An Army that reads is an Army better prepared to fight and win its nation’s wars. When the stakes on the battlefield are life and death, victory or defeat, the force that brings more knowledge, more wisdom, and better understanding to the fight has a distinct advantage. And reading is a key means of building that advantage. That’s why we recently launched the MWI Book Club. For each episode of the new podcast, hosts John Amble and Theo Lipsky pick a book, read it, and then record their exploration of the book’s lessons for today’s warfighters. Four episodes are already live, and in this special bonus episode, you’ll hear one of them—featuring Joe Haldeman’s classic of military science fiction, The Forever War.

Episodes of the MWI Book Club release monthly, and you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss an episode!

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

For years now, the war in Ukraine has been fought on a largely static battlefield—characterized by attrition, with little opportunity for maneuver, and with only incremental changes to the front lines. But recently, seemingly out of nowhere, Ukrainian forces began recapturing territory held by occupying Russian forces. The gains steadily accrued until, in mid-September, Ukrainian officials for the first time confirmed the ongoing Operation Vivaldi. But although the operation's name was only publicly mentioned in September, the foundations of the operation’s achievements extend back months, and even years. On this episode, retired Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan shares his insights on how have Ukrainian forces have accomplished what eluded them for much of the war and examines what the operation might tell us about the war’s future trajectory.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

• (00:00:04) - Introduction and Operation Vivaldi overview
• (00:03:37) - Origins of Vivaldi: Kursk, Starlink, and Corps reform
• (00:06:43) - Leadership and command excellence in Ukrainian units
• (00:07:41) - Combined arms structure of Ukrainian brigades
• (00:10:22) - Drones, autonomy, and the enduring human role in war
• (00:13:25) - Tanks and armor's evolving role in Vivaldi
• (00:16:59) - Breaking deep defensive lines and historical parallels
• (00:19:57) - Why Russia hasn't replicated Ukraine's success
• (00:22:05) - Countering Rubicon and drone saturation operations
• (00:23:21) - The four phases of Operation Vivaldi
• (00:26:51) - Vivaldi as the best operational campaign design since 2022
• (00:28:10) - Will Ukraine's methods spread, and will Russia fast-follow?
• (00:29:35) - Is maneuver warfare dead or just resting?
• (00:34:07) - Can Ukraine win outright on the battlefield?
• (00:37:05) - Rewriting the War for Ukraine book today
• (00:40:46) - Continuities and transformations in war's character
• (00:42:19) - What to watch next and closing thoughts

How did George Washington overcome virtually every material disadvantage to defeat the British during the Revolutionary War? How did Ulysses S. Grant turn the tides of the Civil War in the Union’s favor in the crucial year of 1864? How did Dwight Eisenhower manage the overwhelming personal burden of leading the Allied invasion of Europe? The answers to these questions share remarkable continuities, and together they offer a picture into the requirements of successful supreme command at war—and offer lessons that will shape the outcomes of America’s future wars. To explore them, John Amble is joined on this episode by retired Lieutenant Colonel Matt Cavanaugh, author of the book Who Wins Wars: Lessons in Leadership, Power, and Supreme Command from Washington, Grant, and Eisenhower.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

• (00:00:04) - What Makes Strategic Leadership So Successful
• (00:00:45) - Discussion about Supreme Command
• (00:02:05) - Matt Wilkie on Supreme Command
• (00:02:36) - From Third Base to Home
• (00:04:50) - Defending the Supreme Commander
• (00:09:00) - The Strategic Decisions of Great Generals
• (00:19:55) - George Washington and Military Decisions
• (00:30:31) - Empathy in the Supreme Command
• (00:42:36) - In the Army: The Need for Mentorship
• (00:45:40) - Supreme Command: AI Never Replacing Human Judgment
• (00:48:24) - What Right Looks Like in 4 Words
• (00:51:22) - Who Wins Wars: The History Podcast