The “dean of Cold War historians†(The New York Times) now presents the definitive account of the global confrontation that dominated the last half of the twentieth century. Drawing on newly opened archives and the reminiscences of the major players; John Lewis Gaddis explains not just what happened but why—from the months in 1945 when the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. went from alliance to antagonism to the barely averted holocaust of the Cuban Missile Crisis to the maneuvers of Nixon and Mao; Reagan and Gorbachev. Brilliant; accessible; almost Shakespearean in its drama; The Cold War stands as a triumphant summation of the era that; more than any other; shaped our own.
#13659 in Books John M Barry 2005-10-04 2005-10-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.36 x 1.21 x 5.44l; 1.15 #File Name: 0143036491546 pagesGreat book!
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Fascinating (And Troubling) StoryBy Richard A. RootThis is an amazingly detailed account of the Great Flu epidemic of 1918; which killed millions around the world. Mr. Barry's research is astounding. I strongly urge anyone interested in how it happened to read his book. Besides a new strain of influenza (which happens repeatedly); much of the world was at war. This resulted in tremendous overcrowding of military bases; combined with censorship. Thus; the flu spread quickly; and the governments refused to acknowledge it. This allowed it to spread even faster. A fascinating read of the disaster; and the human response to it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great Read.By Betsy SimpsonInteresting read concerning events that shook the world. I was surprised by lack of concern; the educational standards or lack of for MDs; the absence of effective medicines; the arrogance of most of the medical and government leaders; the failure of the military to use basic measures in treatment of the out break; and the persistence of the investigators to push to find cause and treatment for the Flu. We certainly owe them greatly.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A forgotten pastBy Lee WheatleyJohn Barry spent seven years writing this fascinating account of the worst epidemic in history. Nearly every household was affected by the 1918 Influenza yet little has been told of it. Except for Katherine Anne Porter's Pale Horse Pale Rider fiction writers have largely omitted it. Yet is was perhaps the most influential event in the early 20th century. Barry traces the state of medical preparedness and details the disease as it spread across America into Europe during WWI and thence to all parts of the globe. This is very much a study of how this disease led to greater medical science and advancement but it is also a study of human frailties and the danger of a dictatorial government and a restrained press.
