Editor's Shelf

What is the good of experience if you do not reflect? Certainly, this admonishment by Fredrick the Great holds as true today as it did in the sixteenth century. Reflection is one of mankind's principal tools that aid us in attempts to get it right the next time. Assisting in that reflection is Impact of 9/11 on Politics and War, the first volume in a six-volume series The Day that Changed Everything? from the folks at Palgrave Macmillan. series editor, Matthew J. Morgan, has been a regular supporter of this journal over the years, and his expertise as an author is equally obvious in his editing of this marvelous series. series captures the thoughts of a number of the leading thinkers of our time regarding the impact of this dramatic attack on various domestic institutions and international and security policies. With contributions from the likes of R. James Woolsey, Jr., and Ambassador Marc Grossman, the book provides an excellent perspective for understanding and applying the lessons from this terrible tragedy. A must read for anyone interested in understanding the impact of 9/11 and its aftermath. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Continuing on the theme of reflection are two works from our friends at University Press. Puzzle Revisited by John A. Vasquez is part of the Cambridge Studies in International Relations series. book provides readers with a scientific analysis of the causes of war in the last half century. author has masterfully updated his previous work with recent research on the onset and expansion of war and the conditions required for peace. real value of this work is Vasquez's attempt to systematically describe the factors associated with war and to determine what, if any, patterns exist that would suggest why war occurs and how it might be prevented. book is divided into three primary parts, with Part III: Findings on the Steps to War, 1994-2008, probably having the greatest utility for today's practitioner. book is much more than a simple examination of the theories associated with the causes of war; it contains empirical findings that the reader may use to gain a greater appreciation of the scientific rationale underpinning war and peace. second book is an edited work by Kate McLoughlin, Companion to Writing. book focuses on the war writing of British and American authors encompassing works that span the centuries, from Beowulf to the Cold War. Most readers readily admit that wars capture the imagination and inspire writing. In this particular work, however, the editor has assembled a collection providing not only unique insight into the conduct of war from a historical perspective, but from a cultural aspect as well. Adding to the book's worth are the recommendations for additional readings that accompany each of the chapters. book consists of 20 chapters examining everything from War and Words to The on Terror. This work will be of special interest to students of war literature, as well as those readers with an interest in history and cultural studies. Our friends at RAND Corporation continue to produce timely and meaningful products having a direct impact on America's national security. …