The First World War: A Very Short Introduction

This 2010 book is a re-issue of the 2003 “The First World War” by the same author. Instead of a work crammed with information like some other books from the Very Short Introduction series, it has been written as a self-standing short history of the war. It is clear and broad in its conceptualization and its chronological approach, from context of the European powers at the beginning of the century to the consequential decisions of the Treaty of Versailles is easy to follow and provides a good scope of this period. A good and readable introduction to an event that changed the World.

The First World War: A Very Short Introduction by Michael Howard is just that—a short introduction to WWI that seeks primarily to inform readers of the economic, societal, political and militant activities during the turbulent four-year span of 1914-1918. Within this shortened text, Howard has compiled and morphed the timelines of these varying events according to country, and by doing so, has attempted to recreate the simultaneous unfolding of warfare. This book includes battle descriptions and locations as well as briefly references military tactics, political agendas, governmental decisions, civilian life, propaganda techniques, financial struggles, resource depletion and offers a variety of speculations regarding each. In addition, Howard, although not entirely objective in his portrayal, makes an apparent, yet subtle effort to identify reoccurring themes such as hope, discouragement, fear, and motivation. As a result, Howard often poses as a Daniel Boone figure that readers can use as a guide for understanding both the concrete and more abstract components of WWI. With an instructor-to-student type of writing persona, Howard manages to pack large amounts of content into relatively few pages. Since his intended readership is most likely high school and undergraduate level researchers, his historical overview is quite concise, which is typically a coveted strength in introductory books. However, he does deviate occasionally with a few wordy, reoccurring sayings and unnecessary descriptive phrases, which has a tendency to slog down certain passages. Additionally, just as all writing styles have their limitations, the bare-bones quality of this book a similar tendency to sometimes appear as “data dump” of information (which can also add to this text’s data-swampland quality). As a result, examples are stacked on top of examples, furthermore giving Howard’s history a sometimes-stilted presentation. This book is formatted in a timeline fashion; however, in order to supply his readers with additional context, Howard often inserts a “sub-timelines” so to speak, within his already chronological organization. These expanded contexts help readers understand the war both in its militant setting, but also within its civilian one. However, all context and information must be taken with a grain of salt. Howard’s portrayal of the war comes from a British historian perspective, and his book reflects this in both word choice and content. When all is taken to account, however, this book does a decent job of fulfilling its purpose. It focuses on both the events and the contexts surrounding them as well as keeps in mind the swirling dichotomies of other warfare factors. It’s concise. It’s informative, and although sometimes it does an odd teeter-totter dance between being formal and dense or being informal and speculative, it’s a readable book that a student would find helpful if they just want to know the crunch time basics of WWI.

I was suprised when the book arrived because not only is it just 170 pages, but the book is the size of a paperback so it's really almost an extended essay in length. A few nice pictures add atmosphere and some maps although they don't show every place refrenced in the text, but do show places not refrenced so that could have been better. I have never read WWI history but known a lot from popular culure. I knew about certain broad themes like the domino effect of alliances but overall it seemed like a highly complex and boring war. Yet I also knew this war was vital to understanding such things as the origins of WWII, the origins of the middle east conflicts, nationalism. The origins of the modern age. Imagine knowing a subject so well you could write an encyclopedia that had to be condensed down to a long essay. Michael Howard does this with incredible skill, because of the limiting length every sentence is a pure nugget of insight he makes no waste of the space provided. The major points of military, social and political are covered allowing one to see the entire war from start to finish in very short order and without spending months trumping through the trenches of detail and anecdote one might find in more lengthy or specific books. I rate this book highly because it did exactly what I was hopeing for. A short easy to read high level overview of the war to provide a spring board to read more areas in detail in the future and to understand the war in relation to other larger historical forces.

This "Short Introduction" is a little more than just an introduction to the First World War. I would call this very well written and analyzed text a "concise overview" of the First World War to include the cause, the course of the war which some thought would be brief and localized, and the outcome. I wouldn't recommend this book for someone well read in the area; however, it is a nice refresher even if you have read other historical texts about the First World War, especially since the author provides some analysis of events. Overall, an excellent primer and overview for those who want to set the stage for the First World War. I would start my reading of the First World War here ... a balance, thoughtful, but concise read.

Howard is an accomplished historian and this book shows it. He explains truths that are often hidden by the details of longer books. One thing did leave me wondering. He writes about how France had fallen behind in the great power competition of population, wealth and power. A few more sentences about this would have been helpful. But all in all I found this a fine description of how Europe managed to get involved in such a cataclysmic struggle and how it played out. It is certainly worth the time it takes to read. I've read a number of other, more detailed books about this war. Howard's book still yielded fresh insight.

I’d say this gives you some great broad strokes to follow The Great War. Maybe I’m reading into this a bit, but the author seems a bit bias for the British or allies in general in places. It sounded like, “This is how it went down. But, *they* say it was actually that.” Anyway, a good short book. Read it! Especially if you haven’t read or thought much about WW1.

This is a good introduction to the history of the First World War. But the book does not give any sense of the controversies among historians over this period. This book is aimed at the general rather than an amateur historian wanting to study this period. The writing is very accessible to the general reader. The maps are clear and uncluttered. And suggested further reading is included. However, there are no footnotes. Some of the controversies not mentioned are: (1) The importance of the battle of Villers-Bretonneux (2) The extent of the French Army mutinies (3) Intervention of Allied troops into the Russian Civil War Since I am new to this field, I have not yet found a good introduction for the amateur military historian who wants to study the First World War.

An adequate but succinct account of WW1. Written in a comprehensive way to provide all the necessary information about the background, occurrences and consequences of the great war, without any extra monotony. A few maps are provided to make the event more clearer.

Ik heb dit boekje gekocht n.a.v. de film "They shall not grow old". In de recensie daarvan stond al dat het handig was als je enige kennis van zaken had, omdat in de film zelf geen uitleg werd gegeven. Film opgenomen en deze korte introductie gekocht en gelezen voordat ik hem bekeek. Veel "Oh ja" momenten, maar ook heel veel dat ik simpelweg niet eerder wist. Eigenlijk verbijsterend hoeveel feitelijke kennis in zo'n klein boekje verwerkt is. Alleszins de moeite waard!

This is such a great summary that fits all the complications that led to ww1 in a tiny book. It’s very concise and you will learn all that you need to know.

The short edition of Michael Howard's definitive work on WWI, covering the same material and offering his usual succinct analysis. An excellent introduction to the subject.