This work investigates the historical parallels and divergent outcomes between William Tecumseh Sherman’s scorched-earth campaign in the American Civil War and the United States military strategy during the Vietnam War. James Reston Jr., a noted historian and political writer, utilizes his expertise in American history and contemporary conflict to analyze how the doctrine of total war was adapted, misinterpreted, and applied across two vastly different centuries. The book argues that the failure to understand the limitations of military force in asymmetric conflicts connects these two disparate periods of American history.

Historians and critics frequently note the author's ability to draw provocative connections between two distinct eras of American military engagement. The text is recognized for its focus on the moral and strategic implications of total war, serving as a significant contribution to the study of American military policy.