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War
How Conflict Shaped Us
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Check link for latest rating. ( 3,827 ratings, 557 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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How the human history of conflict has transformed the world we live in - for good and evil.
How the human history of conflict has transformed the world we live in - for good and evil.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
New York Times 10 Best Book of 2020
Sunday Times best book for Autumn 2020
Guardian critics' pick for Autumn 2020
Wall Street Journal notable book of 2020
The time since the Second World War has been seen by some as the longest uninterrupted period of harmony in human history: the 'long peace', as Stephen Pinker called it. But despite this, there has been a military conflict ongoing every year since 1945. The same can be said for every century of recorded history. Is war, therefore, an essential part of being human?
In War, Professor Margaret MacMillan explores the deep links between society and war and the questions they raise. We learn when war began - whether among early homo sapiens or later, as we began to organise ourselves into tribes and settle in communities. We see the ways in which war reflects changing societies and how war has brought change - for better and worse.
Economies, science, technology, medicine, culture: all are instrumental in war and have been shaped by it - without conflict, we might not have had penicillin, female emancipation, radar or rockets. Throughout history, writers, artists, film-makers, playwrights, and composers have been inspired by war - whether to condemn, exalt, or simply puzzle about it. If we are never to be rid of war, how should we think about it and what does that mean for peace?
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Margaret MacMillan's War is praised for its comprehensive exploration of the impact of war on society, showcasing the author's vast historical knowledge and storytelling abilities. Critics commend her for presenting a thoughtful and engaging examination of warfare's contradictionsβits horrors and allureβand her ability to traverse broad historical periods with clarity and insight. The book is noted for its colourful details and the author's unsentimental yet insightful observations on human warfare.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781788162579
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 October 2021
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Profile Books Ltd
Edition: Main
Illustration: 16 page plate section
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 24.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 300g
Pages: 336
About the Author
Margaret MacMillan is Emeritus Professor of International History, University of Oxford and Professor of History, University of Toronto. She is the author of Women and the Raj and the international bestsellers Nixon in China and Peacemakers, which won the 2002 Samuel Johnson Prize, and The War that Ended Peace, The Uses and Abuses of History and History's People, all published by Profile.
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