After more than three decades as a research physicist with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, author Miller retired in 2003and focused his attention on photography. In this book, the third and final volume in a trilogy of history and photography books centered on 20th-century weaponry, he blends his knowledge of modern warfare with his keen eye for composition. Its first half provides a narrative overview of the last century’s “unprecedented calamity” of destructiveness, as humanity’s inclination toward violence combined with technological advancements. In the long view of world history, Miller notes, “one cannot help but be struck by the extreme spasms of violence and destruction.” The author expertly traces the development of war machines from the Industrial Revolution through two world wars and a string of Cold War conflicts, adding photos, timelines, and text-box vignettes along the way. Although the work is centered on technology, it also pays ample attention to the imperialism, ...