On War is the most significant attempt in Western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy. Since the work's first appearance in 1832, it has been read throughout the world, and has stimulated generations of soldiers, statesmen, and intellectuals. The most significant attempt in Western history to understand war, both in its internal dynamics and as an instrument of policy, Carl von Clausewitz's book stands as one of the world's great classic works on the subject.

Translation of: Vom Kriege. Index copyright, 1984. Included in the U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Professional Reading List, 2004. "Prepared under the auspices of the Center of International Studies, Princeton University." Military Reading List: Army 2017. Introductory essays by Peter Paret, Michael Howard and Bernard Brodie; with a commentary by Bernard Brodie. Index by Rosalie West. "Eighth printing with corrections and index." Some copies are First Princeton paperback printing, 1989 : ISBN 0691018545. Some copies are the original hardback, Princeton University Press, 1976, xii, 717p., 25 cm (isbn 0691056579). Some editions are the 1984 (8th printing with the same pagination).

Introductory Essays. The Genesis of On War / Peter Paret -- The Influence of Clausewitz / Michael Howard -- The Continuing Relevance of On War / Bernard Brodie -- On War. Author's Preface -- Author's Comment -- Preface / Marie Von Clausewitz -- Two Notes by the Author -- Book One. On the Nature of War. What is War? -- Purpose and Means in War -- On Military Genius -- On Danger in War -- On Physical Effort in War -- Intelligence in War -- Friction in War -- Concluding Observations on Book One -- Book Two. On the Theory of War. Classifications of the Art of War -- On the Theory of War -- Art of War or Science of War -- Method and Routine -- Critical Analysis -- On Historical Examples -- Book Three. On Strategy in General. Strategy -- Elements of Strategy -- Moral Factors -- The Principal Moral Elements -- Military Virtues of the Army -- Boldness -- Perseverance -- Superiority of Numbers -- Surprise -- Cunning -- Concentration of Forces in Space -- Unification of Forces in Time -- The Strategic Reserve -- Economy of Force -- The Geometrical Factor -- The Suspension of Action in War -- The Character of Contemporary Warfare -- Tension and Rest -- Book Four. The Engagement. Introduction -- The Nature of Battle Today -- The Engagement in General -- The Engagement in General-Continued -- The Significance of the Engagement -- Duration of the Engagement -- Mutual Agreement to Fight -- The Battle: Its Decision -- The Battle-Continued: The Effects of Victory -- The Battle-Continued: The Use of Battle -- Strategic Means of Exploiting Victory -- Retreat after a Lost Battle -- Night Operations -- Book Five. Military Forces. General Survey -- The Army, the Theater of Operations, the Campaign -- Relative Strength -- Relationship between the Branches of the Service -- The Army's Order of Battle -- General Disposition of the Army -- Advance Guard and Outposts -- Operational Use of Advanced Corps -- Camps -- Marches -- Marches-Continued -- Marches-Concluded -- Billets -- Maintenance and Supply -- Base of Operations -- Lines of Communication -- Terrain -- The Command of Heights. Book Six. Defense. Attack and Defense -- The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Tactics -- The Relationship between Attack and Defense in Strategy -- Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defense -- The Character of Strategic Defense -- Scope of the Means of Defense -- Interaction between Attack and Defense -- Types of Resistance -- The Defensive Battle -- Fortresses -- Fortresses-Continued -- Defensive Positions -- Fortified Positions and Entrenched Camps -- Flank Positions -- Defensive Mountain Warfare -- Defensive Mountain Warfare-Continued -- Defensive Mountain Warfare-Concluded -- Defense of Rivers and Streams -- Defense of Rivers and Streams-Continued -- A. Defense of Swamps. B. Inundations -- Defense of Forests -- The Cordon -- The Key to the Country -- Operations on a Flank -- Retreat to the Interior of the Country -- The People in Arms -- Defense of a Theater of Operations -- Defense of a Theater of Operations-Continued -- Defense of a Theater of Operations-Continued: Phased Resistance -- Defense of a Theater of Operations-Concluded: Where a Decision Is Not the Objective -- Book Seven. The Attack. Attack in Relation to Defense -- The Nature of Strategic Attack -- The Object of the Strategic Attack -- The Diminishing Force of the Attack -- The Culminating Point of the Attack -- Destruction of the Enemy's Forces -- The Offensive Battle -- River Crossings -- Attack on Defensive Positions -- Attack on Entrenched Camps -- Attack on a Mountainous Area -- Attack on Cordons -- Maneuver -- Attacks on Swamps, Flooded Areas, and Forests -- Attack on a Theater of War: Seeking a Decision -- Attack on a Theater of War: Not Seeking a Decision -- Attack on Fortresses -- Attack on Convoys -- Attack on an Enemy Army in Billets -- Diversions -- Invasion -- The Culminating Point of Victory -- Book Eight. War Plans. Introduction -- Absolute War and Real War -- A. Interdependence of the Elements of War. B. Scale of the Military Objective and of the Effort To Be Made -- Closer Definition of the Military Objective: The Defeat of the Enemy -- Closer Definition of the Military Objective-Continued: Limited Aims -- A. The Effect of the Political Aim on the Military Objective. B. War Is an Instrument of Policy -- The Limited Aim: Offensive War -- The Limited Aim: Defensive War -- The Plan of a War designed to Lead to the Total Defeat of the Enemy -- A Commentary. A Guide to the Reading of On War / Bernard Brodie.