Coup d'État: A Practical Handbook, Revised Edition

Exceptionally well researched and written. Author has an exceptional command of the material and communicates it in an easy to understand format. If you want to Lear more about how to approach a coupe de tat this is where to start.

My friend is a history nerd and this was on his Christmas list. Arrived well, the book itself looks well-made for paperback.

Good book. Complicated enough that re-reading some sections to understand is necessary.

Covers the background, conditions, process, and aftermath of the coup from a strategic, tactical, and sociological point of view. Will expand the horizons of anyone who's interested in grand strategy and sociological dynamics of coming to power in the 3rd world.

Coup d'Etats happen all over the world. Some will succeed. Some will fail. Understand why.

It is a pleasure to read this book as a revised edition, written from a perspective of 40-50 years. Great!

Perfect

Quite the analysis

I was recommended to this text by a friend. I eagerly awaited the upcoming second edition knowing that many of the criticisms of the first edition had been addressed plus the text was going to be thoroughly updated to 2015 currency.I'm glad a purchased this book because it was thoroughly enjoyable although I think its application has probably diminished between the first and second editions. Thinking of planning a (first world) coup by following Luttwak's prescription, I could not believe that one could succeed without a plotting team equal in size and organisation if not greater to the current state needing to be overthrown. Still it was an interesting theoretical exercise.Luttwak's writing style is "easy"; not too encumbered with technical jargon, no grammatical errors and easily accessible. Whilst the thorny problem of social media is addressed, I felt the original criticism of a lack of focus on the role of media has carried forward to the second edition. Luttwak fails to address the social media success of Daesh and the lack of effective countermeasures. Still this is a minor criticism. This book is totally unique in that what has been an increasing incidences of coups d'état since the Second World War, the subject has been reduced to a series of processes that add up to a framework. Bravo.

Splendid and comprehensive book. Quite controversial due to its detail. Yet excellent comparative analysis of different coups from the past in different regions and revised to consider events up to end of 2015. The strength of the book is looking at the politics and conditions for a coup to take place, where it is feasible and where it is not. Particularly interesting considering recent events in Turkey. A lot of technical detail on the mechanics of a coup as well as a look at the strategic and tactical elements.

Great!

Prof Luttwak has been smart and funny since this very first book. A little outdated notwithstanding the new revision, because the internet revolution has completely changed everything.

Interesting book which details the history and processes of military coups against the governments in the last century. Well written and easy to read.