Ride of the Second Horseman

Intelligence analyst Robert L. O'Connell probes the distant human past to show how and why war arose, concluding that it is an invention--an institution that formed due to very specific historical circumstances. Fascinating and provocative, RIDE OF THE SECOND HORSEMAN offers a far-reaching tour of human history that suggests the ages-old cycles of war may be ending.

Robert L. O'Connell is a senior intelligence analyst with the National Ground Intelligence Center, and a contributing editor of MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History. His books include Of Arms and Men and Sacred Vessels.

this is a wonderfully original book on war, a genuinely synthetic argument that weaves together ideas from a wide array of disciplines. It deserves to be read and pondered. TLS Exhaustive and superb analysis ... Thoughtful, well-written ... Highly recommended. Library Journal