. They organized competing rallies in the same locations to create conflict, funded social media advertisements targeting specific demographic groups, and established fake news websites that mixed real local news with disinformation. "Russian disinformation does not create divisions," McMaster explains. "It exploits and exacerbates divisions that already exist." The GRU (Russian military intelligence) even attempted to encourage Texas and California secession movements, drawing from Soviet-era playbooks that had sought to create a separate black state in the American South during the 1930s. These efforts extended to promoting extremist groups on both ends of the political spectrum, amplifying conspiracy theories, and targeting specific demographic groups with tailored messages designed to increase political and social polarization. Putin's strategy has evolved to include sophisticated cyber operations, economic warfare through energy dependence, and the strategic use of military threats to create uncertainty among Western allies. The approach combines traditional KGB tactics with modern technology, creating a powerful tool for undermining Western democracies while maintaining plausible deniability.

4장

China's Long Game: The CCP's Threat to Freedom and Security

While Russia plays a weak hand well, China represents a more fundamental challenge to the international order. During a 2017 visit to Beijing, McMaster observed how Chinese leaders manipulated historical symbolism to convey messages about China's inevitable return to dominance as the "Middle Kingdom." Xi Jinping views the 19th and 20th centuries as an aberrational period when European nations and the United States achieved dominance. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) portrays its increasingly assertive foreign policy as simply a return to the natural order where foreigners bow before Chinese authority. This narrative masks the profound insecurity driving Chinese leaders, who fear the historical cycle of prosperity, corruption, disaster, rebellion, and collapse that has ended previous dynasties. To prevent this fate, the CCP has constructed an unprecedented surveillance state that monitors citizens' activities, conversations, and even thoughts. The social credit score system combines internet control with artificial intelligence to determine eligibility for loans, education, employment, and transportation. In Xinjiang province, at least a million Uyghurs have been detained in concentration camps for systematic brainwashing, with leaked documents revealing Xi's orders to show "absolutely no mercy" in crushing minority opposition. The CCP's authoritarian control extends beyond China's borders through debt-trap diplomacy and strategic infrastructure investments. In Sri Lanka, high-interest Chinese loans for an unnecessary port project ultimately forced the country to sign a 99-year lease to a Chinese state enterprise when they couldn't service the debt. Despite promises the port wouldn't be used militarily, Chinese submarines soon docked there. Similar patterns have played out in the Maldives, Malaysia, Kenya, Ecuador, and elsewhere. "The Chinese Communist Party's goal," McMaster writes, "is to create exclusionary areas of primacy across the Indo-Pacific region, and, in time, to achieve global preeminence." Through its Military-Civil Fusion policy, the CCP compels all Chinese organizations to support intelligence work, with companies, universities, and the People's Liberation Army working together to dominate key economic sectors and develop dual-use technologies.

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5장

Afghanistan's Endless War: Strategic Failures and Missed Opportunities

America's longest war represents perhaps the clearest example of strategic narcissism in action. Despite initial military successes in 2001, the United States essentially fought "a one-year war twenty times over" rather than developing a coherent long-term strategy for Afghanistan. McMaster identifies four flawed assumptions that prolonged the conflict: that a narrow counterterrorism approach was adequate; that the Taliban was separate from Al-Qaeda and other terrorists; that the Taliban would negotiate in good faith; and that Pakistan would reduce support for terrorist organizations. These assumptions reflected wishful thinking rather than strategic empathy. The reality on the ground was far more complex. By 2019, twenty terrorist groups operated in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, forming an interconnected ecosystem rather than isolated entities. Though these groups sometimes competed, they more often formed alliances pursuing common cause. This ecosystem was deliberately created by Pakistan's military intelligence service (ISI) to suppress ethnic populations and prevent them from finding common cause across the Durand Line. Despite these challenges, Afghanistan had transformed dramatically by 2017. Kabul's population grew from one million to five million as refugees returned, millions voted despite Taliban threats, and education expanded from under 1 million children pre-2001 to 9.3 million by 2017, with 300,000 university students (one-third women). Technology connected Afghans to the world, with 80% having mobile phones and a vibrant media landscape of nearly 100 TV channels and hundreds of radio stations. Yet American leaders consistently undermined these gains through inconsistent policies. The Obama administration's declaration that the war was over in 2014 contradicted the reality that American soldiers alongside Afghan forces still fought ruthless enemies. Time was running out as U.S. troop strength fell from 100,000 in 2011 to merely 8,400 by March 2017. The arbitrary troop cap bore no relation to military objectives, while restrictions on engagement limited effectiveness. "We were still fighting," McMaster writes, "but we were no longer fighting to win."

6장

The Middle East's Cycle of Violence: From Strategic Overreach to Disengagement

The Middle East remains both confounding and wretched, with America's inconsistent policies contributing to the region's catastrophes while diminishing U.S. influence. From Iraq to Syria to Libya, strategic narcissism has produced devastating consequences. After the initial military victory in Iraq, a clandestine Baathist network survived and organized resistance. Iraq's traumatized population and torn social fabric created conditions ripe for insurgency. The Coalition was too slow to adapt as insurgents evolved their tactics from initial attacks on Coalition forces to deadly roadside bombs, infrastructure sabotage, and civilian-targeted terrorism. By February 2004, McMaster's team warned General Abizaid that "the specter of civil war is haunting Iraq." A month later, Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi proposed implementing "the Afghan model"-deliberately triggering sectarian civil war through mass attacks on Shia communities to provoke retribution against Sunnis. This would position AQI as Sunnis' protector and ultimately establish a "jihadist state" to launch attacks against regional and Western enemies. The 2007 "surge" strategy temporarily reversed these trends, breaking the cycle of violence while special operations targeted irreconcilable factions. Within a year of the surge's deployment, violence fell to the lowest levels since 2004. However, the Obama administration's disengagement from Iraq in 2011 removed checks on Prime Minister Maliki's worst inclinations, clearing the way for sectarian violence, Iranian influence, and the rise of ISIS. Similar patterns played out in Libya and Syria. While disengaging from Iraq, the Obama administration intervened in Libya without a plan for what would follow-repeating Iraq's fundamental error. NATO's aerial campaign helped rebels depose Gaddafi, but without efforts to establish security in post-Gaddafi Libya, chaos ensued, allowing terrorist organizations to thrive. In Syria, Obama's decision against intervention had devastating consequences. A multinational security force might have prevented Libya's fragmentation, while no-fly zones in Syria could have mitigated the humanitarian crisis, stemmed refugee flows, constrained Iranian and Russian influence, and impeded ISIS's growth. Instead, the intensifying conflicts created ideal conditions for terrorist expansion.

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

배틀그라운드의 각 단어가 오디오에 맞춰 실시간으로 강조되어 편하게 따라 읽을 수 있습니다.

7장

Iran's Proxy Wars: The Failure of Conciliation

Iran presents a complex threat through its sophisticated proxy networks, with Hezbollah in Lebanon serving as its most powerful and well-organized extension. The Iranian regime's multifaceted strategy extends far beyond traditional military means, systematically using social services, educational institutions, and political influence to forge deep bonds with Shia communities across the Middle East. In Lebanon, Hezbollah operates hospitals, schools, and welfare programs, creating dependency relationships that translate into political loyalty. Similar patterns emerge in Iraq through various militia groups and in Yemen through the Houthi movement. Despite severe economic challenges and domestic unrest, Iran consistently prioritizes its aggressive posture toward Israel and regional dominance. The regime provides an estimated $700 million annually to Hezbollah, while also funding Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and various Iraqi militias. These investments persist even as ordinary Iranians face mounting economic hardship. Tehran's leadership regularly makes explicit threats of Israel's annihilation, with military parades featuring missiles emblazoned with "Death to Israel" in Hebrew. Through six American administrations, from Carter to Biden, diplomatic outreach and goodwill gestures have consistently failed to produce Iranian moderation or reduce regional hostility. The Obama administration's conciliatory approach, culminating in the JCPOA nuclear deal, ultimately undermined international efforts to constrain Iranian aggression. While proponents argued that sanctions relief would moderate Iran's behavior, the estimated $150 billion in unfrozen assets primarily strengthened the Supreme Leader's office, corrupt religious foundations (bonyads), and the Revolutionary Guard's economic empire. The 2019 Gulf Crisis provided stark evidence that the regime's hostility is ideologically foundational, not merely rhetorical posturing. Iran's attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, sophisticated drone strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities, and the downing of a $130 million U.S. surveillance drone demonstrated both capability and intent. Iranian leaders, particularly emboldened by perceived U.S. and European weakness and division, escalated confrontations while Supreme Leader Khamenei publicly mocked American power, describing the U.S. as "becoming hollow from the inside like what termites do." Moving forward requires a strategy of maximum pressure, forcing Iran's leaders to choose between economic ruin or a truly comprehensive agreement that ends proxy wars and includes robust verification measures. This approach must account for Iran's extensive sanctions-evasion networks and cryptocurrency operations. As pressure mounts, the U.S. and allies must prepare for Iranian escalation across multiple domains, learning from past patterns including sophisticated cyberattacks against critical infrastructure, international assassination attempts, and complex retaliatory plots orchestrated through proxy forces.

8장

North Korea's Nuclear Blackmail: Breaking the Cycle of Failed Negotiations

North Korea's nuclear and missile programs advanced rapidly under Kim Jong-un, with the regime conducting a claimed hydrogen bomb test in January 2016, followed by a satellite launch and multiple missile tests. This acceleration prompted the Obama administration and South Korea to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, creating tension with China and complicating relations with South Korea. McMaster argues that accepting a nuclear-armed North Korea would likely trigger proliferation across Asia, as Japan and South Korea might conclude they need their own nuclear weapons if they doubt America's nuclear umbrella protection. Additionally, North Korea has a documented history of selling every weapon it has possessed, including nuclear technology to Syria (resulting in Israel's 2007 bombing of the Al-Kibar reactor) and missile technology to Iran. By summer 2017, the Trump administration had replaced "strategic patience" with "maximum pressure" to achieve North Korean denuclearization. Despite initial coordination success with South Korea and strong UN sanctions, North Korea conducted seventeen missile tests in 2017, including an ICBM test on July 4th, and a massive 140-kiloton nuclear test in September. The subsequent diplomatic engagement, including the Singapore and Hanoi summits, revealed fundamental misunderstandings on both sides. Kim's team, poorly advised and relying on American TV dramas for insights into U.S. policy-making, believed Trump was desperate for a foreign policy win and would grant sanctions relief for merely symbolic concessions. Trump overestimated his persuasive abilities and underestimated Kim's commitment to Juche ideology, which celebrates deprivation as virtuous. Throughout the diplomatic engagement period, North Korea showed no signs of slowing its nuclear or missile programs. In 2019 alone, it fired twenty-six missiles, the most violations of UN resolutions in a single year. Despite hopes for a breakthrough similar to the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kim remained unwilling to open North Korea to the world, fearing exposure of Juche ideology as fraudulent.

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9장

New Arenas of Competition: Technology, Space, and Climate

Beyond traditional geopolitical contests, new competitive domains are emerging that will shape future security. In February 2017, McMaster's NSC team identified crucial national security challenges spanning both geographic regions and functional domains like cyberspace and space. They recognized America's strategic narcissism had disadvantaged the country in technological and economic competitions vital to future security. The internet's early promise of spreading liberty proved naively optimistic. Even democracies face significant costs: social media companies exploit personal data, platforms amplify division, and people become electronically connected but socially disconnected. Democracies must develop standards and technologies preserving privacy and preventing data misuse. AI technologies will worsen cyber warfare threats as machines learn from data and make decisions without human intervention. Combined with 5G networks and the "internet of things," AI could affect everything from power grids to financial systems. Ransomware attacks have already crippled manufacturers, health networks, and city governments. After the Cold War, America's commitment to space leadership waned, assuming space would become a benign environment for cooperation. This strategic narcissism caused the US to fall behind. After retiring the Space Shuttle in 2011, America became dependent on Russia for manned spaceflight. Meanwhile, China shot down one of its satellites in 2007, and both Russia and China developed counter-space capabilities including anti-satellite weapons. Climate change presents another arena requiring both competition and cooperation. The polluting effects of coal plants in Africa devastate local environments while increasing global carbon emissions. Climate change induces food and water scarcity, spreads disease, and triggers migration crises. In India, 200,000 people die annually from water scarcity while 600 million face severe water stress. Energy presents the greatest opportunity for addressing climate change. The fracking revolution that made cheap natural gas available led to coal's share of U.S. electricity generation dropping from 48% in 2008 to 22% in 2020-the largest reduction in greenhouse gases without government mandates. Advanced nuclear reactors provide another solution-they're grid-capable, more efficient, safer, and recycle used fuel without liquid reprocessing.

10장

Restoring Strategic Competence: Education, Alliances, and Confidence

To enhance strategic competence, America must strengthen its democratic institutions and restore faith in its principles while developing leaders who think historically and understand implementation challenges. Education may be the most crucial investment for future innovation. Today's competitions require unprecedented cooperation among government, academia, and the private sector-not through centralized direction but through shared understanding of what's at stake. McMaster proposes a new initiative similar to the 1958 National Defense Education Act, passed after Sputnik, which prioritized science, history, political science, and language. Given China's advantages in AI and emerging technologies, education reform requires similar urgency today. America must pursue both forms of deterrence: punitive action against aggressors and "deterrence by denial" that convinces adversaries they cannot achieve objectives through aggression. Alliances on the Eurasian landmass and Indo-Pacific are invaluable not just for deterring conflict but for competing short of war, as they pose dilemmas for Russia and China while amplifying America's moral and military capabilities. Effective competition requires not just competence but confidence. Partisan vitriol undermines America's ability to implement bipartisan foreign policy, giving adversaries the impression of weakness. As philosopher Richard Rorty noted, "National pride is to countries what self-respect is to individuals: a necessary condition for self-improvement." America needs civics education that reverses the focus on micro-identities and victimhood to foster broader, integrative identities. Educational curricula should acknowledge both America's failures-subjugation of Native Americans, slavery, Japanese internment, racism, gender inequality-and its virtues, offering a progressive narrative about a Constitution that placed sovereignty with the people and extended rights to previously excluded groups. "The greatest source of national strength," McMaster concludes, "is an educated populace." By rejecting strategic narcissism and embracing strategic empathy, America can navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century while preserving peace and freedom for generations to come.

★★★★★

배틀그라운드 완독을 축하합니다

100만 명 이상의 학습자가 사랑합니다

“23일째 매일 사용하고 있어요. 이제 제 일상의 한 부분이 되었습니다.”

jayallen

배틀그라운드의 핵심 주제

strategic narcissism
global security threats
foreign policy realism
disinformation warfare
great power competition

배틀그라운드의 명언

Strategy is about how to achieve what you want, and, therefore, must begin with a clear articulation of desired ends.
The gravest threat to security and prosperity is the erosion of knowledge, understanding, and judgment.
We consistently engaged in strategic narcissism.
Putin seeks to tear others down.
Russian disinformation does not create divisions.

배틀그라운드의 등장인물

H. R. McMasterAuthor and former National Security Advisor
Saddam HusseinFormer leader of Iraq
Robert GatesFormer Secretary of Defense

저자 소개

Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World의 저자인 H.R. 맥마스터는 은퇴한 미 육군 중장이자 군사 전략 및 국제 안보 분야의 전문성으로 명성 높은 베스트셀러 작가입니다.

전직 국가안보보좌관(2017~2018)이자 걸프전과 이라크전 참전 용사인 맥마스터는 수십 년간의 군사 및 정책 결정 경험을 바탕으로 글로벌 갈등과 리더십 과제를 분석합니다. 그의 저술은 역사적 통찰력과 현대 지정학적 분석을 결합하고 있으며, 이는 노스캐롤라이나 대학교 채플힐 캠퍼스(UNC Chapel Hill)의 군사학 박사 학위와 웨스트포인트 사관학교에서의 교수 경력 등 그의 학문적 배경을 반영합니다.

베트남 전쟁 당시의 의사결정 과정을 비판적으로 연구한 맥마스터의 영향력 있는 저서 Dereliction of Duty는 군사 교육의 필독서이자 뉴욕 타임스 베스트셀러로 남아 있습니다. CBS 뉴스의 고정 논평가이자 포린 어페어스(Foreign Affairs) 및 *월스트리트 저널(The Wall Street Journal)*의 기고가로 활동 중인 그는 현재 스탠퍼드 대학교 후버 연구소의 선임 연구원으로 재직하고 있습니다. Battlegrounds는 15개 언어로 번역되었으며 전 세계 정책 입안자들과 안보 전문가들 사이에서 인용되고 있습니다. 그의 최신작 At War With Ourselves는 트럼프 행정부에서의 재임 기간에 대한 직접적인 기록을 담고 있습니다.

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This plan offers a deep dive into the intersection of military history, political intrigue, and philosophical resistance. It is ideal for history enthusiasts and strategic thinkers looking to understand how power is seized, maintained, and challenged across eras.

1 h 45 m•4 섹션

학습 계획

The Drama of Statecraft and Power

This plan is essential for anyone seeking to understand the mechanics of political authority and the rise of nations. It is ideal for aspiring leaders, history buffs, and policy students wanting to grasp the forces that shape our world.

2 h•4 섹션

학습 계획

Tactics, Treachery, and the Throne

This learning plan provides a deep dive into the intersection of high-stakes politics and military strategy. It is essential for history enthusiasts, aspiring leaders, and strategists who want to understand how psychological warfare and long-term planning shape the course of empires.

1 h 30 m•3 섹션

학습 계획

Grand Strategy and the Secret War

This plan is essential for history buffs and strategic thinkers who want to understand the interplay between visible battlefields and the shadow world of espionage. It is ideal for those seeking to learn how statecraft, intelligence, and tactical evolution converge to win modern wars.

1 h 30 m•3 섹션

학습 계획

The Biology of Human Empire

This plan bridges the gap between evolutionary biology and historical geopolitics to explain why human societies rise and fall. It is ideal for history buffs, sociologists, and strategists looking to understand the primal drivers of power and systemic collapse.

1 h 30 m•3 섹션

학습 계획

Power, Blood, and Statecraft

This plan provides a deep dive into the brutal evolution of political authority and the shift from divine right to state sovereignty. It is essential for students of political science, history buffs, or anyone seeking to understand the ruthless mechanics behind how power is seized and held.

1 h 30 m•3 섹션

학습 계획

Machiavelli for Modern Leaders

This plan is essential for leaders navigating volatile environments where traditional idealism often fails. It provides a pragmatic toolkit for executives and managers who need to master power dynamics, strategic agility, and reputation management to ensure institutional longevity.

2 h•4 섹션

샌프란시스코에서 컬럼비아 대학교 동문들이 만들었습니다

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4.7

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1M+ learners

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@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

웹에서 BeFreed가 어떻게 논의되고 있는지 더 보기

샌프란시스코에서 컬럼비아 대학교 동문들이 만들었습니다

LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

avg rating

1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

웹에서 BeFreed가 어떻게 논의되고 있는지 더 보기

지금 바로 학습 여정을 시작하세요

3장

배틀그라운드

개요배틀그라운드 개요

한 권의 책, 다양한 듣기 방식.

A General's Warning: The Fight for Global Security in an Era of Strategic Competition

Strategic Narcissism: America's Self-Defeating Worldview

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

Russia's Firehose of Falsehood: Putin's Campaign to Divide the West

China's Long Game: The CCP's Threat to Freedom and Security

배틀그라운드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

Afghanistan's Endless War: Strategic Failures and Missed Opportunities

The Middle East's Cycle of Violence: From Strategic Overreach to Disengagement

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

Iran's Proxy Wars: The Failure of Conciliation

North Korea's Nuclear Blackmail: Breaking the Cycle of Failed Negotiations

배틀그라운드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

New Arenas of Competition: Technology, Space, and Climate

Restoring Strategic Competence: Education, Alliances, and Confidence

배틀그라운드 완독을 축하합니다

배틀그라운드의 핵심 주제

배틀그라운드의 명언

배틀그라운드의 등장인물

저자 소개

배틀그라운드 요약 다운로드

다른 사용자들도 좋아한 책

이 책에 대한 FAQ

What is Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World about?

Who should read Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World?

Is Battlegrounds worth reading in 2025?

What are the main ideas in Battlegrounds?

이 학습 계획의 일부

US-Iran Conflict: Past, Present & Future

Géopolitique des USA : de 1776 à nos jours

더 알아보기

1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

한 권의 책, 다양한 듣기 방식.

A General's Warning: The Fight for Global Security in an Era of Strategic Competition

Strategic Narcissism: America's Self-Defeating Worldview

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

Russia's Firehose of Falsehood: Putin's Campaign to Divide the West

China's Long Game: The CCP's Threat to Freedom and Security

배틀그라운드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

Afghanistan's Endless War: Strategic Failures and Missed Opportunities

The Middle East's Cycle of Violence: From Strategic Overreach to Disengagement

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

Iran's Proxy Wars: The Failure of Conciliation

North Korea's Nuclear Blackmail: Breaking the Cycle of Failed Negotiations

배틀그라운드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

New Arenas of Competition: Technology, Space, and Climate

Restoring Strategic Competence: Education, Alliances, and Confidence

배틀그라운드 완독을 축하합니다

다른 사용자들도 좋아한 책

이 학습 계획의 일부

US-Iran Conflict: Past, Present & Future

Géopolitique des USA : de 1776 à nos jours

더 알아보기

배틀그라운드 개요