The Real History of the Cold War: A New Look at the Past

by Alan Axelrod

The newest entry in Alan Axelrod’s engaging, successful Real History series—and the only current illustrated book on a misunderstood and mysterious topic.

From the fall of Nazi Germany to the fall of the Berlin Wall, a cold war raged between the US and the Soviet Union. Though not a shot was fired, the hostility between the two superpowers threatened the globe with nuclear annihilation. Axelrod reveals the intriguing, suspenseful true story behind this globe-spanning battle of wills, and as always, he’s created a study that’s authoritative, comprehensive, and a pleasure to read. Judiciously, incisively, he probes the pivotal events of the era: the Marshall Plan; the iron curtain; the Berlin airlift; the Cuban missile crisis; the rise and fall of Joesph McCarthy; the Korean War; the Vietnam War; the arms race. Rarely seen illustrations, detail-packed sidebars, maps, stats, quotes, alternate takes, and “reality checks” to popular myths make this a work general readers will turn to and enjoy.



 

Genres: History, American History, Military History, Russia, Politics, Nonfiction

464 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Alan Axelrod, Ph.D., is a prolific author of history, business and management books. As of October 2018, he had written more than 150 books, as noted in an online introduction by Lynn Ware Peek before an interview with Axelrod on the National Public Radio station KPCW. Axelrod resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews

[Nelson Thibault · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely fascinating and informative account of the Cold War enhanced by an abundance of relevant images. The book is well written,  nicely organized,  and extensively researched.  I gained a great deal of knowledge about the Cold War from reading this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about that phenomenal  era as well.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the Cold War era from the end of WWII to the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union.

[Mary]

super helpful

[Thomas Ray]

Dewey 909.825 Ax22r

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed recounting of the last 60 plus years told in a very engaging narrative style focused thematic and, to a lesser degree, chronologically.

It also includes a great deal of images and scans of original documents. It is a wonderful reference book.

[Gary Allen, PhD · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is merely a cut and paste job in chronological order of historical events. There is little in the way of commentary or analysis. Using this book as a format and the internet I could make my own Real History of... and save the money for a good book.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and comprehensive look at the origins of the Cold War. An enjoyable read where you are guaranteed to learn.

[Matthias · Rating 1 out of 5]

History written by a non-historian.