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Victory and Deceit by James F. Dunnigan and Albert A. Nofi, Quill, New York, 1996, $16.

The famous Chinese strategist Sun-tzu observed: “There can never be enough deception in war. All warfare isbased on deception.” In this comprehensive, revealing and entertaining guide, James Dunnigan and AlbertNofi show how deception has been employed in warfare throughout history, from Egypt’s Ramses the Greatto Bosnia. They describe vividly how the strategy of deception in all its guises–surprise, stealth,misinformation, false moves, camouflage and bluff–has often provided the margin between victory and defeat.

For anyone interested in military history, this is essential and rewarding reading.

Michael D. Hull