Welcome to the MWI Book Club, a podcast based on the idea that a military that reads books is a military that wins wars. Join cohosts John Amble and Theo Lipsky for the third episode as they read one of the most influential science fiction novels of all time: The Forever War by Joe Haldeman.
The book’s plot follows a young man named William Mandela who is drafted into an interstellar war. His deployments require that he travel light-years away from Earth, to fight against an unknown enemy with cutting-edge technology. What might he learn about leadership? About the promise of innovation? About innovation’s limits? And about himself?
Join John and Theo as they give The Forever War a close read to answer these questions. They discuss everything from human-machine teaming to professional military education to unit culture to drones—not to mention what the book tells us about war’s changing character and its enduring nature.
Have you read The Forever War? Know much about this remarkable science fiction novel or the tech it explores? Don’t hesitate to let us know what you think or what books you’d like us to read next. Reach out at john.amble@westpoint.edu or theodore.lipsky@westpoint.edu.
