When history resorts to simple explanations to describe complex circumstances, it makes repeating the mistakes of the past more inevitable, and worthy lessons harder to learn. That is why Niall Ferguson book, The World of the War - Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West, is so compelling. Niall Ferguson addresses with detailed analysis the crucial passages of history: how did Europe descend so precipitously in war in 1914? Why did Germany support Hitler? What was worse , British appeasement of Hitler or the lack of contingency planning? Was there a case for preemptive war in 1938? How could Japan and Germany look invincible in 1942 and lose the war? How important was Britain's contributions? What circumstances led to realism in American foreign policy? Why has genocide been repeated over and over again? A fascinating and important account of the Twentieth Century.
