Excellent narrative.

Still listening, but it is much, much better than I had expected. The comparison (in her foreword to the new edition) with Thucydides is ridiculous, of course. This is not an academic history based on archival research. However, her instincts are good, in my opinion. It is a clear and well-paced narrative. It is perfect for an audible experience. The story unfolds in a way that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. The author has a talent for presenting the events in a manner that is both interesting and easy to follow. Despite not being a traditional academic work, it offers valuable insights and perspectives. It makes history come alive and allows the listener to gain a better understanding of the subject matter. Overall, it is a great listen and I would highly recommend it.

'Les pantalons rouges, c'est la France!'

I have delved into numerous books regarding World War I,涵盖从导致战争的事件，一直到战后的余波以及对当今时事的诸多影响。我一直拖延着读这本书，主要是因为我觉得它与其他那些书会有相当多的重叠内容。然而，令人惊讶的是，事实并非如此。当然，确实存在一些重叠部分，但并不像我预期的那么多，所以读这本书最终变得既愉快又富有信息量。

我知道这个主题很严肃，而且有数百万士兵在第一次世界大战中丧生，但这本书读起来很像一部错误的喜剧，让人想起一部关于电影片场的电影，在那里我们看到了自我冲突、自恋者、爱出风头的人、浮夸的蠢货等等（想想《热带惊雷》或《情归新泽西》）。以这篇评论开头的引语为例。法国人认为他们的红色裤子制服至关重要，它定义了他们。其他国家已经摒弃了他们19世纪的制服，转而采用单调的卡其色或灰色制服——你知道，那些有助于伪装的颜色。法国人呢？绝不！或者他们一开始是这么说的。不过他们最终还是改变了想法。事实证明，红色裤子并不是一个好的伪装主意。（哎呀，你觉得呢？）

这本书也是一本关于战争中不要做什么的指南。在读这本书的时候，我多次对书中提到的一些人的无能和无知摇头，心里想着'你这个白痴！！'之类的话。

我倾向于认为这本书中的一些内容是虚构的，没有人真的那么愚蠢，但是这本书以其精心研究而闻名，这消除了我可能有的任何疑虑。所以，继续吧，重温第一次世界大战的第一个月，想想可能会发生什么……

If you had a time machine and could go back in time and alter any historical event, what would it be?

For me, based on all the history I've read, there is no choice. If I had the ability to do so, I would prevent the First World War from starting.

Think about it. Not only would you prevent tens of millions from dying in that war, but you would also prevent Lenin, Stalin, and the rest of the bloodthirsty Bolsheviks from getting into power. Hitler would remain a mere failed art student. The sense of optimism and orderly progress from the Victorian and Edwardian eras might have continued longer. The British and other colonial empires would have lasted longer, and America would not have become the dominant world power it did.

All of those outcomes seem like good things to me. Reading this wonderful history of the outbreak of the First World War only strengthened my opinions in this way.

If you want to understand why the world went to hell in 1914, this is the book. This is pretty much the definitive history of those crucial first weeks and months of the war. I doubt it will ever be bettered.

At times, reading this and knowing the outcome, I wanted to shake the men making decisions and somehow make them see what a nightmare they are unleashing upon the world.

Brilliant, you must read this book.

My knowledge regarding WOI up to this year could be summed up as follows: my country was "neutral" in this conflict, it was trench warfare, and in a sense, the first act in the social change of the 20th century. In terms of content, I really never learned much about this period. While reading this book, I watched several documentaries by the BBC, such as "The Great War & Royal Cousins" and an earlier BBC documentary about the Great War that won three Emmys.

Barbara Tuchman has a very nice and gentle writing style. She doesn't overly burden her story with the numbers of armies or battalions, which is sometimes necessary to do justice to the story. She does so just enough to make certain situations clear and in a way that is easily comprehensible. The book focuses on the first month of WOI and provides some insight into what happened before. Mrs. Tuch also wrote another book about the period before WOI called "The Proud Tower," which is on my to-read list. The story ends the day before the Battle of the Marne, which is mentioned in the epilogue.

This book tells about the Schlieffen-plan by the Germans, and its origin date shocked me while its contents were actually quite logical. It also mentions Plan 17 by the French army, whose content was mostly inspired by 19th-century warfare. The contents of both plans were the seeds of WOI, and a lot followed from the situations created by the implementation of both plans.

While reading this book, I found that the idea of going to war for the greater glory of the home nation, whether it was England, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, or Russia, might seem honorable to the professional military using nationalism towards its citizens, but the end result was a catastrophe. In this book, not one nation comes across as being right or great. They all end up looking responsible for a terrible mess. The book doesn't really tell the story of the role of the Austrian Empire and their battles; it's only casually mentioned. It's mostly about the Germans, the Russians, the English, the French, and the victims, the Belgians.

The book gives a fairly clear view of what happened to start this war in all its horrifying ugliness. I never knew about the reign of horror that the Germans unleashed on Belgium because they didn't want to cooperate. It explains some of the dislike I found among many modern-day Belgians towards German tourists. This book was informative and a brilliant starting point for further reading about WOI. Barbara Tuch wrote a very intelligent and easy-to-read book about the origin of the conflict and how all those involved embarked on a journey down a road of no return.

Sadly, a lot was not learned as 20 years later a similar conflict arose.

Well worth reading, but take your time. It's a good place to start learning about WOI.

This was an excellent read and was very well researched.

When scholars discuss WW1, along with Keegan's World war 1, they include Tuchman's book among the authoritative books on the subject.

Each of the books mentioned here has a different view of the assassination of the Archduke in Sarajevo. I find Barbara's the most colorful, while maybe Keegan's the most accurate.

Barbara's condemnation of the warmongers and the stupidity of the leadership and military conforms to the view that this war was not necessary and a few were responsible for the killing of the many.

If you are studying the cause and effect of World war 1, you must include Barbara Tuchman's magnum opus on the list. It provides a detailed and engaging account of the events leading up to the war, as well as the actions and decisions of the key players.

Tuchman's writing style is vivid and accessible, making her book a great choice for both students and general readers interested in learning more about this important period in history.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of World War 1.

Brilliant. There's no other word for it.

This simple word truly encapsulates a remarkable experience or achievement.

When something is described as brilliant, it implies a level of excellence that is beyond ordinary.

It could refer to a brilliant idea that shines like a bright star in the darkness of confusion.

Or perhaps a brilliant performance that leaves the audience in awe and admiration.

Brilliance can also be seen in a person's intelligence, creativity, or charisma.

Those who possess such qualities have the ability to stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression.

In a world filled with mediocrity, finding something or someone brilliant is like stumbling upon a precious gem.

It is a source of inspiration and motivation, urging us to strive for greater heights in our own lives.

So, the next time you encounter something brilliant, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and significance.

Let it serve as a reminder that extraordinary things are possible and that we should always aim for brilliance in all that we do.

Phew, this was an extremely challenging book to digest, whether in the audiobook format or the paper book format. It is incredibly dense and detailed. Names, places, and battles are presented to you in rapid succession. You have to remember who is who, which corps is fighting where and its number, the title of each commander, and so much more. You don't have the luxury of time to stop and think, or recall what was told to you minutes/pages or even hours/chapters before. You need more than a detailed map as you don't have much time to spend poring over it. What you truly need above all is a good memory, a solid knowledge of history, and geographic knowledge even before you pick up the book.

Alternatively, you can read this book to begin learning and accept that there will be parts that are beyond your immediate comprehension. That's exactly what I did, and while I enjoyed much of it, I also spent time feeling exasperated as there were sentences that required me to think deeply and ponder before I could understand their implications. I had to rewind, write notes, and search on the internet.

Does this mean I regret reading it? My answer is an emphatic no.

Much of the book is set in Belgium and France (it also covers the Eastern Prussian Front). I have visited many of the towns, cities, citadels, squares, forests, and rivers named. Knowing the history of what occurred in the places where I have walked is truly special to me. I'm a bit unsure if it would hold the same significance for someone who hasn't been there. If you've been in the Ardennes, you immediately understand the difficulty of moving artillery around there. Having walked in Leuven, Dinant, Mons, Charleroi, and Namur, to name just a few, when you hear about the burning, sacking, and murder of hostages, you understand it on a more intimate level. I believe my own experiences, rather than just the writing, made the events come alive.

It's important to note that this book is focused primarily on the military battles of the first month of the war. Why? Because what happened then set the course for the four years that followed. You might as well be informed that the primary focus is military as this may not appeal to everyone. The start of World War One is all about the idiosyncrasies of generals, a lack of communication, and men who have decided on a plan and are unwilling to deviate from it.

The narration by John Lee was fine, but he doesn't speak slowly, which might have made things a bit easier. Some say he speaks with a Scottish dialect, and that's perfectly okay with me!

I'll tell you why I liked this book. I now have the basics of how the war started. I appreciate knowing what happened to the people living around me here in Belgium; I understand them better. I understand why they capitulated so quickly in the Second World War. Today, there is so much squabbling between the Flemish and the French people of Belgium. It was wonderful to see how in the First World War they fought united, as one people, for their independence and very existence. I needed to learn about this.

Probably the best known work on the early days of the Great War,

this one truly stands out. It not only scored a Pulitzer prize for its author,

but also fills a necessary void in the literature on the war. As the reader delves into its pages,

it makes for a great narrative that keeps one engaged from start to finish.

The biggest takeaway from the book is undoubtedly the author's incisive analysis of what the month of August 1914 left as its legacy: disillusionment.

The events of that fateful month shattered the illusions and expectations that many had held dear,

and the author does a remarkable job of exploring the profound impact this had on the soldiers, the people, and the course of the war itself.

Through vivid descriptions and detailed accounts,

the book brings to life the chaos, confusion, and heartbreak of those early days of the Great War,

leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

I have a deep understanding of why this is regarded as a classic. It presents a clear and irresistibly readable account of the intricate politics and policies that ultimately led to the First World War. This, I believe, is precisely the reason why the book has achieved such great popularity. Growing up in the early 1960s, when this book was penned, my contemporaries and I had a certain understanding of what World War II was about, mainly through popular culture and the accounts shared by our fathers, mothers, uncles, and so on. However, World War I seemed much more hazy and distant, not to mention rather nebulous. All we knew was that some Arch Duke got shot. So what?

Tuchman manages to bring the people in the sepia photos to life, revealing all their flaws, follies, and incorrect assumptions. As countless others before me have pointed out, the crucial lesson in this book is how the world blindly stumbled into a catastrophic war. This is a lesson that every generation must learn. If not, the consequences could be similar to those of Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

I usually don't have an inclination towards war books that simply depict battle after battle. However, this particular book was distinct. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was penned by a woman historian. She managed to maintain the human element within the narrative and didn't just inundate the reader with a barrage of facts one after another.

To be honest, my knowledge about World War I history was rather limited. I only knew that Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, it took some time for the Americans to join the war, and Germany ultimately lost. Therefore, I was on the edge of my seat, eager to discover what had transpired during this first month.

While reading, I became quite angry with the English commander, Sir John French, when he refused to assist France in crucial battles unless they pleaded with him. And I winced at the "elan" attitude of the French commanders at the start of the month.

Most of the significant action took place in August 1914 and the beginning of September, which is precisely what this book encompasses. The remainder of the war consisted of four long years of brutal and monotonous trench warfare. What a chaotic and tragic mess it all was.

Goodreads describes this book as being about the people and events that led to World War I, and also about how the war started and how it could have been stopped. However, I would argue that it is less about that and more of a military history of the first month of the war, with a touch of the history behind the conflict from the perspective of Great Britain, France, and Germany only. Russia and Turkey are only mentioned in passing, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not mentioned at all. This is a rather surprising omission considering that the war started with the murder of the heir to the throne of the empire and the murder happened in the Balkans, of which there is also no history in the book. Leaving all of that and putting all the blame on Germany is too simplistic and could have been elaborated upon. The Balkan wars are not mentioned in the book, nor are the alliances of powers leading up to the fateful 1914.

I find these omissions strange because otherwise the book describes the events from multiple resources, even to the point that it becomes a bit of an information overload. The constant bombardment of unfamiliar names and places leaves too much for the understanding of ordinary readers like me, and after a while (around page 300 or so), you just want the book to end. The endless series of Vons - Von Bülow, Von Prittwitz, Von Hindenburg, Von Kluck, and then other military commanders like Moltke, Dubail, Schlieffen, Lanrezac, Joffre, Michel, Kitchner, French, Milne, Gallieni - feel like little caricatures of actual characters in a grand historical dark comedy. I say this because everyone of them is so annoying to the point of dumbness. You would assume that the people leading millions of people would be of sound rational mind. Far from it. It seemed that being thickheaded and inept was a basic precondition for becoming a general in those times, and this ineptness, to the point of absurdity, was only increased by the inflated egos of every last one of them. Tuchman didn't help by detailing every small event in this constant comedy of errors; one general calling another to convince him of something, the other refusing to budge, the third getting in a car and reaching the second, the fourth writing a note in his diary about all of this. And all of this happening not just once but endless times throughout the book. And the reader is left scratching his head as to why he signed up for all these little details.

The military history is detailed, and I am sure it would be of greater interest to some. However, the prose is dense and outdated, considering the book was written half a century ago. Still, the earlier chapters in the book are quite readable. In fact, the account of the funeral of King Edward VII and the description of all the monarchs and heads of government is quite exceptional. It's a shame that the later chapters couldn't match the earlier gripping prose, and some parts of them remain quite impenetrable.
My one beef against this book is how it is quite pro-allied in all its narrative. Germans are generally shown in a bad light, and the entire responsibility for the war is put on them, without any blame on any of the other powers. True, the Germans bear the lion's share of such blame, but when the book attempts to paint every German statesman and general as a villain, going as far as describing a German General (I don't remember the exact name) as having a voice like a eunuch, the narrative gets a little distorted. At the same time, allied statesmen are generally shown as peaceful and noble. Churchill is said to be crying at the start of the war. Am I now to understand that the powers that had colonized half the world and were committing atrocities against the natives from China to India to Africa were actually quite pacifists and were crying on being forced into a fight? Or maybe they only cried when a greater aggressor was at their doorstep, and all was alright if such aggression was being carried out by them against the colonized? Such a narrative reeks of prejudice and reflects badly on all the extensive research carried out by the author for the book. Such a pity; this book could have been much better.

Overall, while the book has some interesting aspects, it also has several flaws that prevent it from being a truly great work of history.

Witness the marriage of evocative writing and a problematic perspective.

As popular histories go, Tuchman's own A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century is superior. It offers a vivid portrayal of that tumultuous era.

When it comes to books on the origin and opening of WWI, I'm no expert. However, I think it's safe to conclude that the assassination of Franz Ferdinand deserves more than a single sentence. And wasn't there more to the conflict than just Germany, France, Great Britain, and (eventually) Russia?

Reviewers who know more than me have called The Guns of August outdated. They argue that it may not present a fully comprehensive view. On the other hand, others see it as brilliant on its own terms, perhaps for its engaging narrative.

Both sides have a fair argument. Maybe I'll return to this debate after I've read a few more exhaustive WWI books, which might provide a more in-depth understanding and help me form a more definitive opinion.