New York Times 10 Best Book s of 2020 Sunday Times best books for Autumn 2020 Guardian
critics' pick for Autumn 2020 Wall Street Journal notable book of 2020 The time since the
Second World War has been seen by some as the longest uninterrupted period of harmony in human
history: the 'long peace' as Stephen Pinker called it. But despite this there has been a
military conflict ongoing every year since 1945. The same can be said for every century of
recorded history. Is war therefore an essential part of being human? In War Professor
Margaret MacMillan explores the deep links between society and war and the questions they
raise. We learn when war began - whether among early homo sapiens or later as we began to
organise ourselves into tribes and settle in communities. We see the ways in which war reflects
changing societies and how war has brought change - for better and worse. Economies science
technology medicine culture: all are instrumental in war and have been shaped by it - without
conflict it we might not have had penicillin female emancipation radar or rockets. Throughout
history writers artists film-makers playwrights and composers have been inspired by war -
whether to condemn exalt or simply puzzle about it. If we are never to be rid of war how
should we think about it and what does that mean for peace?
