The Shortest History of War: From Hunter-Gatherers to Nuclear Superpowers—A Retelling for Our Times

War has always been a defining feature of human society. This new addition to the Shortest History series explains why we do it-and how we can stop.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has punctured the longest stretch of peace between major powers since WWII, bringing the horrors of warfare-past, present, and future-to the forefront of readers' minds. In The Shortest History of War, internationally acclaimed historian Gwynne Dyer adds urgently needed context.

Dyer ably charts the evolution of violent conflict: tribal aggression, classical combat, limited war, total war, and cold war-followed by present-day terrorism, nuclear threats, and the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). His brilliant, brisk history is a harrowing must-read for all who wonder: How will rival superpowers with unprecedented weapons shape the future of our interconnected world?