The war of the world book niall ferguson

The 21st is giving the 20th century a run for its money, but, as prolific historian ferguson historyharvard univ colossus, 2004, etc. 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. The war of the world by niall ferguson, paperback barnes. It examines the long history of money, credit, and banking. Jul 02, 2007 niall ferguson retells the story of historys most savage century as a continual war that raged for 100 years. In it, ferguson discusses the causes and the consequences of the first world war. Globalizing, booming economies married to technological breakthroughs seemed to promise a better world for most people. One of niall fergusons last worthwhile books, the war of the world reexamines the twentieth centurys cataclysms through a revisionist lens. 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. His argued in the pity of war that britain should have just sat out world war one and dealt with a german dominated europe. It is also a fascinating read, thanks to fergusons gifts as a writer of clear, energetic narrative history. 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 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. 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. Britain entering first world war was biggest error in modern. 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. Davos, switzerland niall ferguson, a leading historian and senior fellow of the hoover institution at stanford university, spoke with the. Realclearpolitics articles the next war of the world. Television tiein books, of which this is a distinguished example, have the fundamental problem that. He specializes in financial and economic history as well as the history of empire. 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. 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. In the pity of war, niall ferguson dedicates fourteen essays to addressing the major historical issues associated with the first world war.

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. 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. Fergusons best book, by far, since the pity of war. 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. 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. Born in glasgow in 1964, he graduated with first class honors from magdalen college, oxford. The pity of war is a 1998 nonfictional, historical book written by british historian niall ferguson. 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. 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 the pity of war, niall ferguson makes a simple and provocative argument. Niall ferguson, hoover fellows, discuss americas challenges. Twentiethcentury conflict and the descent of the west 9781594201004. 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. Overt militarism, germanys ascent to power, alliancebased foreign policies, arms racing, and british intervention are. Conversations host harry kreisler welcomes harvard historian niall ferguson for a discussion of his book the war of the world. Overt militarism, germanys ascent to power, alliancebased foreign policies, arms racing, and british intervention are issues covered in the first. From the plains of poland to the killing fields of cambodia, he reveals how economic boomandbust, decaying empires and, above all, poisonous ideas of. It was not nationalism that powered the conflicts of the century, but empires. In the pity of war, niall ferguson explodes the myths of 191418.

He argues that the fatal conflict between britain and germany was far from inevitable. Taylors the origins of the second world war, i can truly say that this book by niall ferguson rates very highly indeed. Niall ferguson benefited from the research of many assistants, as he acknowledges. 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. At a time when more and more history is focused on.

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. He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a. Niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians. With more than 650 pages of main text and a vast scope, this is obviously a big book. The world at the beginning of the 20th century seemed for most of its inhabitants stable and relatively benign. Wells wrote the war of the worlds, a novel that imagined the destruction of a great. 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 31, 2008 conversations host harry kreisler welcomes harvard historian niall ferguson for a discussion of his book the war of the world. Niall ferguson wrote and hosted niall fergusons networld, other documentary films by ferguson have included include empire.

Niall ferguson retells the story of historys most savage century as a continual war that raged for 100 years. Jun 17, 2006 the war of the world by niall ferguson penguin. 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. The war of the world begins with a reminder that globalization has happened before. The war of the world by niall ferguson penguin books australia. He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford.

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. War of the world 9780143112396 niall ferguson boeken. The war of the world by niall ferguson lack the visual impact of its televisual counterpart, says robert mccrum. Having recently read a number of history books, including a. The war of the world by niall ferguson penguin books. The book deals with the rise of money as a trade form, and. In his most important book to date, niall ferguson resolves the paradox of the age of hatred. Niall ferguson ponders why the hundred years after 1900 were the bloodiest in modern history. 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. The pity of war by niall ferguson 2000 not even past.

This is the book of a sixpart television series for channel 4, and it has both virtues and vices of its genre. 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. Niall ferguson has turned out yet another superb history. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel. Niall ferguson writes thick history books with controversial ideas. Britain entering first world war was biggest error in. Niall ferguson is one of the world s most renowned historians. Ferguson analyzes the role of ethnic conflict, economic volatility. 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.

Mar 29, 2007 niall ferguson retells the story of historys most savage century as a continual war that raged for 100 years. From the bestselling author of the ascent of money and the square and the towerastonishing in its scope and erudition. 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. 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 also establishes that until the collapse of the german leaderships morale in late 1918. 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.

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. Historys age of hatred by niall ferguson 816pp, allen lane. Niall ferguson talked about his book, the war of the world. 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. In the war of the world, british historian niall ferguson offers a novel analysis of the causes of 20thcentury violence. 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. 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. With all his trademark brilliance, vigour and originality, he sets out to explain what went wrong with modernity. Twentiethcentury conflict and the descent of the west, august 5, 2008 a conservative history of the american left.

The war of the world, by niall ferguson the independent. 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. 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 was born april 18, 1964, in glasgow. Twentiethcentury conflict and the descent of the west by niall ferguson penguin. How britain made the modern world 2003, the ascent of money 2008, the war of the world 2008, and civilization.