The Stringer Book Review of Winning without Fighting: Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition in the 21st Century (Authors: Rebecca Patterson, Jan K. Gleiman, et al)

Winning without Fighting: Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition in the 21st Century examines one of the most important questions in contemporary strategy: how the United States should compete in an era where influence, resilience, and irregular warfare matter as much as conventional force. Kevin D. Stringer’s review presents the book as a timely and highly credible contribution to the national-security debate, especially for readers concerned with strategic competition, statecraft, and the future of U.S. power.

The review argues that the book’s real value lies in its clear-eyed critique of American strategic culture and its practical framework for addressing adversaries such as Russia and China through military, economic, informational, and resilience-based tools. For military professionals, policymakers, and scholars alike, this is a compelling look at how the United States can better prepare for competition below the threshold of war.