Grand strategy, the art and science of employing national power and influence to attain national security objectives, is the most important and least understood aspect of national defense. If grand strategy is poorly conceived, the life-blood of a nation's youth and billions in national treasure can be wasted on worthless causes.

This treatise has a fourfold purpose: to stimulate a broad interest in strategy; to produce a concise compendium of strategic principles, considerations, and techniques for use by student and practicing strategists; to outline ways and means of improving U.S. strategic thought; and to give concerned citizens in all walks of life a firm grasp of strategic definitions and interactions, thereby affording them a better understanding of defense issues and providing the nation with a better-informed electorate.

The book first summarizes the evolution of strategic thought. Part I then stresses strategic fundamentals. Part II identifies strategic problems across the full spectrum of conflict between nations. Part III outlines past and present U.S. responses. Part IV concerns special considerations and constraints, other than political interactions, which are interwoven throughout the book. Part V suggests ways to detect, mobilize, motivate, and direct top talent. Part VI completes the package by evaluating differing strategies as applied to the Vietnam War, using the analytical tools laid out in the text. Except for the Vietnam case study, the author makes no attempt to champion any position. He does not tell readers what to think about grand strategy. He only shows them how.