The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction – Review

One of the parts of my childhood that my own children cannot identify with is what it was like growing up during the Cold War and feeling like a Nuclear War could happen at any time. I remember watching The Day After and having a strong emotional reaction because something like that could have happened. I was born almost in the middle of the Cold War.

But the Cold War was much more than the threat of Nuclear War. This important era is really bookended by major events in Germany: the defeat in 1945 and the reunification in 1990. However, what began and ended in that area of Europe actually impacted the entire world.

If you are interested in learning more about this, I recommend Robert McMahon’s The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction. In general, I really enjoy the Very Short Introduction series but this is probably one of the best I have read.

Obviously with such a short book, the author is limited in what can be included. Despite this, I felt like I got an impressive overview and he was able to make connections between numerous significant events of the latter half of the 20th century.

Because of the length of the book, some decisions had to be made. This includes a much greater emphasis on the United States than the Soviet Union. This probably is also related to the difference in availability of sources.

I also felt like a good amount of space was given to the Cold War right up to the Vietnam War and that it felt rushed after that. That is understandable and it does not take away from the value of this book.

I recommend The Cold War, both for people my age (and older) who lives through some of these events and young people who may be completely unfamiliar with the Cold War. With rising tensions with Russia, these historical lessons are relevant than ever.

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