What do you think?
Rate this book
The Next World War: The new age of global conflict and the fight to stop it
'Incredibly well sourced . . . One of the most plugged-in voices in modern warfare' - TELEGRAPH
'Reads like a real-life geopolitical thriller . . . The fact it doesn't feel like scaremongering says a lot about the state of the world' - Jonn Elledge, author of A History of the World in 47 Borders
The Next World War takes readers behind the scenes of the most dangerous era of international tensions since the end of the Cold War, as countries and military forces prepare for potential large-scale combat on a scale unseen since 1945.
From the corridors of power in Washington, Whitehall, Moscow and Beijing to the new frontlines of conflict in Ukraine, Taiwan, cyberspace and even the far side of the moon, Peter Apps unflinchingly explores the fault lines where global peace is already starting to unravel.
Featuring the voices of the commanders, diplomats and technologists already shaping history, as well as the nervous conscripts and ordinary people directly caught up in events, The Next World War examines the real-world effects of this new era of global confrontation. For some - including millions of citizens told to stockpile food and water and prepare for potential mass disruption - it still may not feel entirely real. But for Russia, China and their growing 'axis of upheaval', today's conflicts represent a growing opportunity to reshape the world as they would like it - leading to potential disaster for the West if it cannot heed the warnings in time.
From the return of Cold War-style atomic threats to new forms of sabotage and 'hybrid warfare', the battle for global dominance is already firmly underway. The Next World War is the book you need to understand the growing precariousness of our current situation - and the unending battle to stop it escalating past the point of no return.
'Gripping and important . . . A warning order for the future' - General Sir Tim Radford KCB DSO OBE
'Sweeping and compelling, with plenty of human stories that really pull you in. A must-read book from the expert I go to when I really want to get a sense of where things might be going' - Anna-Joy Rickard, Great British Foreign Affairs podcast
'Reads like a real-life geopolitical thriller . . . The fact it doesn't feel like scaremongering says a lot about the state of the world' - Jonn Elledge, author of A History of the World in 47 Borders
The Next World War takes readers behind the scenes of the most dangerous era of international tensions since the end of the Cold War, as countries and military forces prepare for potential large-scale combat on a scale unseen since 1945.
From the corridors of power in Washington, Whitehall, Moscow and Beijing to the new frontlines of conflict in Ukraine, Taiwan, cyberspace and even the far side of the moon, Peter Apps unflinchingly explores the fault lines where global peace is already starting to unravel.
Featuring the voices of the commanders, diplomats and technologists already shaping history, as well as the nervous conscripts and ordinary people directly caught up in events, The Next World War examines the real-world effects of this new era of global confrontation. For some - including millions of citizens told to stockpile food and water and prepare for potential mass disruption - it still may not feel entirely real. But for Russia, China and their growing 'axis of upheaval', today's conflicts represent a growing opportunity to reshape the world as they would like it - leading to potential disaster for the West if it cannot heed the warnings in time.
From the return of Cold War-style atomic threats to new forms of sabotage and 'hybrid warfare', the battle for global dominance is already firmly underway. The Next World War is the book you need to understand the growing precariousness of our current situation - and the unending battle to stop it escalating past the point of no return.
'Gripping and important . . . A warning order for the future' - General Sir Tim Radford KCB DSO OBE
'Sweeping and compelling, with plenty of human stories that really pull you in. A must-read book from the expert I go to when I really want to get a sense of where things might be going' - Anna-Joy Rickard, Great British Foreign Affairs podcast
460 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2026
About the author
Peter Apps
30 books12 followersPeter Apps lives in England, and Deja Vu To The Nth is his third novel. He wrote it because he still thinks people are pretty amazing even though Peter hasn’t met anyone who has built a space portal, but then again, he hasn’t looked in everyone’s garden shed either.
He was born on 1st January 1948 has lived in Sheerness, Kent for most of his life. The Isle of Sheppey where Sheerness is situated has a long, rich history which has always fascinated Peter. History might seem a far cry from Science Fiction but imagining life in a Roman settlement is imagining a world just as alien as a distant planet.
Although he worked in a series of routine jobs he likes to do his own thing when he can.
For example, all his computers are Microsoft free zones and prefers to use Linux. He has always had an interest in science, especially Astronomy. Now that planets have been discovered around other suns, he feels that the time is coming when we could discover intelligent life out there.
Other interests include classical music and jazz. He also likes to settle down in the evening to watch a good film while enjoying a nice glass of bitter or else visiting his local for a chat over a friendly drink.
He was born on 1st January 1948 has lived in Sheerness, Kent for most of his life. The Isle of Sheppey where Sheerness is situated has a long, rich history which has always fascinated Peter. History might seem a far cry from Science Fiction but imagining life in a Roman settlement is imagining a world just as alien as a distant planet.
Although he worked in a series of routine jobs he likes to do his own thing when he can.
For example, all his computers are Microsoft free zones and prefers to use Linux. He has always had an interest in science, especially Astronomy. Now that planets have been discovered around other suns, he feels that the time is coming when we could discover intelligent life out there.
Other interests include classical music and jazz. He also likes to settle down in the evening to watch a good film while enjoying a nice glass of bitter or else visiting his local for a chat over a friendly drink.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 16, 2026
A good insight into the current geo-political situation and possible drivers for current events (although I struggle to believe that the current US administration is going anything beyond reeling from issue to issue).
A scary, but useful read.
A scary, but useful read.
June 3, 2026
Peter Apps’ The Next World War is the rare modern geopolitical book that manages to discuss looming catastrophe without sounding like a man screaming through a megaphone in a parking lot. Instead of descending into ideological trench warfare, Apps does something increasingly revolutionary: he analyzes problems like an adult. The result is a sharp, unsettling, and strangely refreshing examination of the military, economic, technological, and political fault lines shaping the modern world.
What makes the book particularly effective is its refusal to indulge in the exhausting political sermonizing that infects so much contemporary commentary. Apps clearly has views, but he keeps the focus where it belongs: logistics, alliances, military readiness, industrial capacity, deterrence, strategy, and the uncomfortable reality that hostile nations occasionally fail to share our hopes, hashtags, or carefully worded statements of concern. It is almost nostalgic to encounter analysis that treats geopolitics as something more complicated than “good people versus bad people on social media.”
The book’s greatest strength is its breadth. Apps ties together the war in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, NATO preparedness, cyber threats, industrial mobilization, supply chain fragility, and the erosion of Western assumptions about permanent stability. Rather than presenting these issues as isolated headlines designed to trigger panic clicks, he demonstrates how interconnected they are. The effect is less “the world is ending tomorrow” and more “perhaps we should stop pretending the post-Cold War vacation from history was permanent.”
Apps also deserves credit for writing in a style accessible to both military professionals and general readers. He explains complex strategic concepts without either talking down to the audience or disappearing into jargon dense enough to qualify as defensive fortification. The pacing moves quickly, which is fortunate because discussions about ammunition production, force posture, and deterrence theory can otherwise become excellent tools for curing insomnia.
Perhaps most impressive is the book’s tone. There is seriousness without melodrama, concern without hysteria, and urgency without apocalyptic theatrics. In an era where every geopolitical disagreement is apparently either “literally the 1930s” or “nothing to worry about,” Apps occupies the increasingly lonely territory of measured realism. He acknowledges danger while still treating readers as rational human beings capable of processing nuance. Bold strategy these days.
Ultimately, The Next World War succeeds because it treats global security as a serious subject requiring serious thought instead of partisan performance art. It is informative, sober, and intellectually grounded, while still being engaging enough that readers will not feel like they accidentally enrolled in a mandatory graduate seminar. For anyone interested in modern conflict, alliance dynamics, or the strategic challenges facing the West, it is well worth the read. If nothing else, it is comforting to know at least one author can discuss international security without behaving like an algorithm trained exclusively on cable news panels and comment sections.
What makes the book particularly effective is its refusal to indulge in the exhausting political sermonizing that infects so much contemporary commentary. Apps clearly has views, but he keeps the focus where it belongs: logistics, alliances, military readiness, industrial capacity, deterrence, strategy, and the uncomfortable reality that hostile nations occasionally fail to share our hopes, hashtags, or carefully worded statements of concern. It is almost nostalgic to encounter analysis that treats geopolitics as something more complicated than “good people versus bad people on social media.”
The book’s greatest strength is its breadth. Apps ties together the war in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, NATO preparedness, cyber threats, industrial mobilization, supply chain fragility, and the erosion of Western assumptions about permanent stability. Rather than presenting these issues as isolated headlines designed to trigger panic clicks, he demonstrates how interconnected they are. The effect is less “the world is ending tomorrow” and more “perhaps we should stop pretending the post-Cold War vacation from history was permanent.”
Apps also deserves credit for writing in a style accessible to both military professionals and general readers. He explains complex strategic concepts without either talking down to the audience or disappearing into jargon dense enough to qualify as defensive fortification. The pacing moves quickly, which is fortunate because discussions about ammunition production, force posture, and deterrence theory can otherwise become excellent tools for curing insomnia.
Perhaps most impressive is the book’s tone. There is seriousness without melodrama, concern without hysteria, and urgency without apocalyptic theatrics. In an era where every geopolitical disagreement is apparently either “literally the 1930s” or “nothing to worry about,” Apps occupies the increasingly lonely territory of measured realism. He acknowledges danger while still treating readers as rational human beings capable of processing nuance. Bold strategy these days.
Ultimately, The Next World War succeeds because it treats global security as a serious subject requiring serious thought instead of partisan performance art. It is informative, sober, and intellectually grounded, while still being engaging enough that readers will not feel like they accidentally enrolled in a mandatory graduate seminar. For anyone interested in modern conflict, alliance dynamics, or the strategic challenges facing the West, it is well worth the read. If nothing else, it is comforting to know at least one author can discuss international security without behaving like an algorithm trained exclusively on cable news panels and comment sections.
May 19, 2026
I have finished reading “The Next World War: The New Age of Global Conflict and the Fight to Stop it” by Peter Apps.
“We oil the jaws of the war machine and feed it with our babies”
2 Minutes to Midnight, Iron Maiden.
The author clearly states the aim of his book at the beginning; he wishes to inspire Britons to treat the likely coming of war with as much, seriousness, urgency and competence as our Nordic partners do. After reading his case, I am not sure if he made it as directly as he think he did. But he did give the reader much to think and worry about.
A more accurate title of this book may have been “how the world got scarily dangerous in the pass 10-20 years”. This is basically a whistlestop tour of the biggest news pieces, conflicts and international tensions to present themselves on the scene during that time. Obviously, all of those things have to be taken into consideration, but it did take a little patience for myself (who is a bit of a nerd on such things) to persevere and get the full case.
In fairness to the author, in the end I did feel there was some worthy detail from behind the headlines fleshed out. I was in particular shocked but intrigued to learn how Israeli Military establishment misogyny towards female reservists who were carrying out surveillance on Hamas, led to these reservists being among the first to die during the Hamas October 2023 attacks. The scale of the US Military’s high tech weapon supply problems are even scarier when one is confronted with the statistics revealing the extent of the problem.
The tone of this book is more of a “decide for yourself” presentation of the facts deal, rather than the author taking positions themselves. It is not for me to say whether this was a mistake, but I would venture that in certain places taking a position may have livened things up.
In conclusion, this book is very readable and full of interesting facts but oddly does not seem to achieve the mission it sets for itself. I do not fault the work the author put in it, on the contrary the interviews he conducted alone must have been a lot of work in themselves. But I feel that some punchiness would have added more urgency to the case he is making. Which is a shame because I agree with him. A big war will come from somewhere. The only way we will survive it is to be as prepared as we can be. There is still too much to do and time is running out for the free world.
“We oil the jaws of the war machine and feed it with our babies”
2 Minutes to Midnight, Iron Maiden.
The author clearly states the aim of his book at the beginning; he wishes to inspire Britons to treat the likely coming of war with as much, seriousness, urgency and competence as our Nordic partners do. After reading his case, I am not sure if he made it as directly as he think he did. But he did give the reader much to think and worry about.
A more accurate title of this book may have been “how the world got scarily dangerous in the pass 10-20 years”. This is basically a whistlestop tour of the biggest news pieces, conflicts and international tensions to present themselves on the scene during that time. Obviously, all of those things have to be taken into consideration, but it did take a little patience for myself (who is a bit of a nerd on such things) to persevere and get the full case.
In fairness to the author, in the end I did feel there was some worthy detail from behind the headlines fleshed out. I was in particular shocked but intrigued to learn how Israeli Military establishment misogyny towards female reservists who were carrying out surveillance on Hamas, led to these reservists being among the first to die during the Hamas October 2023 attacks. The scale of the US Military’s high tech weapon supply problems are even scarier when one is confronted with the statistics revealing the extent of the problem.
The tone of this book is more of a “decide for yourself” presentation of the facts deal, rather than the author taking positions themselves. It is not for me to say whether this was a mistake, but I would venture that in certain places taking a position may have livened things up.
In conclusion, this book is very readable and full of interesting facts but oddly does not seem to achieve the mission it sets for itself. I do not fault the work the author put in it, on the contrary the interviews he conducted alone must have been a lot of work in themselves. But I feel that some punchiness would have added more urgency to the case he is making. Which is a shame because I agree with him. A big war will come from somewhere. The only way we will survive it is to be as prepared as we can be. There is still too much to do and time is running out for the free world.
June 29, 2026
3.5stars. Behind the flashy and I think somewhat misleading marketing title, is a well written book offering an interesting behind the scenes insight into the national interactions and conflicts since 1945, which bring us to our current state of world tension. It is however, limited in the sense that whilst it concentrates heavily on military matters, it only briefly covers the equally import politics and personalities, and moreover completely leaves out any consideration of global macro-economics. For example on the question whether China and the USA will actually come into direct conflict over Taiwan, it discusses in some depth the various national motivations and degrees of preparedness (or unpreparedness!) But takes no account of the most significant disincentive for the two super-powers to directly fight - that their economies are almost inextricably dependent on each other. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting and well written book, worth a read.
April 23, 2026
I went into this audiobook expecting a Tom Clancy–esque techno-thriller, something sharp, driven, and rooted in the realities of modern politics and military affairs. Instead, it felt more like a loose collection of journalistic pieces awkwardly stitched together.
There’s no real sense of direction between chapters, no clear progression or narrative thread to hold onto. Just as you start to settle into one idea, it jumps somewhere else without much logic or payoff. It makes it hard to stay engaged.
The audiobook experience didn’t help either, the author’s narration was pretty flat, which made it even easier for my attention to drift.
By the end, I was honestly just glad to finish it. I did pick up a few interesting bits and maybe broadened my understanding here and there, but overall, it was a struggle to stay focused and didn’t deliver what I was hoping for.
There’s no real sense of direction between chapters, no clear progression or narrative thread to hold onto. Just as you start to settle into one idea, it jumps somewhere else without much logic or payoff. It makes it hard to stay engaged.
The audiobook experience didn’t help either, the author’s narration was pretty flat, which made it even easier for my attention to drift.
By the end, I was honestly just glad to finish it. I did pick up a few interesting bits and maybe broadened my understanding here and there, but overall, it was a struggle to stay focused and didn’t deliver what I was hoping for.
March 10, 2026
Fantastic piece of journalism but obviously very worrying, however also naturally helps to greater sense of the world as it is at the moment. Despite being a very new release and being very up to date at the time of publishing, recent escalation (especially concern Iran US/Isreal relations) have already lead to massive further changes. I listened to this as an audio book as I do many longer reads but am already starting this from the beginning again so it sticks as I got through it so quickly.
However, this book covers so much content that I feel that it may be at the expense of intricate details into specifics but that definitely makes it a great springboard into further reading into each individual chapter.
However, this book covers so much content that I feel that it may be at the expense of intricate details into specifics but that definitely makes it a great springboard into further reading into each individual chapter.
May 14, 2026
So many developments, details, perspective connected and interrelated, that escapes the public eye. The state of the world is a lot more unstable and volatile than most people like to contemplate. It is a very informative narrative. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on space militarisation and the technology race. In Apps view China has the best cards on its hands, and his analysis of the American military fleet and shortages in actual arms and missiles combined with an aging infrastructure of capacities is surprising. There is so much more than meets the eyes and ears of the public.
You cant help becoming more alert to the actual risks of catastrophic consequences in the international power game if today.
You cant help becoming more alert to the actual risks of catastrophic consequences in the international power game if today.
May 31, 2026
Reuters journalist Peter Apps offers a strong snapshot of today’s global affairs. He connects many separate flashpoints into one broader strategic picture of global instability. The book gives a clear sense of the dilemmas facing the United States, China’s ambitions, Taiwan’s anxiety, and the wider geopolitical importance of the Pacific. It also provides a useful overview of rivalries in the Middle East, brutal local wars in Africa, often acting as proxy conflicts for larger powers, and the growing role of space in the strategic race for supremacy among major and aspiring powers.
One omission I found puzzling was the Arctic, whose geopolitical importance is also widely seen as increasing. Overall, a good and timely read, enjoyed it.
One omission I found puzzling was the Arctic, whose geopolitical importance is also widely seen as increasing. Overall, a good and timely read, enjoyed it.
February 23, 2026
This is a very scary accounting of the precarious war-making state the world is in.
Israel and the US vs. Iran, Russia vs. Ukraine, China vs. Taiwan, North vs. South Korea, and India vs. Pakistan. Europe, who knows? What will pop-off first and what will the ramifications be? Has WWIII already begun?
From a feminist perspective, this is where patriarchal order has brought us as a world body, the brink of another world war and maybe the extinction of life on the planet. A bunch of dick measuring by world leaders with extreme consequences.
Israel and the US vs. Iran, Russia vs. Ukraine, China vs. Taiwan, North vs. South Korea, and India vs. Pakistan. Europe, who knows? What will pop-off first and what will the ramifications be? Has WWIII already begun?
From a feminist perspective, this is where patriarchal order has brought us as a world body, the brink of another world war and maybe the extinction of life on the planet. A bunch of dick measuring by world leaders with extreme consequences.
June 23, 2026
A list of current conflicts. From the subtitle I was expecting to get to the chapters where he is going to enumerate the efforts to end conflict (the fight to stop it.) Somehow the book ends before he gets to writing about those efforts.
To be clear, there are exciting books out there on the endless global efforts to improve lives and to reduce war and violence. The Long Peace, The Better Angles of Our Nature, The End of Poverty, to name just a few. I'm afraid The Next World War is not among them.
To be clear, there are exciting books out there on the endless global efforts to improve lives and to reduce war and violence. The Long Peace, The Better Angles of Our Nature, The End of Poverty, to name just a few. I'm afraid The Next World War is not among them.
May 21, 2026
Doesn't necessarily answer the titular question, but it gives a very clear idea of what it might look like. Cleverly weaves much that a student of current affairs would know with added value and insight that many wouldn't, providing a fascinating overview of global geopolitics. Difficult to say whether I feel more or less pessimistic about our collective futures for having read it. The holes in our defences are such that you wonder why our bluff hasn't been called already.
March 22, 2026
Vaguely interesting, particularly around the tensions between Taiwan and China. However, the book jumped between various conflict zones and never really pulled it all together into a broader narrative.
March 22, 2026
This book will give the reader a very informative and highly engaging reading experience with recent updates on geopolitical conflicts, Hi-Tech strategic warfare, weapon supply chain challenges etc. Recommended
March 23, 2026
Terrifying. To paraphrase Gramsci: “Now is the time of monsters”.
May 23, 2026
An interesting and very useful summary of how FUBAR things are getting.
May 28, 2026
Spot on about all geopolitical chokepoints and likelihood of the next conflict. Sobering, but necessary, read.
April 30, 2026
Shallow and rushed, with little new information, unless you have not been following any piece of news in past 10 years.
A dry, monotonous and uninspiring litany of historical facts, artificially held together towards a supposed imminent global war. The danger clearly exists, but in my opinion this book does little to explain the military options, and even less to suggest how to avoid war.
In essence, I was expecting a deep analysis of the current European and Asian military tension. This book is not that.
A dry, monotonous and uninspiring litany of historical facts, artificially held together towards a supposed imminent global war. The danger clearly exists, but in my opinion this book does little to explain the military options, and even less to suggest how to avoid war.
In essence, I was expecting a deep analysis of the current European and Asian military tension. This book is not that.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews