The March of Folly by Barbara W. Tuchman — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes

Tuchman defines 'folly' as the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests, despite the availability of feasible alternatives and clear warnings. She distinguishes folly from mere error or misfortune by emphasizing the element of willful blindness or obstinacy. The book is not about mistakes made in ignorance but about repeated, avoidable blunders—decisions that were demonstrably unwise at the time, not just in hindsight.

Rather than focusing on isolated incidents, Tuchman identifies a recurring pattern: from the fall of Troy to the Vietnam War, powerful actors have repeatedly ignored reason, advice, and evidence. By examining case studies such as the Renaissance popes’ corruption leading to the Protestant Reformation, British mismanagement in the American Revolution, and America’s entanglement in Vietnam, she shows that folly is not confined to any one era or culture.