Author:

Barbara W. Tuchman

Full Title:

The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam\

Synopsis:

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Barbara Tuchman explores a consistent pattern in human history: governments pursuing policies against their own interests. Tuchman defines "folly" as a counter-productive act, recognized as such at the time, when a feasible alternative existed. Through four main case studies—the Trojans' acceptance of the wooden horse, the Renaissance Popes' provocation of the Protestant Secession, the British loss of the American Colonies, and the United States' involvement in Vietnam—she examines how self-delusion, refusal to admit error, and "wooden-headedness" lead to systemic failure. This is a profound study of the importance of critical thinking and the dangers of power-induced blindness.