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World War I: An Enthralling Guide from Beginning to End
World War I is infamous for revolutionizing modern warfare as we know it.
It is well known that World War I was kicked off by the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The world superpowers engaged in the bloodiest conflict in history at that time, with millions of casualties on either side. World War I transformed the socio-political landscape of the early 20th century and shaped the lives of countless people for decades to come.
However, there is much more to World War I than Franz Ferdinand’s assassination and the clash of the Entente and Central Powers. It was a conflict deeply rooted in hateful rivalries of the world’s most powerful states and came as a somewhat logical conclusion to the endless balancing and political maneuvering of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And it would change the course of history forever.
This book will dive into the Great War, exploring what caused it, how it unfolded, and it's short- and long-term consequences. Here are some of the things you will learn about in this The long nineteenth century and how it affected the political landscapeGermany and Italy’s unification The state of European power politics New technological advancements that shaped the warThe Austro-Hungarian problem and the start of WWIMilitary activities in all theaters of the warThe influential battles of Verdun, the Somme, Isonzo, and GallipoliTrench warfare and new tactics used in the warThe entry of the United States and the Russian Revolution The final moments of the warThe Paris Peace Conference and the new world order And much, much more!
Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to begin learning about one of the most influential wars in history!
It is well known that World War I was kicked off by the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The world superpowers engaged in the bloodiest conflict in history at that time, with millions of casualties on either side. World War I transformed the socio-political landscape of the early 20th century and shaped the lives of countless people for decades to come.
However, there is much more to World War I than Franz Ferdinand’s assassination and the clash of the Entente and Central Powers. It was a conflict deeply rooted in hateful rivalries of the world’s most powerful states and came as a somewhat logical conclusion to the endless balancing and political maneuvering of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And it would change the course of history forever.
This book will dive into the Great War, exploring what caused it, how it unfolded, and it's short- and long-term consequences. Here are some of the things you will learn about in this The long nineteenth century and how it affected the political landscapeGermany and Italy’s unification The state of European power politics New technological advancements that shaped the warThe Austro-Hungarian problem and the start of WWIMilitary activities in all theaters of the warThe influential battles of Verdun, the Somme, Isonzo, and GallipoliTrench warfare and new tactics used in the warThe entry of the United States and the Russian Revolution The final moments of the warThe Paris Peace Conference and the new world order And much, much more!
Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to begin learning about one of the most influential wars in history!
- GenresHistory
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 10, 2026
This book moves along with an upbeat tempo, never bogging down in any one idea or event. I was surprised at the smooth, consistent writing form. I'm not sure I have ever read a book even as short as this was where the writing is so unchanging. Usually it is not terribly difficult to identify where an author left off and came back later to the writing. Perhaps they are bored or, conversely, super interested in a particular angle of their subject matter. Whoever wrote this book displayed none of that. Did an AI write this book? There is no author listed. "This book is for entertainment purposes only" is an oddity given the subject matter discussed.
Breaking out of the writing style, there are other matters of the book worth noting.
The maps are crap. Err... I should say substandard. They are entirely lifted from Wikipedia. While there is nothing wrong per se with that, the maps are printed in low quality grayscale from what is sure to be a color image on Wikipedia. See "The Schlieffen Plan and Plan XVII." map on page 103. I almost wonder the book should have given the website (which is included under the map, perhaps anticipating the reader's disappointed shaking head) and scrapped the map. The images of people and other pictures are fine. See the picture of Paul von Hindenburg on page 113.
On a positive note, this book maintains a big picture, context driven viewpoint of exploration for the First World War. As an introduction to the War, this would have to be one of the better works I have read. In relation to relative historical events leading up to the War, I would highly rate this book. Its greatest strength might be as discussion work about events concerning the War. "An Enthralling Guide..." doesn't try to elicit curiosity and further reading. It states the facts and moves on.
For anyone interested in learning more, it could serve well as a "what am I interested in learning more about?" book. Are you interested in the literature that influenced the War? Try starting with "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" by Alfred T Mahan mentioned on page 28. Perhaps (like me) one might be interest in the outsized role of international diplomacy that set the stage for the War. The section on "The Bismarckian Alliance System" on page 13 should whet the appetite.
Here is the strength of "World War I: An Enthralling Guide from Beginning to End": its ability to provoke thought to those who might be interested. Or it can be thrown aside after a fast read. Either way, the reader will know more about the subject.
Breaking out of the writing style, there are other matters of the book worth noting.
The maps are crap. Err... I should say substandard. They are entirely lifted from Wikipedia. While there is nothing wrong per se with that, the maps are printed in low quality grayscale from what is sure to be a color image on Wikipedia. See "The Schlieffen Plan and Plan XVII." map on page 103. I almost wonder the book should have given the website (which is included under the map, perhaps anticipating the reader's disappointed shaking head) and scrapped the map. The images of people and other pictures are fine. See the picture of Paul von Hindenburg on page 113.
On a positive note, this book maintains a big picture, context driven viewpoint of exploration for the First World War. As an introduction to the War, this would have to be one of the better works I have read. In relation to relative historical events leading up to the War, I would highly rate this book. Its greatest strength might be as discussion work about events concerning the War. "An Enthralling Guide..." doesn't try to elicit curiosity and further reading. It states the facts and moves on.
For anyone interested in learning more, it could serve well as a "what am I interested in learning more about?" book. Are you interested in the literature that influenced the War? Try starting with "The Influence of Sea Power upon History" by Alfred T Mahan mentioned on page 28. Perhaps (like me) one might be interest in the outsized role of international diplomacy that set the stage for the War. The section on "The Bismarckian Alliance System" on page 13 should whet the appetite.
Here is the strength of "World War I: An Enthralling Guide from Beginning to End": its ability to provoke thought to those who might be interested. Or it can be thrown aside after a fast read. Either way, the reader will know more about the subject.
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September 19, 2022This book is an excellent overview of WWI, especially because it goes into some deep background information seldom seen in other books, even those written by well known historians. The background goes as far back as the Congress of Vienna after the Napoleonic Wars. This background is covered quickly but with enough detail to give the reader a good foundation in the causes of WWI. The causes run deep.
The battles themselves are covered in a few sentences, but they are also put into perspective. The battle of the Somme was triggered by the Battle of Verdun and the need to get pressure off the French. That is critical to know when considering WWI. The author covers the role of new weapons in the war and the horrific miscalculations made about those weapons before the war.
The impact of technology is covered; however, I feel it could have been expanded upon. I would like to have seen a lot more on air power and how it began to impact the war more and more as the years went on. The part that discussed air power was good IMO.
Excellent overview.
AD2
The battles themselves are covered in a few sentences, but they are also put into perspective. The battle of the Somme was triggered by the Battle of Verdun and the need to get pressure off the French. That is critical to know when considering WWI. The author covers the role of new weapons in the war and the horrific miscalculations made about those weapons before the war.
The impact of technology is covered; however, I feel it could have been expanded upon. I would like to have seen a lot more on air power and how it began to impact the war more and more as the years went on. The part that discussed air power was good IMO.
Excellent overview.
AD2
March 12, 2026
Rating: 5/5 Stars
After reading a multitude of fantasy novels, I found myself intrigued by their inspiration as well as a self-admitted lack of knowledge in History. My interests span over many things, but I never actually learned about the World Wars in school so what better place to start.
I rated this 5 stars because it was easy to read and informative. Am I a World Wars I historian now? Definitely not! But I am more educated on the events that lead up to the war, the events that transpired, and the aftermath.
This was simple and I stayed engaged throughout. Those two things are good enough for me as I dive into History. Up next for this adventure is World War II, The American Revolution and The Civil War.
After reading a multitude of fantasy novels, I found myself intrigued by their inspiration as well as a self-admitted lack of knowledge in History. My interests span over many things, but I never actually learned about the World Wars in school so what better place to start.
I rated this 5 stars because it was easy to read and informative. Am I a World Wars I historian now? Definitely not! But I am more educated on the events that lead up to the war, the events that transpired, and the aftermath.
This was simple and I stayed engaged throughout. Those two things are good enough for me as I dive into History. Up next for this adventure is World War II, The American Revolution and The Civil War.
August 31, 2022
I thought that World War I was a fascinating read. I appreciate the details of what was going on in Europe prior to the breakout of war, and how these events led up to how the war was fought and by whom.
I feel as though I have a much better understanding of the timeline of the war, as well as an understanding of the post-War world, and I would say that I also have a better understanding of why there was so much resentment from the side of the defeated parties.
Overall, a very informative, well-written book that examines the complexities of World War I and brings them together without bogging the reader down!
I feel as though I have a much better understanding of the timeline of the war, as well as an understanding of the post-War world, and I would say that I also have a better understanding of why there was so much resentment from the side of the defeated parties.
Overall, a very informative, well-written book that examines the complexities of World War I and brings them together without bogging the reader down!
September 13, 2022
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. It was a realistic overview of World War I. This war had a great lost of life of both soldiers and civilians as do most wars. It is sad that what was to be a peace treaty created a breeding ground for another war. It is only hoped that people remember and learn from this.
September 18, 2022
Historic review of matters that lead up to WW!, the War and its conclusion from the perspective of the countries involved.
September 25, 2022
great information
It is great book and with very useful information. I learned about the causes of WWI and I will read WW2
It is great book and with very useful information. I learned about the causes of WWI and I will read WW2
October 9, 2022
Guide to World War I.A good start.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews