"Instrument of War is a meticulously researched and extraordinarily well written book that combines an awareness of the complexity of military life with a profound understanding of music’s ability to shape and express nuances of collective and individual feeling. A remarkable achievement."

Barry Shank, author of 'The Political Force of Musical Beauty'

"Suisman has given us a brilliant work of historical reimagination, a work full of stories worth sharing and insights that may alter our understanding of warfare itself."

Beth Bailey, author of 'An Army Afire: How the US Army Confronted Its Racial Crisis in the Vietnam Era'

"Military music is one of those topics that you can go years without thinking about, until a book like Suisman’s shows you just how fascinating it is. Then you notice it everywhere. Deftly written and full of interest, Instrument of War is an excellent cultural history."

Daniel Immerwahr, author of 'How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States'

“Crisply written and deeply researched, this is a fascinating, nuanced study of music’s role in the making of the military and the making of war. Suisman is a detailed historian and a subtle critic. He listens carefully to the music of war and empire, so that ultimately he can listen for the possibility of peace.”

Josh Kun, University of Southern California