WW2 Bunker
The War of the World Twentieth-century Conflict and the Descent of the West
The War of the World Twentieth-century Conflict and the Descent of the West
Author: Niall Ferguson
Condition: Like New
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Niall Ferguson's The War of the World offers a sweeping reinterpretation of the twentieth century that confronts its central paradox: why an age of unparalleled scientific and economic progress also produced unprecedented mass violence. Moving from the Siberian steppe and Sarajevo to Poland and Okinawa, Ferguson blends history, economics and evolutionary theory to trace how economic volatility, ethnic fault lines, racial ideologies and the clash between decaying empires and aggressive new states turned global interconnection into genocidal conflict and, ultimately, to the relative decline of Western dominance in Asia.
Framed as a synthetic, global history and scholarly monograph for general readers, this Penguin Press title (ISBN 9781594201004) is notable for its wide chronological and geographical scope—covering imperial wars, world wars, decolonization and Cold War conflicts—and its thematic focus on ethnic cleansing, genocide, economic drivers of war and the rise and fall of empires. Ferguson, a prominent historian singled out by Time as one of its "100 Most Influential People," presents a broad comparative survey rather than a unit history or technical military study, making the book essential reading for history enthusiasts seeking an interpretive, big‑picture account of twentieth‑century violence.
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Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Keywords, content and topics in this Book
Bibliographic classification
Niall Ferguson
The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West
Penguin Press
ISBN 9781594201004 / 1594201005
Twentieth century history
Global conflict history
Comparative history
Historical analysis of violence
Causes of war
Ethnic conflict
International relations – 20th century
Political violence – 20th century
Genocide – 20th century
Imperialism and decolonization
Rise and decline of the West
Holocaust and mass murder
Economic history and war
Type of book
Synthetic/global history (broad interpretive survey)
Scholarly monograph aimed at general readers
Not a unit history
Not a personal memoir
Not a technical weapons reference
Chronological scope
Geographical scope / theaters
Global history of conflict
Western Europe
Russian Empire / Soviet Union
Home fronts and civilian societies in multiple countries
Main conflicts and campaigns (macro level)
Imperial wars and anti‑colonial violence
Cold War–era conflicts and ideological confrontations
Main nations and actors
Germany
United Kingdom / British Empire
France
Russian Empire / USSR
United States
Japan
China
Ottoman Empire / successor states (where relevant to ethnic violence)
European colonial empires (British, French, etc.)
Focus and themes
Ethnic cleansing and mass murder
Racial ideologies and racism
Minority–majority relations and borderlands (“fault lines”)
Rise and fall of empires
Authoritarian regimes and totalitarian violence
Ideology (fascism, communism, nationalism)
Holocaust and genocidal policies
Comparative scale and geography of killing
Violence against civilians and non‑combatants
War, state power, and modernization
Economic crises and war (e.g., Great Depression context)
Transition from European dominance to relative “descent of the West”
Notable leaders and historical figures
Other major 20th‑century political leaders in Europe, the US, and Asia (in comparative context)
Content features
Weapons, operations, and military-technical content
General military operations of WWI and WWII (high‑level treatment)
Emphasis on patterns of killing and occupation rather than specific weapon systems
No single weapon, vehicle, or platform treated as the core subject in available descriptions
Descriptive subject tags for cataloging and search
“World War, 1914–1918 – Causes and consequences”
“World War, 1939–1945 – Causes and consequences”
“Violence – History – 20th century”
“Mass murder – History – 20th century”
“Ethnic conflict – History – 20th century”
“Genocide – History – 20th century”
“Holocaust, Jewish (1939–1945) – Historical analysis”
“Imperialism – History – 20th century”
“Decolonization – Political aspects”
“Totalitarianism – History”
“Nationalism and war – 20th century”
“Racism – Political aspects – History”
“Civil–military relations – History – 20th century”
“Comparative genocide studies”
“Great powers – History – 20th century”
“Western civilization – Decline”
Book Condition: Like New
Book Condition: Like New
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Before you enlist a new title into your personal library, check the Condition Report below to see how much action these volumes have seen:
New: Fresh Out of Bootcamp
Flawless and untested. This book is in pristine, new condition and ready for its first assignment.
Like New: Light Combat Experience
Almost new and in great shape. It has clearly been read before and is ready to fight again, but it shows very little wear from its time in the field.
Good: A Few Scars or Shell Shock
A reliable veteran. The book might have some bent corners or a dust cover with a few scratches, but it’s still sturdy and standing tall.
Fair: Battle-Hardened
Visible signs of a long campaign. Expect some stains, bent pages, and perhaps some minor tears on the cover. It’s seen the trenches, but the intel inside is still solid.
Poor: Survived Iwo Jima
This one has been through the meat grinder. It carries noticeable damage, heavy staining, or significant wear—but like any old soldier, it would love to be read one last time before it retires.
