Polar War: Submarines, Spies, and the Struggle for Power in a Melting Arctic
4.4 | 4 ratings
Price: 15.63
Last update: 01-15-2026
Top reviews from the United States
- Avid Real ReaderA must readI had expected this book to be a boring litany of arcane facts but decided to read it for self-education purposes. I was very pleasantly surprised at how totally engaging a read it was! The facts and insights are all there but the presentation kept me not wanting to put the book down - like a perfectly crafted novel!
Due to the profound importance of the topic and the frequency that we see articles about the future of Greenland and the foreign activities of the US government, I see this as a “must read.” - William de RhamA challenging but ultimately beneficial reading experience.“Polar War” is a good choice for readers who are somewhat familiar with the Arctic and its issues. It would not be a good choice for those seeking a simple introduction to the region.
I had positive and not-so-positive reactions to various aspects of the book.
To begin with the positive, author Kenneth R. Rosen’s research is thorough. He covers a wide range of topics affecting the region, including:
its geography, topography, oceanography, climate, and some of its history;
the aims, policies, and missteps of various stakeholder nations, including the United States, Canada, Russia, China, and the Scandinavian countries;
how climate change has impacted and continues to impact the region;
the region’s importance to the earth as a harbinger, and affecter, of its future;
how, as global warming melts ice and snow, the region’s strategic value increases due to newly available natural resources and shipping lanes;
military incursions by Russia and China into territories that are not theirs, including Alaska;
how war is likely to be fought in, and over, the region; and
how ill-prepared and ill-equipped the United States might currently be for such a war; and what the US is doing and needs to do in Alaska.
Mr. Rosen’s research extends far beyond desk and library. As the text makes clear, he has spent significant time at multiple Arctic venues, talking with a wide variety of Arctic residents (both native and transplanted) and professionals, including politicians, policymakers, scientists, corporate executives, and military personnel.
As a result of all this work and study, Mr. Rosen has given us a book that is chock-a-block full of information. For me, it was a good learning experience.
However, I found the writing, editing, and organization of the book somewhat problematic. Organization-wise, “Polar War” seemed scattershot and diffuse—difficult to get a handle on. While there are 19 separate chapters, I had trouble discerning an organizing scheme or principle dictating why information belonged in a particular chapter. Often, “Polar” seemed more a random collection of articles than a well-structured treatise. This often led to a repetition of previously stated points. When combined with some of Mr. Rosen’s efforts at soaring literary prose, the book seemed frequently to lose focus. Many times, I wondered why I was reading what I was reading.
Also, the writing can be quite political (although that’s not necessarily a detriment). Mr. Rosen has strong opinions and is not shy about expressing them. To his credit, while he writes from a progressive point of view, he does not use “Polar” as a soap-box for a slate of progressive policies. Instead, it seemed to me that he is advocating for the Arctic and the people who live there. No matter the government—be it American, Russian, Chinese, or Scandinavian—he is critical of its policies. And he criticizes both Republican and Democrat administrations.
However, also to his credit, he includes an appendix intended for Washington policy makers suggesting steps that need to be taken to protect America’s interests in this region as a whole and in Alaska.
Bottom line: Mr. Rosen has given us a book that tells much about the Arctic, why it’s important, and why, if we ignore it, we do so at our own peril. - Sharad RaghuAn Eye Opening ExperienceAs someone who’s spent ample time in the region, this was a fantastic read. The author delves into numerous topics affecting the area and its population both past, present and future. A very eye opening experience an an excellent book choice for anyone familiar with the area, or who just loves the Arctic an Alaska.
I will definitely be buying more copies and suggest this to friends and family. This is what the reading experience should be.