The Shortest History of War: From Hunter-Gatherers to Nuclear Superpowers—A Retelling for Our Times (Shortest History)

War has always been a defining feature of human society. This new addition to the Shortest History series explains why we do it—and how we can stop.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has punctured the longest stretch of peace between major powers since WWII, bringing the horrors of warfare—past, present, and future—to the forefront of readers’ minds. In The Shortest History of War, internationally acclaimed historian Gwynne Dyer adds urgently needed context.

Dyer ably charts the evolution of violent conflict: tribal aggression, classical combat, limited war, total war, and cold war—followed by present-day terrorism, nuclear threats, and the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). His brilliant, brisk history is a harrowing must-read for all who wonder: How will rival superpowers with unprecedented weapons shape the future of our interconnected world?