The world at the beginning of the 20th century seemed for most of its inhabitants stable and relatively benign. Globalizing, booming economies married to technological breakthroughs seemed to promise a better world for most people. Instead, the 20th century proved to be overwhelmingly the most violent, frightening and brutalized in history with fanatical, often genocidal warfare engulfing most societies between the outbreak of the First World War and the end of the Cold War. What went wrong? How did we do this to ourselves? The "War of the World" comes up with compelling, fascinating answers. It is Niall Ferguson's masterpiece.

About the Author

Niall Ferguson is Herzog Professor of Financial History at the Stern School of Business, New York University, Visiting Professor of History, Oxford University and Senior Research Fellow, Jesus College, Oxford. His other books for Penguin include Empire, The Cash Nexus, Colossus, Virtual History, High Financier and Civilization.

Reviews

A heartbreaking, serious and thoughtful survey of human evil that is utterly fascinating and dramatic -- Simon Sebag Montefiore The New York Times Unputdownable, controversial, compelling Independent on Sunday The grenade lobbed into the cosy tea party of received wisdom -- Max Hastings A big, bold and brilliantly belligerent book Sunday Telegraph History at its most controversial ... no one can afford to overlook it -- Allan Mallinson Hums with energy, quotable insights and pithy summaries Observer Gripping -- Tristram Hunt