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Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 1st Edition

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Tony Judt (Author)
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Tony Judt (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 196 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-1594200656
ISBN-10: 1594200653
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POSTWAR: A History of Europe Since 1945
POSTWAR: A History of Europe Since 1945
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 878 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Press; 1st edition (October 6, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1594200653
  • ISBN-13: 978-1594200656
  • Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (196 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent survey
By Originaljs on January 10, 2006
Format: Hardcover
This is an excellent survey book for the general reader that pulls together the disparate developments in European history since the end of WWII. The result is a cohesive overview I have not found elsewhere, especially consideration of the turmoil in the Eastern bloc and the practical political problems.

I disagree with several criticisms levelled at the book in the following particulars. First, it is claimed that the book offers nothing new. That is true in the sense that what is reported it not new; however such an excellent overview is new.

Second, there are complaints about the lack of footnotes. On this I again say the book is an overview and not directed at specialists. Inclusion of anything approaching an academically adequate footnoting would have expanded the work to two or more volumes.

Third, it is claimed there are errors. Well, sure there are. Judt is writing about developments in 40+ nations which ranged from advanced to backward. However, given the volume of factual matter, there appear to be few errors.

Fourth, it is claimed that the book is too long. I disagree and believe that Judt did an excellent of job of editing down to get the book to the size it is. A reader who is not interested in some parts can skip them.

This is not a work for specialists who will likely criticize it as a popularization as they proceed to write their dry tomes no one but other specialists will ever read.

I grew up in the forties and fifties and spent most of 1961 to 1965 in West Germany in the military and as a foreigh exchange student. It was a delight to read Judt's research about those years and those that followed.

Great Book!
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4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Narration and Analysis; Some Flaws; 4.5
By R. Albin TOP 1000 REVIEWER on December 8, 2005
Format: Hardcover
This is, in many respects, an outstanding book. Judt accomplishes the daunting job of providing a solid narrative overview of European history (excluding Russia/Soviet Union)from the end of WWII to the present. Accompanying the narrative is a great deal of astute analysis, both of major trends and of specific episodes. The book is divided into 4 major periods; the immediate post-war era of reconstruction and the onset of the Cold War, the great boom of the 50s and 60s with its major demographic, social, and economic changes, the recessional period of the 70s and 80s, and the most recent period after the fall of the Soviet Union. The major theme is a multi-generational effort to build a Europe that avoids the mistakes that led to the catastrophes of the WWI-WWII period. Judt provides a guardedly positive view of European success. The factors that led to the catastrophe of the first half of the 20th century were strong nationalism and what might be called neo-mercantilism, authoritarian/totalitarian states, powerful ideologies (particularly Marxism), and great internal social discord. Judt sees modern Europe, with democratic and pacific states, its emphasis on economic integration, and social welfare systems aimed at guaranteeing a minimum amount of social amity, as largely escaping the problems that led to WWI and WWII.

Judt deals very well with the major events (and often their social consequences) that propelled Europe along this pathway. The crucial role of the US, and in an ironic way, of the Soviet Union, helped to rescue Western Europe from post-WWII devastation and provided an international framework that demanded western european cooperation.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsThe textbook work
By Shalom Freedman HALL OF FAME on October 15, 2005
Format: Hardcover
This book is likely to be the textbook for some years to come on Postwar European development. It has been most widely and favorably reviewed. Among the points of praise" Its excellent Eastern European country- by - country survey of the collapse of Communism. Its full presentation of the Marshall Plan in putting a devastated continent back on its feet. Its tracing of the European Union idea which has led to the present amalgam of four- hundred and fifty million European economic citizens, the greatest internal market in the world. Its presentation of the political rivalries within the Union, especially an excellent survey of British - French relations. The book has been faulted for claiming that the Soviet collapse came about for internal reasons primarily, and not because of Reagan-American Administration Star- Wars pressure.

Anthony Gottlieb has suggested in the ' New York Times' that the book tends to somewhat downplay the clouds hanging over the European future i.e. the demographic dearth,the rapid aging of the population, the relatively high - unemployment.

The work is a primarily positive look at present European development, especially the rapid growth and amalgamation of the past twenty years since the fall of the Soviet Empire.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe definitive account of Postwar Europe
By 1. on November 11, 2005
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
The three main themes of this account of postwar Europe is the death of ideology, the role individuals in shaping history, and the birth of the European Union and a new way of life that rejects the extremes of Soviet Communism and American Capitalism. Tony Judt makes the case that the era of political ideologies was ending in the last half of the twentieth century. In Western Europe the birth of the welfare state and the combining of the left and right on various issues resulted in the end of the political extremism. While in Eastern Europe, Communism was unable to reform itself as seen in the failed uprisings in Hungary and Czechosolvakia ending in its final collaspse in the period from 1989 to 1991. Moreover the repression of the Communist regimes combined with their economic mismanagement soiled the reputation of Communism in both Eastern and Western Europe. Despite these faults, Judt mantains that it was Gorbachev and his reforms which resulted in the fall of Communism. Judt's view of Gorbachev supports his thesis about the role of individuals in shaping history. Judt writes that Stalin in implementing harsh Communist governments throughout Eastern Europe discouraged Western European nations from pursuing a neutral course during the start of the Cold War. While Juan Carlos in Spain was able to transform Spain from being an authoritrain country into a democracy. Finally Milosevic and not any organized nationalist ideology helped to enflame the Serbs into committing war crimes in Bosnia during the nineties. The third theme of this book is the growth of the European Union that started as customs union for agricultural goods and then unifed its monetary policy in the seventies which resulted in a common currency in 1999.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThis book gave a detailed retelling of an important period ...

This book gave a detailed retelling of an important period in history. Understanding this time is important to see a future Europe.

Published 16 days ago by John Bishop
4.0 out of 5 starsMaterpiece

Masterly written account full of surprising details

Published 1 month ago by Ib Alken
5.0 out of 5 starsA truly great account of post-war Europe.

Tony Judt rules! The book may be a bit too detailed at times, but gives an extraordinary account of how Europe looked like after WW II, and how we came to the Europe of national... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Rafal Andrzejewski
5.0 out of 5 starsExcelent book just what I was looking for!

I am starting a trip to Europe next week. I am going to places I had never been before in what we used to call the Eastern block (Berlin, Prague, Budapest). Read more

Published 1 month ago by jzert
5.0 out of 5 starsEnergizing.

Everything that we have lived through, clearly explained.

Published 2 months ago by Thilo Ullmann-Zahn
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Detailed, organized

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsSpectacular!

A fascinating and genuinely compelling look at the history of Europe after World War II. I'm reading it before my upcoming trip to Italy, and I have no doubt it will make what I... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Hope R.
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

MORE THAN A SCHOLAR.

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Just started reading .

Published 5 months ago by nance
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Masterful summary of the last 50 years of European history.

Published 5 months ago by Stephen B. Seidman

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