La guerra fría: Estados Unidos y la Unión Soviética, 1917-1991

by Ronald E. Powaski

La “guerra fría” ha sido el acontecimiento central de la segunda mitad del siglo XX: una confrontación que ha abarcado la totalidad del planeta y ha tenido consecuencias decisivas en todos los campos de la actividad humana.

Resulta imposible comprender el mundo actual, si no entendemos cómo surgió -en unos orígenes que arrancan del gran miedo a la revolución bolchevique- y cómo se ha desarrollado a lo largo de cerca de cincuenta años. Ha sido preciso, sin embargo, que la guerra fría llegara a su fin para que podamos tener, en este gran libro de Ronald E. Powaski, la primera visión informada y objetiva de todo el proceso, que nos invita a reflexionar acerca de los costes sociales que estamos pagando, y pagaremos en el futuro, por los gigantescos gastos de un conflicto que, con sus millones de muertos en Corea, Vietnam, Indonesia o el Congo, nos parece hoy menos “frío” de lo que el tópico pretende.

Genres: History, Russia, War

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jack Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for student-teaching a college-level unit on the Cold War, and quickly found an experience more interesting than I had anticipated. I've never been very good at diligently studying textbook-style books with their straightforward and unimaginative prose, but this text did a solid and engaging job at efficiently summarizing the fifty-year period's causes, notable events, and immediate impacts.

Not something I would ever read for fun, but it did its job very well. Kudos to the author for excellent historical summation and analysis.

My only gripes are as follows: I noticed several typos throughout the text (of little impact to the overall purpose, however); certain bits of writing felt clumsy and rushed; and the sections discussing numerous types of nuclear weapons and missiles and their fluctuating numbers in response to the period's different arms treaties were difficult to get through in their banal specificity.

[Jills_Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, thorough, and well written history of the Cold War.
The Cold War is a very convoluted series of conflicts, crises, and proxy nation wars. For that reason, I've always found it difficult to study. After the third crises I find myself getting bored or frustrated. This book changed that for me. Powaski charts this war clearly and eloquently from beginning to end. I really enjoyed this book.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the Cold War. As usual, Powaski provides detail that isn't usually found in other surveys. Highly recommended.

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completo y resumido análisis de uno de los conflictos más largos de la historia de la humanidad. Muy interesante y ameno.

[Daniel]

it is a very well researched book. unfortunately it is too historic (not that easy to read) so you have to stay focused all time, otherwise it is hard to read. but If you Focus, very Nice read