The Cold War: A World History
Product ID: 186814688
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'Masterly ... a book of resounding importance for appraising our global future as well as understanding our past' Richard Davenport-Hines, The Times Literary Supplement , Books of the Year 'A masterful survey that will set the standard for Cold War scholarship for years to come' Jonathan Steele, London Review of Books As Germany and then Japan surrendered in 1945 there was a tremendous hope that a new and much better world could be created from the moral and physical ruins of the conflict. Instead, the combination of the huge power of the USA and USSR and the near-total collapse of most of their rivals created a unique, grim new environment: the Cold War. For over forty years the demands of the Cold War shaped the life of almost all of us. There was no part of the world where East and West did not, ultimately, demand a blind and absolute allegiance, and nowhere into which the West and East did not reach. Countries as remote from each other as Korea, Angola and Cuba were defined by their allegiances. Almost all civil wars became proxy conflicts for the superpowers. Europe was seemingly split in two indefinitely. Arne Westad's remarkable new book is the first to have the distance from these events and the ambition to create a convincing, powerful narrative of the Cold War. The book is genuinely global in its reach and captures the dramas and agonies of a period always overshadowed by the horror of nuclear war and which, for millions of people, was not 'cold' at all: a time of relentless violence, squandered opportunities and moral failure. Review: Comprehensive and easy to read - Very good book. But a bit too long. It covers mahor wars across continents and is easy and interesting to read. Review: Valu for money - Good
| Best Sellers Rank | #50,070 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #20 in Cold War #94 in United States History (Books) #183 in European History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 665 Reviews |
S**N
Comprehensive and easy to read
Very good book. But a bit too long. It covers mahor wars across continents and is easy and interesting to read.
B**S
Valu for money
Good
V**J
A comprehensive history of the Cold War on the global scale
The book covers all the aspects of the Cold War instances in over the four decades after the second world war. Also it explains briefly how the seeds the ideological war was sown in the first half of twentieth century. The author has mainly focused on the policies of the USSR and USA under their respective presidents during their terms. Also the internal happenings of China, West and East Europe, Cuba, Vietnam and Korean wars are the main focal points of the book. The other conflicts in South America, Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent and South East Asia are also covered in short. If you looking for detail history of these regions during the Cold War then I would suggest to look for other books. The author has tried to explain the outlook of the people from both the blocks and the stand of non aligned countries. Also how the people were influenced from the American culture and socialist exposure in various parts of the world. Though I would have liked more of the statistical data and maps for better understanding. Surprisingly there is not a single map provided for a history book like this. Overall the book is for anyone who wants to know about the Cold War in brief.
S**.
Building Blocks of Geopolitics
Great entry for understanding the phases of 20th century, governing the world till the date! It also broadens the scope to include the global impact and intricate international dynamics that shaped this era. Also, Westad portrays Stalin as a shrewd and ruthless leader, deeply committed to consolidating and expanding Soviet power while promoting communist ideology globally. His legacy, marked by both his contributions to the Soviet state and the immense human cost of his policies, is critically examined, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of his role in this turbulent period.
A**Z
Great read
Great read!! Best Cold War historian nowdays
B**U
I L L U M I N A T I N G .
Not a radical political treatise, but rather, an astute insightful examination regarding the myriad forces defining the Cold War -- United States (capitalist) vs. Soviet Union (communist). Ultimately, individual freedoms overcame enforced national social services. Overall, an eloquent brilliant analysis. Enthusiastically recommend. __________ *** Further more on the Cold War, please see, Tony Judt's Postwar" and Serhii Plokhy's "The Last Empire."
A**K
Una decepción
El libro llegó en muy buen estado. El problema es el libro en sí. No recomiendo este libro para nada. Es pura propaganda al estilo de una película de Hollywood. Los bondadosos, que sólo tenían buenas intenciones para salvar a la humanidad con capitalismo (EUA según el autor), que se enfrentan a los malos y depravados que solo quieren dominar el mundo y esclavisar la humanidad (la URSS según el autor). El autor obvia e ignora hechos y acontecimientos de gran importancia para imponer su relato sesgado, y blanquea atrocidades y crímenes de lesa humanidad con el mismo objetivo. Por ejemplo, en ningún momento hay un intento de hacer un análisis serio de las causas de la Guerra Fría con la documentación adecuada. El autor simplemente culpa a la URSS, y expresa opiniones. Hay una gran falta de fuentes primarias. Me imagino porque sólo así el autor puede mantener su argumento parcial. Quizás lo peor de este libro es saber que el lector con menos conocimiento acabará creyendo que la versión expresada aquí es la correcta.
B**L
Mediocre
Not very good.
R**R
A truly comprehensive excellent history of the cold war
Finally I now understand the cold war from a global perspective. Without this extensive history, I could not understand why many events happened. But now I do.
S**O
Ausgewogene Perspektive
Es ist das wichtigste für die Weltgeschichte aus allen Teilen der Welt dabei. Europa, Nord- Süd- und Zentralamerika, Asien und der Nahe Osten werden alle behandelt. Chronologisch wird die Geschichte dieser Kontinente aber auch von einzelnen Ländern erzählt mit Diplomatie, Kriegen und auch Innenpolitik. Die wichtigsten Aspekte werden ausgewogen dargestellt und gute Schlussfolgerungen werden gezogen. Gegen Ende geht es dann um den Zerfall des Ostblocks und die Auswirkungen des Kriegs auf die heutige Welt. Fazit: Sehr informativ (manchmal mit Witzen, mit denen man sich es besser merken kann) und absolut empfehlenswert.
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