War—like death and taxes—feels inevitable, but is it? Do nations stumble into conflict, or is war a calculated decision gone wrong? What does victory really mean, and how can it be achieved without losing sight of the goal?

In this thought-provoking and original exploration, Christopher K. Pike delves into these perennial questions, revealing insights often overlooked by scholars. With clarity and wit, he demystifies the complex interplay between objectives, strategy, and action—showing how war leaders frequently “lose the plot” when they fail to fuse these elements.

Pike examines the delicate power balance between generals and politicians, the strategic stability (and moral horror) of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), and the absurdity of wars waged over pigs, ears, and football games. He exposes how conflicts are often lost not by superior enemies, but by leaders blinded by hubris, indecision, or sheer strategic confusion.

Whether exploring nuclear standoffs or historical blunders, Pike makes one thing clear: understanding war is key to preventing it.

About War is the essential first volume in Making Sense of War, a trilogy that combines 2,000 years of military history with modern relevance to help readers cut through the fog of conflict.

💬 "Both learned and a joy to read, Pike synthesizes centuries of scholarship and provides a fresh perspective on war and its enduring impact." —Antony Bird, writer and historian

About the Author
Christopher K Pike is an author, essayist and alumnus of the Department of War Studies, King’s College, London.

He was educated at St Clement Danes Grammar School in London and read Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough University.

He also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Manchester Business School.

A career in business strategy, teaching and practising led to an interest in military history and strategy in general, and he writes regularly on these subjects.

Much military history is either academic or ‘popular’, though no worse for that, but some of it overlooks the political context, both internationally and on the ground.

This led him to study for a Master’s in War Studies from King’s College, London, where his focus was on this political side of war and future prospects for war. His ‘options’ were Peacekeeping and Nationalism and the State.

He was elected to the Council of the Society for Army Historical Research.

He lives in London and Norfolk and is a frequent visitor to the battlefields of Europe, seeing the lie of the land and the ‘Other Side of the Hill’ for himself. A particular interest is writing strategic backgrounds for Battlefield Tour Guides.