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When the World Dies: Life and Death in an Age of Infamy
A Bold Exploration of 20th Century History and our Nuclear Future
Step into a vividly illustrated confrontation with history—where the darkness of the 20th century looms large. Drawing on pivotal moments and influential figures, from the chaos of World War I to the rise of totalitarian regimes, D.E. Davis compellingly tells how humanity found itself teetering on the brink of nuclear annihilation. With insights gained from the likes of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Hannah Arendt, and George Orwell, When the World Dies examines the philosophical underpinnings of evil and the moral obligations of the living.
This timely look at what led civilization to the brink of nuclear war and the societal steps required to back away from that ledge asks readers to consider the Age of Infamy from a perspective informed by history. Join D.E. Davis on this eye-opening journey as he challenges us to reflect on our past in order to confront our present and cultivate a future of possibility.
Step into a vividly illustrated confrontation with history—where the darkness of the 20th century looms large. Drawing on pivotal moments and influential figures, from the chaos of World War I to the rise of totalitarian regimes, D.E. Davis compellingly tells how humanity found itself teetering on the brink of nuclear annihilation. With insights gained from the likes of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Hannah Arendt, and George Orwell, When the World Dies examines the philosophical underpinnings of evil and the moral obligations of the living.
This timely look at what led civilization to the brink of nuclear war and the societal steps required to back away from that ledge asks readers to consider the Age of Infamy from a perspective informed by history. Join D.E. Davis on this eye-opening journey as he challenges us to reflect on our past in order to confront our present and cultivate a future of possibility.
282 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Author
Book Review: When the World Dies: Life and Death in an Age of Infamy
By D.E. Davis
After the attack at Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt described it as a day that will live in infamy. Grappling for a handle to describe the last century, retired Professor D.E. Davis gives us an “Age of Infamy in his When the World Dies: Life and Death in an Age of Infamy, a sweeping exploration of the 20th century’s darkest moments, offering a sobering reflection on the trajectory of human civilization. This is obviously the capstone work of a senior scholar, whose focus on the past suggests projections for our times as well.
The book’s thesis is clear: the 20th century was defined by two catastrophic forces—totalitarianism and total war—that not only reshaped the world but also left humanity teetering on the brink of annihilation. Davis argues that these forces, born out of despair and the pursuit of utopias, have created an enduring “Age of Infamy” that continues to cast its shadow over the 21st century.
Each of his eight chapters discusses a different aspect of infamy, from the rise of totalitarian regimes under Hitler, Stalin, and Mao to the devastating consequences of World War II, including the Holocaust, firebombings, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Davis also delves into the moral compromises made by Western leaders, such as Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler and the Yalta Conference’s concessions to Stalin. The narrative culminates in an examination of dystopian literature, which Davis sees as a prophetic warning of the potential horrors of unchecked power and technological advancement. The three foci—the totalitarian regimes, the technology of destruction, and the moral compromises—reflect extensive research and thought.
One of the book’s strengths is its ambitious scope. Davis seamlessly weaves together history, literature, and philosophy to create a comprehensive portrait of the 20th century’s moral and existential crises. His use of literary works—such as Orwell’s 1984, Huxley’s Brave New World, and Zamyatin’s We—adds depth to his analysis, illustrating how fiction often serves as a mirror to reality. The inclusion of firsthand accounts, such as Nadezhda Mandelstam’s memoirs and John Hersey’s Hiroshima, provides a poignant human dimension to the historical narrative.
Davis’s writing is accessible yet thought-provoking, making complex historical and philosophical ideas digestible for a learned audience. His ability to connect seemingly disparate events—such as the rise of totalitarianism, the development of nuclear weapons, and the cultural shifts in literature—underscores the interconnectedness of history and human behavior.
However, the book is not without its weaknesses. The sheer breadth of topics covered sometimes leads to a lack of depth in certain areas. It is especially obvious that Dr. Davis has been mostly a Russian historian. For instance, while Davis provides a compelling analysis of the Holocaust and the atomic bombings, his treatment of other topics, such as the Cultural Revolution in China, feels comparatively cursory. Indeed, the end of colonialism in Asia and Africa gets nary a nod, despite its importance in a worldwide cold war. Additionally, the book’s tone occasionally veers into alarmism, particularly in its discussion of the potential for nuclear Armageddon in the 21st century. While this is undoubtedly a pressing concern, the lack of exploration of potential solutions or paths forward leaves the reader with a sense of despair rather than empowerment.
Overall, When the World Dies is a masterful and haunting examination of humanity’s capacity for both creation and destruction. Davis’s thesis—that the 20th century’s infamies continue to shape our present and threaten our future—is both compelling and urgent. While the book’s breadth may occasionally come at the expense of depth, its interdisciplinary approach and evocative storytelling make it a valuable read for anyone seeking to understand the forces that have shaped our modern world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Frederick B. Hoyt
By D.E. Davis
After the attack at Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt described it as a day that will live in infamy. Grappling for a handle to describe the last century, retired Professor D.E. Davis gives us an “Age of Infamy in his When the World Dies: Life and Death in an Age of Infamy, a sweeping exploration of the 20th century’s darkest moments, offering a sobering reflection on the trajectory of human civilization. This is obviously the capstone work of a senior scholar, whose focus on the past suggests projections for our times as well.
The book’s thesis is clear: the 20th century was defined by two catastrophic forces—totalitarianism and total war—that not only reshaped the world but also left humanity teetering on the brink of annihilation. Davis argues that these forces, born out of despair and the pursuit of utopias, have created an enduring “Age of Infamy” that continues to cast its shadow over the 21st century.
Each of his eight chapters discusses a different aspect of infamy, from the rise of totalitarian regimes under Hitler, Stalin, and Mao to the devastating consequences of World War II, including the Holocaust, firebombings, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Davis also delves into the moral compromises made by Western leaders, such as Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler and the Yalta Conference’s concessions to Stalin. The narrative culminates in an examination of dystopian literature, which Davis sees as a prophetic warning of the potential horrors of unchecked power and technological advancement. The three foci—the totalitarian regimes, the technology of destruction, and the moral compromises—reflect extensive research and thought.
One of the book’s strengths is its ambitious scope. Davis seamlessly weaves together history, literature, and philosophy to create a comprehensive portrait of the 20th century’s moral and existential crises. His use of literary works—such as Orwell’s 1984, Huxley’s Brave New World, and Zamyatin’s We—adds depth to his analysis, illustrating how fiction often serves as a mirror to reality. The inclusion of firsthand accounts, such as Nadezhda Mandelstam’s memoirs and John Hersey’s Hiroshima, provides a poignant human dimension to the historical narrative.
Davis’s writing is accessible yet thought-provoking, making complex historical and philosophical ideas digestible for a learned audience. His ability to connect seemingly disparate events—such as the rise of totalitarianism, the development of nuclear weapons, and the cultural shifts in literature—underscores the interconnectedness of history and human behavior.
However, the book is not without its weaknesses. The sheer breadth of topics covered sometimes leads to a lack of depth in certain areas. It is especially obvious that Dr. Davis has been mostly a Russian historian. For instance, while Davis provides a compelling analysis of the Holocaust and the atomic bombings, his treatment of other topics, such as the Cultural Revolution in China, feels comparatively cursory. Indeed, the end of colonialism in Asia and Africa gets nary a nod, despite its importance in a worldwide cold war. Additionally, the book’s tone occasionally veers into alarmism, particularly in its discussion of the potential for nuclear Armageddon in the 21st century. While this is undoubtedly a pressing concern, the lack of exploration of potential solutions or paths forward leaves the reader with a sense of despair rather than empowerment.
Overall, When the World Dies is a masterful and haunting examination of humanity’s capacity for both creation and destruction. Davis’s thesis—that the 20th century’s infamies continue to shape our present and threaten our future—is both compelling and urgent. While the book’s breadth may occasionally come at the expense of depth, its interdisciplinary approach and evocative storytelling make it a valuable read for anyone seeking to understand the forces that have shaped our modern world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Frederick B. Hoyt
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When the World Dies is a deeply researched, information rich and considered analysis of two particular types of infamies which occurred during the 20th century and still haunt the world to this day. Totalitarianism, where the centralized, dictatorial government demands subservience from it’s residents, as exemplified by Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Soviet Union and Mao’s China. The second type of infamy is total war, whereby the technology starting with the Industrial Revolution was used to develop weapons which could inflict increasing number of casualties, culminating in the development and use of atomic weapons.
The author, Donald Davis, doesn’t attempt to cover all of the major atrocities of the 20th century, rather he focuses on specific examples. Similarly, some events are described in detail while others are covered more broadly.
The topic of active versus passive evil is considered, particularly with respect to the roles of German officers, soldiers and citizens in the Holocaust. How much responsibility do individuals bear? Not all questions are answered definitively, leaving the reader space to contemplate their own feelings after being presented with facts and contrasting opinions.
The book concludes with wise advice as to how we, as citizens of the world, should act to prevent totalitarianism and total war from destroying civilization. Sadly, in this reviewer’s opinion, we, collectively, are presently ignoring the advice at our own peril.
This book is not a casual read because it is a detailed history lesson and discussion in one. There is a lot of heavy territory covered here. However the lessons of the past are so important to learn and take to heart that this book should be required reading for today’s leaders.
The author’s clever inclusion of dystopian movies (from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) and novels (from Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We to George Orwell’s 1984) creates a break from historical reality only to dive deeper into despair with these contemporary explorations of human depravity and cruelty. Since the arts are often barometers of the times and cautionary forecasts of the future, their inclusion in this book adds worthwhile layers of meaning.
Overall, the book succeeds in conveying a lot of historical information while offering contrasting thoughts on some of the worst events of the past century. It would be an exaggeration to say that the book ends on an uplifting note. Instead, it concludes with a challenge to creatively chart a safer and better path going forward - and that’s something that we should all be able to agree on.
The author, Donald Davis, doesn’t attempt to cover all of the major atrocities of the 20th century, rather he focuses on specific examples. Similarly, some events are described in detail while others are covered more broadly.
The topic of active versus passive evil is considered, particularly with respect to the roles of German officers, soldiers and citizens in the Holocaust. How much responsibility do individuals bear? Not all questions are answered definitively, leaving the reader space to contemplate their own feelings after being presented with facts and contrasting opinions.
The book concludes with wise advice as to how we, as citizens of the world, should act to prevent totalitarianism and total war from destroying civilization. Sadly, in this reviewer’s opinion, we, collectively, are presently ignoring the advice at our own peril.
This book is not a casual read because it is a detailed history lesson and discussion in one. There is a lot of heavy territory covered here. However the lessons of the past are so important to learn and take to heart that this book should be required reading for today’s leaders.
The author’s clever inclusion of dystopian movies (from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to Dr. Strangelove or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) and novels (from Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We to George Orwell’s 1984) creates a break from historical reality only to dive deeper into despair with these contemporary explorations of human depravity and cruelty. Since the arts are often barometers of the times and cautionary forecasts of the future, their inclusion in this book adds worthwhile layers of meaning.
Overall, the book succeeds in conveying a lot of historical information while offering contrasting thoughts on some of the worst events of the past century. It would be an exaggeration to say that the book ends on an uplifting note. Instead, it concludes with a challenge to creatively chart a safer and better path going forward - and that’s something that we should all be able to agree on.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
I overall found this book to be interesting, however, some of the framing/pacing was not ideal for me personally as a reader.
There were times when the author (who is clearly very knowledgeable on the subject of history) would somewhat breeze past some piece of history clearly with the understanding that the reader would know about the event or have drawn the same conclusions from an event without necessarily providing sufficient information. For events I knew a decent amount about this was less of a problem (although I did not always feel like what I believed were the author's conclusions about what those events meant) but for some of the situations I knew less about I would have liked to have gotten a little more.
On the flip side, the author spends a lot of time summarizing other books, films, etc. and at times it felt like the amount of space devoted to telling the reader about the work was significantly more than any analysis of the work. I understand the need to let the reader know what the author is responding to (and there were a couple of examples that were really interesting that I didn't know anything about), but it did feel like I spent too long of a time reading summaries of books I have already read without much in terms of additional commentary or analysis unique to this book.
I appreciated some nods to the United States and its allies contributing in some ways to the theory of the 20th century being the Age of Infamy, but the book overall seems to still be very locked in a traditional view of the them being the "good guys" who maybe made some mistakes or were not as responsible as their enemies for these outcomes. Perhaps this is just me reading too much into it since there were some efforts to combat this, but it still overall came across that way to me.
I am glad I read this book and do think I learned some things from it. If you are interested in history (and to a degree how media reflects and comments on the history it is made during) it is worth checking out.
I overall found this book to be interesting, however, some of the framing/pacing was not ideal for me personally as a reader.
There were times when the author (who is clearly very knowledgeable on the subject of history) would somewhat breeze past some piece of history clearly with the understanding that the reader would know about the event or have drawn the same conclusions from an event without necessarily providing sufficient information. For events I knew a decent amount about this was less of a problem (although I did not always feel like what I believed were the author's conclusions about what those events meant) but for some of the situations I knew less about I would have liked to have gotten a little more.
On the flip side, the author spends a lot of time summarizing other books, films, etc. and at times it felt like the amount of space devoted to telling the reader about the work was significantly more than any analysis of the work. I understand the need to let the reader know what the author is responding to (and there were a couple of examples that were really interesting that I didn't know anything about), but it did feel like I spent too long of a time reading summaries of books I have already read without much in terms of additional commentary or analysis unique to this book.
I appreciated some nods to the United States and its allies contributing in some ways to the theory of the 20th century being the Age of Infamy, but the book overall seems to still be very locked in a traditional view of the them being the "good guys" who maybe made some mistakes or were not as responsible as their enemies for these outcomes. Perhaps this is just me reading too much into it since there were some efforts to combat this, but it still overall came across that way to me.
I am glad I read this book and do think I learned some things from it. If you are interested in history (and to a degree how media reflects and comments on the history it is made during) it is worth checking out.
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars
Davis’ premise for this book is that the majority of the twentieth century can/should be labeled as an “Age of Infamy”, and that without a correcting force the modern likes of ninth century Charlemagne and his knights we are likely to drive ourselves to nuclear armageddon. What follows are chapters that layout what he considers the precursors to infamy and then many detailed examples of heinous acts carried out in the twentieth century leading to where we find ourselves today.
By the end of the book I would have to agree that the twentieth century qualified as infamous. Much was done to destroy life and the humanity that humankind had built to that point.
Where the book falls short for me is in discussion of the correcting force. The introduction discusses the actions of Charlemagne and what he was able to accomplish. (In a time long before modern warfare.) The conclusion discusses how we as a species need to rediscover our better nature and turn away from greed, power, and domination and back towards art, philosophy and focus on the human condition. But there is nothing suggesting a path from A to B. If Davis expects the average person to digest these events in history and formulate a plan to course correct, I think he overestimates the average person. Learning from history seems to be a skill we’re still unable to master.
We live in an era of Trump, Putin, Epstein and stand at the cusp of AI. The world behind the curtain is actually far darker and more interconnected than we ever imagined. Just how do we change the course of this massive ship?
I found the depth and detail of this book to be a good, albeit depressing, lesson in twentieth century history. But I wish Davis had spent more time on his thoughts about how to make corrections to ensure the twenty-first century is not even more infamous.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Davis’ premise for this book is that the majority of the twentieth century can/should be labeled as an “Age of Infamy”, and that without a correcting force the modern likes of ninth century Charlemagne and his knights we are likely to drive ourselves to nuclear armageddon. What follows are chapters that layout what he considers the precursors to infamy and then many detailed examples of heinous acts carried out in the twentieth century leading to where we find ourselves today.
By the end of the book I would have to agree that the twentieth century qualified as infamous. Much was done to destroy life and the humanity that humankind had built to that point.
Where the book falls short for me is in discussion of the correcting force. The introduction discusses the actions of Charlemagne and what he was able to accomplish. (In a time long before modern warfare.) The conclusion discusses how we as a species need to rediscover our better nature and turn away from greed, power, and domination and back towards art, philosophy and focus on the human condition. But there is nothing suggesting a path from A to B. If Davis expects the average person to digest these events in history and formulate a plan to course correct, I think he overestimates the average person. Learning from history seems to be a skill we’re still unable to master.
We live in an era of Trump, Putin, Epstein and stand at the cusp of AI. The world behind the curtain is actually far darker and more interconnected than we ever imagined. Just how do we change the course of this massive ship?
I found the depth and detail of this book to be a good, albeit depressing, lesson in twentieth century history. But I wish Davis had spent more time on his thoughts about how to make corrections to ensure the twenty-first century is not even more infamous.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 10, 2026
In When the World Dies: Life and Death in an Age of Infamy, historian D.E. Davis delivers a meticulous and haunting compendium of modern aggression. Spanning the blood-soaked century from World War I to the invasion of Ukraine, Davis intertwines political history with the cultural mirrors of the era, analyzing how masterworks like Dr. Strangelove and Animal Farm reflected the terror of tyranny in their times.
This is not merely a history book; it is a dense, fact-rich tapestry that lays bare the naked ambition of global leaders. While the weight of the historical record speaks for itself, the narrative drives toward a searing insight: that well-intentioned political compromise may often pave the road to catastrophe. With the rigor of a scholar and the urgency of a warning, When the World Dies suggests that tyranny cannot be appeased but rather extinguished. A vital, uncompromising read for those brave enough to confront the true cost of the 'Age of Infamy.'
Don Gregori
COO & Author, The Emergent Leader - A Guide to Brand Building, Leadership, and Self-Mastery
This is not merely a history book; it is a dense, fact-rich tapestry that lays bare the naked ambition of global leaders. While the weight of the historical record speaks for itself, the narrative drives toward a searing insight: that well-intentioned political compromise may often pave the road to catastrophe. With the rigor of a scholar and the urgency of a warning, When the World Dies suggests that tyranny cannot be appeased but rather extinguished. A vital, uncompromising read for those brave enough to confront the true cost of the 'Age of Infamy.'
Don Gregori
COO & Author, The Emergent Leader - A Guide to Brand Building, Leadership, and Self-Mastery
Review of advance copy
I selected this book, Advanced Reader Copy (ARC), Kindle version, free via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I did not like or enjoy this book, it was too academic and I felt like I was reading a meta review of literature and movies about WWI, WWII, and the Cold War.
There was mention of Mao though no mention of the atrocities committed by Mao, rather discussion about Kissinger and Zhou Enlai with some discussion about Nixon.
The words Somnambulism and Banal were over used.
To earn 3 or 4 or 5 stars from me the author could have written something original and added healthy tension to a story or told an unknown story of history or given his own analysis and opinions, instead he simple wrote too much about other artists or authors and their coverage of these subjects.
I did not like or enjoy this book, it was too academic and I felt like I was reading a meta review of literature and movies about WWI, WWII, and the Cold War.
There was mention of Mao though no mention of the atrocities committed by Mao, rather discussion about Kissinger and Zhou Enlai with some discussion about Nixon.
The words Somnambulism and Banal were over used.
To earn 3 or 4 or 5 stars from me the author could have written something original and added healthy tension to a story or told an unknown story of history or given his own analysis and opinions, instead he simple wrote too much about other artists or authors and their coverage of these subjects.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews