Nature of Observation

"It becomes then a guide to him who wishes to make himself acquainted with War from books; it lights up th ewhole road for him, facilitates his progress, educates his judgement, and shields him form error" (Clausewtiz 191).

This brings up and intresting point, on whether it is better to experience something with no prior knowledge of history or any other means that would give on the upper hand in a battle; or whether it is better to research history and create a foundation in which one could use to later as experience of knowledge. This is what I am doing, learning from books and creating a foundation. (Now, whether or not I go into some sort of military future is unclear). "... and shields him from error," this point is also important. If one learned through first hand experience with no knowledge of history, were to go into a battle and make a mistake, that mistake may be the end of the battle and maybe the end of that persons life. If he had learned that someone else made that same mistake and had the fatal outcome, he could see how experts analyzed the situation and how it could have been avoided. It is implied that he who learns form books would eventually recieve first hand experience on the battlefield.

1). Is this the only way in which one could learn about "War?"