This brief work is an excellent introduction to understanding the idea and the practice of total war in the industrial age. As the first step toward further study or as a clear and easy-to-read refresher course on four of the most brutal years of the 20th century, Tucker s book is highly recommended. ChoiceThis packed, encyclopedic military history offers both a clear overview and detailed narrative of military and diplomatic events of the First World War.... Anyone interested in the Great War and its aftermath will find plenty here that goes a long way toward explaining what the war was about, why it happened, and what it meant. H-Net ReviewsWorld War I was an event of unprecedented violence and a turning point in history. This book presents a clearly written narrative for the general reader that concentrates on the military campaigns of The Great War. It addresses the dilemmas posed by new technologies and the impact of command decisions to overcome them. The author also provides an easy-to-understand, concise analysis of the events leading to the war and of the flawed peace settlement that came in its wake.