1946: The Making of the Modern World

I have been fascinated by the numerous books detailing the strategies and course of the great battles of World War 2; however when it comes to the impact on the world we now inhabit 1946 by Victor Sebestyen is an absolutely necessary companion volume. The turmoil and realignments following the end of active conflict are are intriguing and complex as the battle plans themselves. The end of empires and the preparation for the birth of new states, the violence and brutality towards civilians, the civil conflicts are given an overview in this book. It is a very good starting point to grasp the forces which moulded the second half of the 20th Century and beyond.

This is a valuable and well researched corrective to the notion that the wars ended on VE and VJ days as if then the final curtain came down and everyone went home to tea and bed. Sebestyen shows how the massive upheavals and turmoil of the War altered irrevocably the lives of pretty much everyone even to this day and that its immediate legacy was more suffering, more killing and more tyranny. It is undeniable that the war against Hitler and the Japanese militarists was a just war but the author demonstrates the universal truth that all war is without mercy and that no wars achieve a peaceful outcome.

Truly explains how we got to today from the ashes of a catastrophic global war. I witnessed it all as I began my formal education. We sincerely worked to ensure that it never happened again. We gave up isolation and accepted responsibility for rebuilding the world in our image. We had some successes and some failures. I believe this book goes a long way toward explaining the last 70 years, just as it claims to do.

Interesting and well written, it provides interesting insides that are not generally known. However, the error of insisting that the Yellow River flooding was produced by the japanese, when it is well recorded as produced by the Kuomitang, makes you wary of many of the other assertions in the book.

I liked his book 1989 slightly better but this treats the subject matter fairly and is pretty easy to read.

Victims vs. victors. Victors vs.victors. Victims vs. victims. It's all here.

Really well written and engrossing. I learned a great deal about the world immediately after WW 2. I highly recommend.

This is a tremendous book. An easy read and a useful reminder that the world has survived far greater problems than it has today.

We forget all too easily the utter misery and chaos left behind by World War ll and the huge task of reconstruction that faced the Allied Powers. This History makes very full use of recently realeased material form the former Soviet Union and gives a very full account of the events leading to the Cold War and the shaping of the new world order. 1946 was a very crucial year and this investigation in detsil is as interesting as it is important

Very interesting, detailed and graphic account of a period not well covered by books and films in general.

I learned so much from this book. Covers a wide range of topics, from China to the formation of Israel.

Excellent book