The war of the world book niall ferguson

He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a. The pity of war by niall ferguson 2000 not even past. Britain entering first world war was biggest error in modern. Apr 26, 2012 in the pity of war, niall ferguson dedicates fourteen essays to addressing the major historical issues associated with the first world war. Jul 02, 2007 niall ferguson retells the story of historys most savage century as a continual war that raged for 100 years. He is the author of paper and iron, the house of rothschild, the pity of war, the cash nexus, empire, colossus, the war of the world, the ascent of money, high financier, civilization, the great degeneration, kissinger, 19231968. Mar 26, 2009 the war of the world by niall ferguson is a terrific read, beautifully written and full of fascinating information, much of it that i was unaware of before. Niall ferguson retells the story of historys most savage century as a continual war that raged for 100 years. It was not nationalism that powered the conflicts of the century, but empires. Overt militarism, germanys ascent to power, alliancebased foreign policies, arms racing, and british intervention are issues covered in the first. Mar 29, 2007 niall ferguson retells the story of historys most savage century as a continual war that raged for 100 years. The 20thcentury war of the world ended, ferguson argues, with the conclusion of the korean war in 1953, though as he says, it is absurd for us to remember the cold war fondly as a time.

In niall fergusons new book, the british empire was a good thing for everybody and the american empire now being born should take lessons from our stiffupperlipped forebears. In it, ferguson discusses the causes and the consequences of the first world war. Niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians. Niall ferguson wrote and hosted niall fergusons networld, other documentary films by ferguson have included include empire. Jan 31, 2008 conversations host harry kreisler welcomes harvard historian niall ferguson for a discussion of his book the war of the world. In the pity of war, niall ferguson dedicates fourteen essays to addressing the major historical issues associated with the first world war. Taylors the origins of the second world war, i can truly say that this book by niall ferguson rates very highly indeed. The hoover institutions hauck auditorium was the venue monday, march 2, for the world premiere of the new pbs documentary niall fergusons networld, based on the milbank senior fellows bestselling book the square and the tower written and hosted by ferguson, the threepart series explores the history of social networksbeginning in the protestant reformation and continuing to. Controversial historian professor niall ferguson argues that in the last century there were not in fact two world wars and a cold war, but a single hundred years war.

In the pity of war, niall ferguson makes a simple and provocative argument. He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. Fergusons best book, by far, since the pity of war. One of niall fergusons last worthwhile books, the war of the world reexamines the twentieth centurys cataclysms through a revisionist lens. Twentiethcentury conflict and the descent of the west, august 5, 2008 a conservative history of the american left. From the plains of poland to the killing fields of cambodia, he reveals how economic boomandbust, decaying empires and, above all, poisonous ideas of. The war of the world by niall ferguson just astounding, almost every page has some obscure detail of some event in some war that the west was ever involved with from 1900 to 1999, so huge an undertaking surely you would need a team of researchers buckets of. Nov 12, 2006 the 20thcentury war of the world ended, ferguson argues, with the conclusion of the korean war in 1953, though as he says, it is absurd for us to remember the cold war fondly as a time. He specializes in financial and economic history as well as the history of empire. A financial history of the world is a 2008 book by harvard professor niall ferguson, and an adapted television documentary for channel 4 uk and pbs us, which in 2009 won an international emmy award. Jul 02, 2007 the war of the world by niall ferguson is a terrific read, beautifully written and full of fascinating information, much of it that i was unaware of before. Jan 29, 2014 britain could have lived with a german victory in the first world war, and should have stayed out of the conflict in 1914, according to the historian niall ferguson, who described the intervention. It examines the long history of money, credit, and banking. Britain, according to ferguson, entered into war based on naive assumptions of german aimsand englands entry into the war transformed a continental conflict into a world war, which they then badly mishandled.

The 21st is giving the 20th century a run for its money, but, as prolific historian ferguson historyharvard univ colossus, 2004, etc. Twentiethcentury conflict and the descent of the west by niall ferguson penguin. Twentiethcentury conflict and the descent of the west 9781594201004. It is also a fascinating read, thanks to fergusons gifts as a writer of clear, energetic narrative history. In the pity of war, niall ferguson explodes the myths of 191418. Britain, according to ferguson, entered into war based on naive assumptions of german aims and englands entry into the war transformed a continental conflict into a world war, which they then badly mishandled, necessitating american involvement. Jun 17, 2006 the war of the world by niall ferguson penguin. This is the book of a sixpart television series for channel 4, and it has both virtues and vices of its genre. Davos, switzerland niall ferguson, a leading historian and senior fellow of the hoover institution at stanford university, spoke with the. Niall ferguson is one of the world s most renowned historians. In his most important book to date, niall ferguson resolves the paradox of the age of hatred. So begins niall ferguson s war of the world, a hugely ambitious panorama and moral analysis of the militaryindustrial slaughter of the 20th century that poses the big question. In the early twentieth century it was possible in the west, at least to enjoy a life made easier and healthier through the benefits of modern communication and transportation systems. In the last years niall ferguson has written six big books while teaching at institutions on either side of the atlantiche currently occupies a chair in history at harvardand preparing and presenting ambitious television programs.

Aug 15, 2006 the war of the world by niall ferguson just astounding, almost every page has some obscure detail of some event in some war that the west was ever involved with from 1900 to 1999, so huge an undertaking surely you would need a team of researchers buckets of coffee and mountains of cupcakes. Conversations host harry kreisler welcomes harvard historian niall ferguson for a discussion of his book the war of the world. Ferguson also contends that equivocal british policies in europe and failure to maintain a credible army to back up its continental commitments, among other factors, led britain needlessly to transform a continental conflict into a world war. His argued in the pity of war that britain should have just sat out world war one and dealt with a german dominated europe. The war of the world by niall ferguson penguin books australia. Niall ferguson ponders why the hundred years after 1900 were the bloodiest in modern history. From the bestselling author of the ascent of money and the square and the towerastonishing in its scope and erudition.

War of the world 9780143112396 niall ferguson boeken. The book deals with the rise of money as a trade form, and. Niall ferguson benefited from the research of many assistants, as he acknowledges. Previously, he was a professor at harvard university and new york university, visiting professor at new college of the humanities and senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. Niall ferguson writes thick history books with controversial ideas. The world at the beginning of the 20th century seemed for most of its inhabitants stable and relatively benign.

He argues that the fatal conflict between britain and germany was far from inevitable. With more than 650 pages of main text and a vast scope, this is obviously a big book. The war of the world by niall ferguson lack the visual impact of its televisual counterpart, says robert mccrum. Overt militarism, germanys ascent to power, alliancebased foreign policies, arms racing, and british intervention are. Ferguson also establishes that until the collapse of the german leaderships morale in late 1918. Ferguson analyzes the role of ethnic conflict, economic volatility. Britain, according to ferguson, entered into war based on nave assumptions of german aimsand englands entry into the war transformed a continental conflict into a world war, which they then badly mishandled, necessitating american involvement. Globalizing, booming economies married to technological breakthroughs seemed to promise a better world for most people. At a time when more and more history is focused on. Niall ferguson argues that the british empire was an overall good entity and todays modern world needs another nation to step up and be a world leader. The war of the world, by niall ferguson the independent. The war of the world by niall ferguson penguin books. He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford. Niall ferguson was born april 18, 1964, in glasgow.

Niall ferguson, hoover fellows, discuss americas challenges. The war of the world begins with a reminder that globalization has happened before. Niall ferguson has turned out yet another superb history. With all his trademark brilliance, vigour and originality, he sets out to explain what went wrong with modernity. It was britains declaration of war that needlessly turned a continental conflict into a world war, and it was britains economic mismanagement and military inferiority that necessitated. In the war of the world, british historian niall ferguson offers a novel analysis of the causes of 20thcentury violence. The war of the world by niall ferguson, paperback barnes. Television tiein books, of which this is a distinguished example, have the fundamental problem that. Realclearpolitics articles the next war of the world. From the reformation and 17th century witchhunting, through the american revolution and to the nightmare visions of orwells 1984, ferguson explores the intersection of social media, technology.

Ferguson, though, shows how the horrors of the past century were not initiated by aliens from mars but by human beings filled with hatred toward the other. Britain entering first world war was biggest error in. Niall ferguson talked about his book, the war of the world. Born in glasgow in 1964, he graduated with first class honors from magdalen college, oxford. Wells wrote the war of the worlds, a novel that imagined the destruction of a great. In niall fergusons 2002 book empire, ferguson argues that while the british empire had its faults, it was better for the people over whom it ruled and for the world as a whole.

The pity of war is a 1998 nonfictional, historical book written by british historian niall ferguson. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel. From the bestselling author of the ascent of money and the square and the tower astonishing in its scope and erudition, this is the magnum opus that niall fergusons numerous acclaimed works have been leading up to. If someone less distinguished than jesus college, oxford, fellow niall ferguson had written the pity of war, you could be forgiven for thinking the book was out for. Welles 1899 the war of the world in which the novelist posits a time when martians will invade the earth. Television tiein books, of which this is a distinguished example, have the fundamental problem that they are both more, and less, than. The house of rothschild, the cash nexus, empire, colossus, the war of the world, the ascent of money, high financier, civilization, the great degeneration, kissinger, 19231968. In colossus, he put forth the idea that the world needs america to be a real empire, but believed the country isnt up to the tasks.

Historys age of hatred by niall ferguson 816pp, allen lane. How britain made the modern world 2003, the ascent of money 2008, the war of the world 2008, and civilization. The war of the world by niall ferguson is a terrific read, beautifully written and full of fascinating information, much of it that i was unaware of before. From the plains of poland to the killing fields of cambodia, he reveals how economic boomandbust, decaying empires and, above all, poisonous ideas of race led men to treat each other as aliens.