The Shortest History of War

In this timely addition to the bestselling Shortest History series, acclaimed writer and military expert Gwynne Dyer tells the story of war from its prehistoric - perhaps pre-human - origins to the present age of algorithms and atomic weapons. With the clarity and insight that have won his columns millions of readers around the world, Dyer chronicles warfare's coming-of-age in the first cities; the rise of tyranny as humans multiply; the millennia of classical combat ended by the firearm and the carnage of the Thirty Years' War; and the brief interlude of limited war before the popular revolutions of the 18th century ushered in the era of total war - itself halted, for now, by Hiroshima. The final chapters deal with the precarious equilibrium of the past 75 years - the longest peace between major powers in history - and the threats posed by nuclear proliferation, global heating and superpower rivalry. This marvellously clear-sighted book is vital reading for anyone who wants to understand the role of war in the long human story: why we do it, and how we can stop.