# The Great Illusion — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Great Illusion by Norman Angell.

- [Preface to the Fourth American Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/preface-to-the-fourth-american-edition.md): In this preface, Norman Angell explains the expansion of the fourth American edition, attributing it to recent events that illuminate the book's thesis. He emphasizes the relevance of the principles to American interests
- [Synopsis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/synopsis.md): This chapter outlines the fundamental motives behind the Anglo-German armaments rivalry, challenging the assumption that national prosperity depends on political power and territorial expansion. The author argues that in
- [The Great Illusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/the-great-illusion.md): This chapter introduces the central thesis of the book: that the perceived economic and political benefits of military conquest and territorial expansion are an illusion. It argues that in the modern world of interdepend
- [Part I: The Economics of the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/part-i-the-economics-of-the-case.md): This chapter introduces the economic arguments central to the book's thesis, challenging the assumption that war and conquest are economically beneficial. It sets the stage for a detailed examination of the financial rea
- [I: Statement of the Economic Case for War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/i-statement-of-the-economic-case-for-war.md): This chapter outlines the prevailing economic arguments for war, particularly the Anglo-German armaments rivalry. It presents the common belief that national prosperity depends on political and military power, and that w

> 21 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_great_illusion_se_702kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [The Axioms of Modern Statecraft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/ii-the-axioms-of-modern-statecraft.md)
- [The Great Illusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iii-the-great-illusion.md)
- [The Impossibility of Confiscation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iv-the-impossibility-of-confiscation.md)
- [Foreign Trade and Military Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/v-foreign-trade-and-military-power.md)
- [VI: The Indemnity Futility](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/vi-the-indemnity-futility.md)
- [VII: How Colonies Are Owned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/vii-how-colonies-are-owned.md)
- [VIII: The Fight for “The Place in the Sun”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/viii-the-fight-for-the-place-in-the-sun.md)
- [Part II: The Human Nature and Morals of the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/part-ii-the-human-nature-and-morals-of-the-case.md)
- [The Psychological Case for War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/i-the-psychological-case-for-war.md)
- [The Psychological Case for Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/ii-the-psychological-case-for-peace.md)
- [Unchanging Human Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iii-unchanging-human-nature.md)
- [IV: Do the Warlike Nations Inherit the Earth?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iv-do-the-warlike-nations-inherit-the-earth.md)
- [The Diminishing Factor of Physical Force: Psychological Results](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/v-the-diminishing-factor-of-physical-force-psychological-results.md)
- [The State as a Person: A False Analogy and Its Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/vi-the-state-as-a-person-a-false-analogy-and-its-consequences.md)
- [Part III: The Practical Outcome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/part-iii-the-practical-outcome.md)
- [I: The Relation of Defence to Aggression](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/i-the-relation-of-defence-to-aggression.md)
- [II: Armament, but Not Alone Armament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/ii-armament-but-not-alone-armament.md)
- [Is the Political Reformation Possible?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iii-is-the-political-reformation-possible.md)
- [IV: Methods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iv-methods.md)
- [Appendix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/appendix.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters