Command: The Twenty-First Century General.

• Author: King, Anthony
• Position: FURTHER READING

The so-called global war on terrorism has given rise to a genre of books written by armchair quarterbacks who pick apart the jobs commanding generals have done in spots such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

The focus on these individuals is natural. Despite great advances in military technology and the transformation of warfare itself, military command "remains of paramount importance," writes author Anthony King, an academic who has advised the British Army and Royal Marines.

However, the nature of the job is changing and with the complexity of modern battlefields, King casts doubt that one person alone can handle the job.

Despite the withering criticism of the generals and the political masters, "Command remains as indispensable to military effectiveness as it ever was," King writes.

"In the face of increased operational...