Brave New War by John Robb Summary
Overview of Brave New War
In "Brave New War," counterterrorism expert John Robb reveals how technology enables global guerrillas to challenge nation-states. Dubbed "the futurists' futurist" by Slate, Robb's prescient analysis of decentralized warfare has reshaped military strategy and security thinking since 2007.
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Key takeaways
When a Few Thousand Dollars Can Cripple a Nation
In 2004, a small group of Iraqi insurgents spent roughly $2,000 on explosives and materials to attack an oil pipeline. The result? Five hundred million dollars in lost exports. This quarter-million-to-one return on investment isn't an anomaly-it's the blueprint for modern warfare. We've entered an era where the traditional rules of conflict have been rewritten, where small groups armed with commercial technology can challenge the world's most powerful militaries, and where the weapons of choice aren't tanks or fighter jets but coordinated attacks on the infrastructure that keeps modern society running. This transformation didn't happen overnight. It emerged from the convergence of three powerful forces: exponentially advancing technology, the Internet's connective power, and the erosion of nation-state monopolies on violence. What makes this shift so alarming is its accessibility-the tools of disruption are now available to anyone with motivation and an internet connection.
Technology's Dark Gift: When Everyone Becomes Dangerous
The Collapse of the Old Order
Attacking the Invisible Web That Holds Society Together
The Bazaar of Violence: How Warfare Became Open-Source
Building Resilience in a Fragile World
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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