Norman StoneWorld War One: A Short History

To make the events that resulted in and from the complexities of World War One comprehensible is a remarkable accomplishment. Stone puts the governmental, military and business shortsightedness, hubris, greed and nationalist sensibilities on display, delineating the ideologies whose clash resulted in millions of deaths while only truly succeeding in setting the stage for millions more to die in World War Two and beyond.Within the first chapter alone, the "strategic thinking" invented to induce WWI displays frightful symmetries with the "necessities" invented to impel forward more recent conflicts like those in Vietnam and Iraq. For that reason alone -- the persistence of various governments to resort to false justifications -- it is frankly painful and disheartening to read as a witness to so much contemporary belligerence, nearly 100 years later.Also painful and obvious is the fact that the actions which decided the first World War continue to resonate today -- from Iraq through the Balkan states and beyond -- and proves the point that we seem still compelled to repeat these patterns, perhaps because too many people today operate under the notion that history began with their own birth.So exceptional thanks to Norman Stone for reducing the excuses one might have for being ignorant of these events and their effect. His writing is fast-paced, saturated with facts and presented with an eye towards those tiny details and ironic congruences that often seem so unlikely and just as often set the most terrifying wheels in motion. While there are many more comprehensive works and the subject, it's hard to think many could be more comprehensible to the lay reader.

This is a good overview for those who already have a little background knowledge of the war. It is a good history in a very readable style.

When you put this book down - and it doesn't take all that long to read the 190 pages of it - one is left with two opinions - or at least I was. First, that you have read a very readable, authoritative and concise history of this horrible and unnecessary conflict; and, Second, that you need some time to consider what it all meant in the long run - the rise of two dictatorial and militant states (Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia) a second even more terrible war, the end of France as a controlling European power, the end of war "as we knew it" - the war of with cavalry charges, bugles and "gallantry" etc. This was war of a new kind. No longer is war left to the warriors. The entire population is involved. Cities (London) were bombed from the air for the first time. There are new weapons - tanks, airplanes, poison gas - entire countries laid waste physically and economically. And I could go on. But you get the drift. The thinking and analyses part takes longer than the reading part. With respect to the reading part I learned a lot I had not known about the fighting on the Eastern front and in the Carpathians. Professor Stone is trenchant and opinionated; but for anyone wanting a concise history of World War I this is the book for that person. However, if you want more facts - and I did - John Keegan's "The First World War" (Vintage Books 2000) gives a fuller account of the tragedy and is beautifully written - well worth reading.

Very very concise and well done. Other than the very few, weird, almost anti-semitic and homophobic off the cuff remarks. My son and I play battlefield 1, and wanted a more complete historical timeline. This provided it.

Mr. Stone calls his book a short history of the war, but he gives the reader both a clear presentation and boundless information that begs for further research and reading. As a retired history teacher, I enjoy delving into topics for which I have not had the time to read further. I am now reading his volume on World War II, and he has already given me areas to research. As a European, Mr. Stone gives the American reader details from a different perspective and includes references and minor details that merit research. He also profiles personalities with frequently humorous and revealing detail, the kind that suggest why certain battles, meetings, etc. resolved themselves the way that we know today.

An excellent overview of the Great War (as it was called for many years in Europe). Prof. Stone does not neglect the Italian and Russian fronts, emphasizes errors committed by both sides and especially the fatal ones by the losers, Russia and the Central Powers. Germany could have won the struggle but America's resources and war-weariness proved too much for the Reich in the end. Neither side fully understood the impact made by new technology, which led to massive casualties. Why did the war drag on so long? Because "too many already had died" for either side to admit the war's futility.

This is a gem of a book, with very direct and cogent arguments and history. And Stone has a very British sense of humor. Stone's perspective is of a broader European cultural and historical perspective that shows a type of life-long study and learning that one rarely sees from modern historians.

This book is very factual, and if you are looking for facts, this is it. Not a book read for "entertainment"... but then it is not meant to be!

Not as interesting as world War Two but ten neither was the war

An exceptional books. Concise yet detailed. A must for any layman interested in the history of world war.

I bought this book to get a better understanding of the events of WW1. I think most people have some sort of understanding of what occurred, but I came to the realisation that I'd never really read a full overview of the entire conflict. I decided to go for this account because the reviews gave the impression that it was a fairly concise, readable narrative of the war.Overall, I was very impressed. Everything is clearly covered in simple chronological order. All of the main events are described and, although it is quite brief, I didn't feel this was to the detriment of my understanding. Clearly if you want a deeper analysis of the war then a longer volume would be required, but for a basic overview I found this perfect.Although the main emphasis is on keeping a readable narrative going, I thought the level of analysis was also very good. The author isn't afraid to put forward his opinions on why a particular event occurred and he doesn't shy away from attaching blame to certain indviduals or crediting others for successes. As with any history of this nature, there will always be debate over these subjects, but for me the correct balance was struck between dealing with contentious issues and making it an accessible read.

This book is highly readable. The author presents the Western and Eastern fronts well whilst touching upon the Alpine front. It would have been nice to see a little more about the airwar and war at sea. Also no mention of the fighting in Africa or in China. Still an excellent read.

Didn't meet with expectation. Narration is not simple. Unnecessarily complicated and incoherent many times . May be it is good for historians and academicians. Not at all for common man !