The massive disorder and economic ruin following the Second World War inevitably predetermined the scope and intensity of the Cold War. But why did it last so long? And what impact did it have on the United States, the Soviet Union, Europe, and the Third World? Finally, how did it affect the broader history of the second half of the twentieth century - what were the human and financial costs? This Very Short Introduction provides a clear and stimulating interpretive overview of the Cold War, one that will both invite debate and encourage deeper investigation.
The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
Small but impressive (Soldier Magazine )
About the Author
Robert J. McMahon is Professor of History at the University of Florida, and President of the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations. Among his many acclaimed books are The Cold War on the Periphery: the United States, India, and Pakistan (1994), and The Limits of Empire: the US andSoutheast Asia since World War II (1999). He has held visiting professorships in Britain and Ireland as well as in Asia and around the US. He received the Bernath article prize from SHAFR in 1989 and the Bernath lectureship in 1991.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
Explanations for the onset of the Cold War must begin with World War II. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Explanations for the onset of the Cold War must begin with World War II. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By I. R. Bishop
Format:Paperback
I am a big fan of the VSI series, having become familiar with them whilst studying at University. For anyone engaged in academic study of history, you will be all too aware of how useful it is to have a good overview before commencing detailed study. When studying any issue or time period, it is invaluable to possess an understanding of the broad sweep of events before delving into the details of any one particular event. The Very Short Introductions provide this crucial background information.
I have used many of the VSI series, and the Cold War by McMahon is among the best. The narrative is largely complete, and outlines all of the major Cold War events - certainly in enough detail for any undergraduate paper - providing an interesting veneer of analysis that often raises interesting issues that may have passed you by. The book also features occasional 'boxes' of text that explain headline-making events which are not covered by the broader narrative yet are good to know about, for example the Contra affair is covered this way.
If you are merely interested in acquiring a working understanding of the events of the Cold War, then this is a highly useful book. However, it does not delve into any of the theoretical interpretations of the Cold War, and does very little to explain the shifting strategic paradigms employed by either side. So, although you will be left with a good understanding of the events of the Cold War, further reading is essential if you wish to get to grips with the thinking that motivated shifts from, say, containment to détente, or from New Look asymmetry to Flexible Response symmetry.
In short, the book fulfils its mandate, and serves as an excellent short introduction. I would strongly advise that any student who is new to studying the cold war pick up a copy of this book before he gets started on more detailed studies.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a pocket sized book with a title that implies it offers a brief overview of the Cold War but make no mistake, there is nothing lacking in this little gem. Starting with World War II and the destruction of the old Eurocentric world order, the book progresses to the origins of the Cold War, through developing problems in South East Asia, the rise of the Superpowers and finally ends with the fall of Communism in the former USSR.
There are many illustrations and some useful maps along with a very useful chapter pointing to further reading for anyone wishing to extend their knowledge of the subject. This book contains more than enough information to give a good grounding in the subject, not only for the casual reader but also for the student. It may be a 'very short introduction' but it is an extremely thorough one.
There are many illustrations and some useful maps along with a very useful chapter pointing to further reading for anyone wishing to extend their knowledge of the subject. This book contains more than enough information to give a good grounding in the subject, not only for the casual reader but also for the student. It may be a 'very short introduction' but it is an extremely thorough one.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The first of this series (Oxford Very Short Introductions) I have read, in its 168 pages in small paperback format (ideal for the pocket!), this is a great read under any criteria. It covers very concisely the 40 year odd conflict giving an excellent overview whatever you prior level of knowledge.
Along the way it offers a lot of very thought provoking observations including - a) the very "high risk" gambles taken by USA up to the Cuban missile crisis given their superiority in nuclear power; b) the real victim of the Cold War was not Europe but the Third World both in deaths suffered and with the US and USSR policy having major impacts on certain countries developments across the decades beyond the well known cases of Vietnam etc; and, c) finally a fresh re-assessment of Nixon's and Kissinger's different style of 1970s international "realpolitik" diplomacy esp. in playing off USSR and China, compared with their predecessors and successors.
If the rest of the "Very Short Introductions" series can match this standard they will have delivered a great academic achievement.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 12 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
excelent
very brief and very helpful for the cold war case studies, the book arrive in good condition, and very interesting to read.
Published 3 months ago by Ajerino
2.0 out of 5 stars
The long and the short of it.
This introduction is short in word count but long in many other ways.
The author is dedicated to the principle of circumlocution in his linguistic choices of which... Read more
The author is dedicated to the principle of circumlocution in his linguistic choices of which... Read more
Published 6 months ago by grumpy old man
5.0 out of 5 stars
Could not have been clearer
I am very enthusiastic about this book. It delivers exactly what its title implies, i.e. a very concise overview of the cold war history, in a masterful fashion. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Xa4
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Having scant knowledge of the Cold War flashpoints such as the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, I was looking for an introduction detailing the conflict. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2011 by discipleofhanuman
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not an easy read
I've no doubt that Robert J. McMahon knows his stuff but I'm not convinced that he is the best person to write a "very short introduction". Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2010 by Fraser the Frank Fish
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic overview
This is a fantastic little book that is written in easy to understand language and covers all the points and information in a detailed but uncomplicated way. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2010 by S. Holroyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Short but spot on.
After searching some time for a short history of the Cold War, this little gem virtually fell into my lap. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2008 by John Dynan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not much better than a few internet articles.
The VSI series doesn't always work for me. If I invest time to read any non-fiction book, I expect it to better than a few internet articles. Read more
Published on 26 May 2008 by Alex Ireland
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good introduction, but not the best on the subject
This author of this book has most definitely drawn the short straw amongst the authors at the "Short Introduction" series, having to write a concise history of a 50 year conflict... Read more
Published on 12 May 2007 by M. McManus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Learn the Cold War in an evening!
I'm studying for a history A level and the Cold War is one of my subjects. This book is absolutely wonderful, as not only is it further reading (which obviously everyones doing! Read more
Published on 13 April 2005
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
