America, Russia, and the Cold War, 1945-1996

by Walter F. LaFeber

Book Overview

This new edition of a textbook examining Russo-American relations in the context of their global military and political rivalry has been examined to take into account some of the repercussions of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070360642
• ISBN13: 9780070360648
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Serious but readable long-term expert avoids fashions of the moment

LaFebre first wrote this book in 1967, covering just 1945-46---the origins of the Cold War. In the next edition he expanded it to what is is today---a full length history up to the present time. It remains what it always has been -- a balanced, judicious account, full of the missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and occasional wrong choices on both sides. But this is no excuse or apologia for Soviet Communism by any means. It is true that it avoids the triumphalist "WE WON" tone is some recent revisionist books on the subject which sweep all doubt and misgivings, as well as missteps, that were the usual approach in honestly recounting Cold War before the end of Communism, when the threat of nuclear war was real and heavy. The ultimate fall of Communism was a very long time coming and indeed in the late 40s and early 50s, many experts felt that even if they needed to be resisted, there were so many problems inside their system, and the American system so much healthier (and richer) that it would crumble later, if not sooner, which it did of course. For those seeking a fair, calm history that sees all of this clearly and does not take a "they-lost-because-we-got-tough" outlook (which is a bit reductive, if not plain wrong), this admirable, scholarly book in its most recent of many editions (2002) fills the bill.

A decent survey book

I had to buy this book for a Cold War class during my masters program. It is a fairly thin book considering all that went on the Cold War but this is just meant to be a light survey of the Cold War years. To tell of the major events to people who may not be familiar with them. I did not think of it as having a very liberal bent to it like the previous reviewer. It is a little more liberal than other books out there but that is bound to happen. Just as there are more conservative leaning books written about the cold war. I recommend this book for anyone who is taking a class on the Cold War and needs some background information on it. It is easy to read and get through and tells of the major points in the Cold War between Russia and America.

The Profound Middle Ground

Many people, and historians, either rank this book as communistic sewer filth or as the proverbial bible of the Cold War. This diversity in opinions comes from a disparity in the points of view of the various readers. Everyone needs to take a step back and look at this particular book for what it is. At its core this book is a very useful source of information and a concise analysis of the topic. Some criticism of the book focuses on the so-called "skewed sense of values" that Lafeber applies to international conflicts in his work. But despite any criticism, the book flows logically and it much more resembles a novel than a dictionary in terms of readability. My advice is read this book to get a firm understanding of the events that occured; a great threshold for the rest of your studies. Just keep in mind that there is another side to the issues it deals with before you really make any opinions.

An Excellent Work of History

The above reviewer is obviously neither a student nor a reader of history because they have failed to take into account all the quantattive evidence nesscessary in the study of the Cold War. They have streched Cold War scholarship across the procrustean bed of dogma that so often accompanies such biased evaluations of its respective examinors. Evaluation of history and the innability to study more than a very limited spectrum due to narrow minded egotism are, by nature, diameterically opposed. Anyone who can neither recognize the validity or at the very least appreciate the arguments of conflicting historical works has no more right to write a book review than they do to read books or study history. If you wish to construct a good basis of knowledge in the causation and polictical confrontations of the Cold War read this book, Gaddis's "We Now Know", and Ambrose's "Rise to Globalism". Dont become another victim of the accumulated body of egotism that caused the Cold War in the first place.

Book is GOOD

LaFeber presents an indepth analysis of the causes, events and results of the Cold War. The issues are discussed in coherant and logical manner, arguments are tight and well supported. The book offers much valuble insight to the cold war, especially for students studing the topic.