Boyd: How One Fighter Pilot Transformed the Art of War

Amazon Customer: My husband has found this book to be very interesting - he even wants to tell other people what he has learned. If the subject is of interest to you, you should go for it!

United States on Aug 08, 2023

bezukhov: This biography of Colonel John Boyd describes how his life was shaped both by innovative thinking and constant clashes with authority. By reading this book, the reader will get an introduction to Boyd's key achievements and endeavors, such as the E-M theory, the Lightweight Fighter program and the OODA loop. The writing never gets too technical, meaning that the book is highly readable but, at the same time, it only scrapes the surface of the concepts developed by Boyd. The author often indulges in hyperbolical descriptions of Boyd and his work, but this may be appropriate given Boyd's peculiar personality.

However, the book contains much more than an introduction on Boyd's ideas. Much of the narrative is focused on the bureaucratic battles that Boyd and his six Acolytes fought against the Air Force, the Army, the Marine Corps and the Pentagon. These battles may sound familiar to corporate workers, as they are centered upon a fundamental concept described by Boyd as the choice between "to be" and "to do". Boyd's battles were fought to produce meaningful work ("to do"), no matter the consequences on his career ("to be"). Boyd's meaningful work revolutionized air combat and...

Italy on Nov 08, 2020

ReadingWritings: Sometimes one single book has the power to get you thinking for a long time. I picked up this book for the sheer personal interest I have in the subject it dealt with. Be it the term Fighter Pilot or Art of War, both are topics close to my heart. So it was but natural that I put aside all other books and read this one on top priority.

The book deals with the professional and personal life of John Boyd, a man who is revered by the Military fraternity around the world. It gives a peek into the life of a military strategist whose profound thoughts were way ahead of the times and era he lived in.

Robert Coram, as a biographist, has brought out the facts as accurately as he could. In fact, this is one biography that is gripping from beginning till the end. His language is simple. The military jargons used have been explained in a manner that can be comprehended even by people from the civvy street. As a military history enthusiast, this book definitely intrigued me since the very first page. The narration is fast paced and has a smooth flow. Loved the imageries that this story helped me conjure in my mind. I sincerely wish this story gets a motion picture dedicated to it....

India on May 28, 2018

AGF: I had heard of John Boyd, but never fully realised the true impact of his life's work in the wider military environment. It becomes apparent, in Robert's excellent text, that Boyd was a troubled genius who strived to influence and shape the, then, arcane environment that was the pentagon. Between Boyd and a small band of 'believers' waged their 4th generation warfare techniques, within the Pentagon, to influence, cajole and out-manoeuvre the many who did not agree with, and see the benefits of change. Boyd's lasting legacy can be found in the aircraft used in the Airforce and the tactics employed in the wider military.

This book is a great read which takes the reader through the life of Colonel John Boyd, it is engaging, well written and never dull. The only time I put it down was to research texts that were referenced within the book. Never in a biography have I learnt so much about a much wider subject than this book. Great work Robert!!!!!!

United Kingdom on Jan 13, 2018

CustomerJoe: If you have a keen interest in military affairs snd its histiry, this one is for you. As soon as i read the first page, i was hooked. Not because it is well written, but because it recounts the facts lesding to the accomplishments of Colonel John Boyd, the undefeated fighter pilot who became a pioneer of air combat, an engineer who developed a quantitative way of developing fighter aircraftw which led to the development if America's premiere combat aircrafts, the f-15, f-16, and the A-10. John boyd was also a reformer who lead a group referred to as the fighter mafia within the pentagon. He became an academic and prepared and delivered s series of briefings on maneuver warfare, he also invented the ooda loop. Much of John Boyd's work lead to the american victory during the invasion of Iraq. Most american have never heard of this grest man mainly because his ideas were not welcome by his superiors who were preoccupied by their careerism. A ture american hero who devoted his life to americs and it's warriors.

Canada on Oct 16, 2016

Garrett: I strongly recommend this book - a very engaging biography on a complex and enigmatic man. From Col John Boyd's drive to master his profession, and calling, as a fighter pilot and his subsequent personal journey to develop a revolutionary theory on the application of force, it is a fascinating, engaging read.

Coram's narrative can slip into hyperbole to make a point, particularly when describing Boyd's confrontations with 'the orthodoxy', be they his peers, superiors or a monolithic service [Navy, Army, Marines or Air Force]. However, this style does encourage you to identify with Col Boyd and understand why his unconventional approach allied with his sheer determination was so necessary to question dogma and unchallanged assumptions. You live Col Boyd's struggle to develop a mathmatical formula [the EM theory] to allow a comparative assessment of a fighter aircraft and how this was extrapolated to become a theory of manoeuvre applicable through the strategic, operational and tactical levels of warfare. There is a price for this innovation and it was his family; it is clear Col Boyd was a singularly driven man.

Any military professional must read this book as it...

United Kingdom on Aug 08, 2016

Christopher Kelly: Robert Coram wrote an excellent book, Boyd, that has enormous value for anyone interested in recent US military history.

John Boyd grew up in Erie, PA. He joined the army air corps and became a fighter pilot serving in WWII and the Korean war. He went on to become a trainer of fighter pilots at Nellis in Nevada for the US Air Force. He later joined the Pentagon and rose to the rank of Colonel. He was outspoken in his views on military procurement (highly critical of swing wing aircraft, pentagon waste, etc.) and other matters--a true Maverick. He later was one of the unofficial chief strategist of the 1990 Gulf War, Desert Storm. I must confess to being slightly disappointed that Dick Cheney did not give him credit as such in his recent memoir,  In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir . Boyd was one of America's great military men that almost no-one has ever heard of.

In addition to having had real hands on experience in combat, he was also an intellectual and theoretician of warfare. His chief contribution to the science is the concept of the OODA Loop. OODA is an acronym that stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. This provides an intellectual framework...

United States on Dec 04, 2014

Chuck DeVore: Robert Coram has written an important book in "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War" - but, as in Colonel Boyd himself, a book showing both brilliance and limitations.

As a member of the U.S. Army's reserve components since 1983, a former Pentagon political appointee from 1986 to 1988, and a defense consultant since 1991, I've had the opportunity see or participate in much of what Colonel Boyd influenced.

I bought Coram's book because I vividly remember spending a couple of days getting the "full brief" from Colonel Boyd back in 1987 in a dilapidated brick building in Washington, not far from Union Station. My Pentagon boss sent me to the briefing which was delivered by Col. Boyd and at least one of his "Acolytes." About ten people attended. At the time, I had no idea of Boyd's significance - the briefing did, however, make a lasting impression on me. Its two most salient concepts were the now-famous O-O-D-A Loop and Boyd's "To be or to do" speech (a heavy concept for a 24-year-old political idealist).

The book has three main thrusts: Boyd's theories (mostly on conflict); Boyd's battles against the Pentagon's acquisition system; and Boyd's...

United States on Dec 26, 2002