History Main / BigBookOfWar

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* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' Agatha [[ThrowTheBookAtThem brains]] [[spoiler:Zola]] with one of these, entitled ''Using Found Objects as Weapons''. The sound effect when she beans them is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110103 "TOME!"]]

* The Assassin's Handbook in the ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' series. It was a originally a list of poisons commonly used in the limited warfare between Houses. Latter versions added weapons and devices that were allowed in warfare.
** There's also the Kanly, a code (and therefore presumably written in a book somewhere) describing the rules that nobles must abide by during their feuds. One rule mentioned is the prohibition of nuclear weapons, violation of which is punishable by ''[[DisproportionateRetribution planetary]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom annihilation]].''
*** Actually, it's no use of nuclear weapons ''on humans''. Paul uses nukes to blow a hole in a mountain range and let his Fremen into the Sardaukar camp. He acknowledges that the difference is splitting hairs, but believes that considering what he is planning to do, the powers-that-be will accept it (or, at least, take any excuse they can to not destroy Arrakis).

* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' has The Roommate Agreement betwen Leanord and Sheldon. While often referenced (usually by Sheldon), it is never quoted in its entirety and is, apparently, hundreds of pages long. It covers such rudimentary things as whose stuff goes where in the refrigerator, as well as what happens if one of them should gain superpowers or invent time travel.

** There's also the Kanly, a code (and therefore presumably written in a book somewhere) describing the rules that nobles must abide by during their feuds. One rule mentioned: no use of nuclear weapons. Violation of this rule is punishable by ''[[DisproportionateRetribution planetary]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom annihilation]].''

** Not to mention the Dwarves’ Book of Grudges.

*** It is very telling that we have yet to encounter a canon Guardsman who considers the ''Primer'' to be anything more than a glorified spare toilet roll.

* ''Fanfic/AThingOfVikings'': One of the fictional texts used to provide epigraphs for various chapters is "The Wing and the Axe", a book on the military applications of [[Film/HowToTrainYourDragon dragons]], written by Astrid. Another epigraph mentions that it was ''the'' book of dragon warfare for almost two centuries and still seen as one of the foundational texts on the subject later on.

** Presumably, Orks will use a Big Book of Waaaaaagh! Probably as a [[ImprovisedWeapon weapon]].

** There's also the Kanly, a code (and therefore presumably written in a book somewhere) describing the rules that nobles must abide by during their feuds. One rule mentioned: no use of nuclear weapons. Violation of this rule is punishable by planetary annihilation.

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' Agatha brains [[spoiler:Zola]] with one of these, entitled ''Using Found Objects as Weapons''. The sound effect when she beans them is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110103 "TOME!"]]

War is a MatterOfLifeAndDeath. How do you go about it? How do you train your troops? What moral codes do you follow? How do you keep your morale up? What tactics do you use in battle? What strategies do you follow?

* [[FourStarBadass Carl von Clausewitz's]] ''On War'' is the West's premier work on military theory. Clausewitz notably argues for the inherent superiority of defense over offense and stresses the moral and political aspects of war. Even though the work is [[AuthorExistenceFailure unfinished]], it was highly influential at the time of the First World War and remains relevant today. The book coined the concept of the "fog of war" and memorably defined war as "the continuation of politics by other means." [[note]] In popular culture, at least. In reality, "the continuation of politics by other means" is often misunderstood as his whole argument; it was actually the counterweight to his ''other'' definition of war as a scaled-up wrestling match. As a very complex thinker who was writing in an environment that bought into Hegelian dialectics quite heavily, what he was aiming for was a synthesis of these two ideas, but that hasn't stopped many other simpler-minded leaders taking him at his word. [[/note]]

* The ''Junior Woodchuck Guidebook'' used by DonaldDuck's nephews. Later exported to animation via ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987''. Probably (in the planning stages, at least) a take on the Boy Scout Handbook.

** Presumably, Orks will use a [[IncrediblyLamePun Big Book of Waaaaaagh!]] Probably as a [[ImprovisedWeapon weapon]].

* ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'' has Philoctetes' oft-quoted rules of conduct and engagement for heroes-in-training.

** Especially notable is General David Petraeus' field manual on Counter-insurgency, for [[WarOnTerror obvious reasons]].

** General Tacticus' memoirs ''Veni Vidi Vici: A Soldier's Life'' in ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'' and ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum'', featuring practical advice such as "When one army is within an impregnable fortress, well-garrisoned and well-stocked with provisions and the other is not - endeavor to be the one on the inside."

** In ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'', mention is made of the ''Art of War'', although unlike Roundworld's version, nobody remembers who wrote it. Because all the ruling classes of the Agatean Empire fight according to the Five Rules and Nine Principles, warfare is much more organised and civilised and mostly consists of short periods of excitement followed by long periods of checking the index. (The Silver Horde, on the other hand, don't fight according to any rules at all.) It's also noted that the majority of generals follow the tactics by rote, with no understanding of the logic behind them or the underlying philosophy; the result is that the country is effectively in a permanently stalemated civil war.

** One of Guderian's self-acclaimed foremost influences, Basil Liddell-Hart, has quite the archive on armoured theory, currently in the possession of King's College London. Widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of mechanisation, he was a driving force in helping to push Britain towards preparing for World War Two.

* As with card games and board games listed above, guidebooks for video games are very frequently this, literally so in the case of realtime strategy games.

** 27. [[TheDogShotFirst Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence]]. ([[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20030308.html 1]])

In RealLife, there's no easy answer. In fictionland, however, you can just ask the Big Book Of War.