First published 2006
The 20th century was the bloodiest in human history. Across two world wars, genocides, and the Cold War, unprecedented violence coincided with unprecedented progress. How could this be? Historian Niall Ferguson examines the paradox, blending history, economics, and evolutionary theory to reveal the age of hatred that descended upon a world once full of promise. From the conflicts that sparked the First World War to the aftershocks of the Cold War, Ferguson reinterprets the modern era, uncovering the dark forces that drove the century's tragedies.
Genres: history, 20th-century, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-non-fiction, paradox
Period: 20th Century
746 pages · Hardcover · Allen Lane
Content warnings: violence