Book Discussion: The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman

Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August is a compelling book to discuss during this 100th anniversary of the inception of World War I. The first world war was the signal event of the modern era: without it, no Hitler, no Holocaust, no World War II, no Bolshevik Revolution, no Cold War (including the Korean and Vietnam Wars), and no nuclear weapons. The book discussion will focus on the first 158 pages. Anyone not interested in the minutiae of military history after hostilities opened can stop at page 158, which completes Ms. Tuchman’s brilliant discussion of how and why the four years of horrendous hostilities began in August of 1914.

September 2, 2014