Ralph B. Levering's A Post-Cold War
Ralph B. Levering’s The Cold War: A Post-Cold War History
Review by JD Sharp
Ralph B. Levering breaks down the complexities of the Cold War into phases, allowing readers to digest the information with ease in The Cold War: A Post-Cold War History. Based on his previous works, it would seem as Levering is qualified to write on this topic. Levering Received his advanced degree from Princeton University. He currently history teaches at Davidson College and has taught at a myriad of other colleges and universities. He certainly understands 20th century world history, having written eight books revolving around political affairs. The book is all-encompassing, not only giving readers overview of the time period, but a thorough understanding. Part of this is because the author chooses not to document on mind numbing statistics. Tension between United States and U.S.S.R, two unlikely allies united by a common enemy, began to form before the end of World War II. On both side, people were …show more content…
As the halfway mark is approached, the format shifts to a photo essay. This section of the text immerses the reader into the time period. Levering understands the concept that a single picture can convey much more than a thousand words. Instead of his writing being filled with statistics, the photo essay serves as somewhat of an intermission, which ultimately will keep the attention of its audience. Within the text portion of the book, Levering sets up each chapter with clever titles, primary sources, and maps. Typically multiple times in a chapter, Levering pairs up two political leaders, one representing capitalism and on representing communism respectively. It is here when a compare and contrast is done between the two, typically regarding their foreign policy. Something as as simple as putting a name with a face helps to immerse readers into the time
Review by JD Sharp
Ralph B. Levering breaks down the complexities of the Cold War into phases, allowing readers to digest the information with ease in The Cold War: A Post-Cold War History. Based on his previous works, it would seem as Levering is qualified to write on this topic. Levering Received his advanced degree from Princeton University. He currently history teaches at Davidson College and has taught at a myriad of other colleges and universities. He certainly understands 20th century world history, having written eight books revolving around political affairs. The book is all-encompassing, not only giving readers overview of the time period, but a thorough understanding. Part of this is because the author chooses not to document on mind numbing statistics. Tension between United States and U.S.S.R, two unlikely allies united by a common enemy, began to form before the end of World War II. On both side, people were …show more content…
As the halfway mark is approached, the format shifts to a photo essay. This section of the text immerses the reader into the time period. Levering understands the concept that a single picture can convey much more than a thousand words. Instead of his writing being filled with statistics, the photo essay serves as somewhat of an intermission, which ultimately will keep the attention of its audience. Within the text portion of the book, Levering sets up each chapter with clever titles, primary sources, and maps. Typically multiple times in a chapter, Levering pairs up two political leaders, one representing capitalism and on representing communism respectively. It is here when a compare and contrast is done between the two, typically regarding their foreign policy. Something as as simple as putting a name with a face helps to immerse readers into the time