Reviews
"Seldom is a book on a military topic so well informed and compelling in regard to the underlying and pertinent historical patterns, strategical necessities, economic truths, and political realities with which Cropsey deals as scholar, academic, high official, analyst, and naval person. His superior intellect, great clarity of vision, long experience, and fundamental courage make this, an enjoyable tour d'horizon of naval affairs, truly the book of a soldier/statesman." -Mark Helprin, author of Winter's Tale, "From diminished budgets to increased tasks the world over, the rise of potential future naval competitors, and an enfeebled procurement system the United States Navy is in serious trouble. Seth Cropsey's brilliant explanation speaks to a general audience, detailing how the failure to solve these problems will cripple America's position as a global power and risk the United States' future security. Every American should read this extraordinary book." --John Lehman, former United States Secretary of the Navy and member of the 9/11 Commission " Mayday looks at the past, present, and future of the U.S. Navy and finds a troubling drift toward a smaller fleet and reduced American global influence. Seth Cropsey argues that America's stature as a formidable power has and will parallel her ability to remain the world's great seapower. It is an argument that deserves the widest possible readership." --Jon Kyl, former U.S. Senate Minority Whip, "In a well-structured narrative, Mr. Cropsey provides a concise and compelling summary of the evolution of American and other great powers' application of and dependence on sea power. He chronicles the waxing and waning of that power and the global order that has come with our nation's ability to command the seas…He wisely advocates that "the most advanced technology should bow to numbers" and argues for pursuing unmanned systems to achieve "decreased cost and increased surveillance and combat power."… Mayday is extremely timely, reminding us that security and prosperity are inextricably linked to sea power." - Wall Street Journal, "From diminished budgets to increased tasks the world over, the rise of potential future naval competitors, and an enfeebled procurement system the United States Navy is in serious trouble. Seth Cropsey's brilliant explanation speaks to a general audience, detailing how the failure to solve these problems will cripple America's position as a global power and risk the United States' future security. Every American should read this extraordinary book." --John Lehman, former United States Secretary of the Navy and member of the 9/11 Commission " Mayday looks at the past, present, and future of the U.S. Navy and finds a troubling drift toward a smaller fleet and reduced American global influence. Seth Cropsey argues that America's stature as a formidable power has and will parallel her ability to remain the world's great seapower. It is an argument that deserves the widest possible readership." --Jon Kyl, former U.S. Senate Minority Whip " Mayday is a powerful distress call about the dangerous decline of American seapower. It's also a significant contribution to thinking about American national security policy and to formulating American grand strategy in the 21st century. And it's a good read."--William Kristol, Editor, The Weekly Standard
