best cold war books non-fiction

The Cold War era was a pivotal moment in history that shaped the world in significant ways. Many non-fiction books have been written to chronicle the events, strategies, and personalities during this period. In this article, we will explore some of the best non-fiction books about the Cold War that are highly recommended for readers interested in gaining deeper insights into this era.

1. "The Cold War: A New History" by John Lewis Gaddis: Regarded as one of the most authoritative books on the subject, Gaddis provides a comprehensive overview of the political, military, and ideological tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. This book delves into the key events, major figures, and underlying factors that defined the Cold War.

2. "Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1956" by Anne Applebaum: Applebaum examines the Soviet Union's aggressive expansion into Eastern Europe after World War II. She explores the totalitarian tactics employed by the Soviets to exert control over these nations and illustrates the complexities of the Iron Curtain.

3. "The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War" by Ben Macintyre: In this gripping true story, Macintyre portrays the thrilling life of Oleg Gordievsky, a high-ranking KGB officer who became a double agent for British intelligence. This book sheds light on the shadowy world of espionage during the Cold War.

4. "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA" by Tim Weiner: Weiner provides an in-depth account of the Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the Cold War. This book reveals the successes, failures, and controversial actions of the agency, offering a unique perspective on the covert operations of the era.

5. "The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction" by Robert J. McMahon: Perfect for readers seeking a concise yet informative overview, McMahon's book serves as a compact introduction to the Cold War. It covers the key events, ideological clashes, and global impact of this conflict, making it an excellent starting point for further exploration.

For those interested in further reading, various websites and resources can provide additional information and recommendations. Goodreads, a popular online platform for book enthusiasts, offers lists curated by users that focus specifically on Cold War non-fiction. Additionally, websites like History.com and the Cold War Museum provide a wealth of content, including articles, interviews, and firsthand accounts.

In conclusion, the Cold War period continues to fascinate readers around the world. The recommended non-fiction books mentioned above, written by esteemed authors such as John Lewis Gaddis, Anne Applebaum, Ben Macintyre, Tim Weiner, and Robert J. McMahon, offer captivating insights into the political, military, and clandestine aspects of this historic confrontation. Further exploration can be done through online platforms and websites dedicated to the subject, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the Cold War and its lasting impact.
The Mercenary of Iron and Blood in the War of Resistance. Fiction
The Mercenary of Iron and Blood in the War of Resistance.

Once an international mercenary who struggled to survive amidst the gunfire and bullets, he unexpectedly found himself back in China after a failed mission. He knew nothing of history, unaware of how to curry favor with great leaders to seek guidance in building a nation. All he knew was to fight on the frontline. He earned the title of "War Machine" because only in the midst of war could he survive and let the fires of battle consume the hatred within his heart. I control my destiny, not the heavens, and I am prepared to fight to the death in the Yellow Springs. I hope to lead a hundred thousand fierce soldiers, charging into Tokyo with raised swords. This book is respectfully dedicated to those martyrs who sacrificed themselves for their homeland and nation. If you, dear readers, find "Ironclad Mercenary of the Resistance" to be satisfying, please do not forget to recommend it to your friends on QQ and Weibo!

505.72 Million words | 2020-09-15 11:51Update

history and historical fiction dual timeline historical fiction historical fiction time periods

The Idle Figure in the Prosperous Age of Zhenguan. Fiction
The Idle Figure in the Prosperous Age of Zhenguan.

During the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty, peace and harmony prevailed throughout the land, with magnificent mountains and rivers, and the Li clan reigning supreme. General Li Jing led troops to defeat the Turks in the north, while Emperor Taizong embarked on an expedition to Goguryeo in the east, establishing his dominance in all directions. Starting anew, they restored the old glory of the empire. Before the portraits of the heroes, Emperor Li Yuan strummed his lute with a sense of melancholy, while Emperor Li Shimin danced gracefully and joyously on the Lingyan Terrace. In the grandest and most spirited era in Chinese history, outside the ancient capital of Chang'an, a young man in humble attire smiled as he gazed at the setting sun's glow upon the imperial city...

329.80 Million words | 2021-12-25 12:56Update

dark life novel home before dark novel historical fiction ya

The Storm of Steel in the Resistance War. Fiction
The Storm of Steel in the Resistance War.

Transferred back in time to become a camp leader stationed at Beida Camp of the Northeast Army before the Anti-Japanese War. It is now July 7th, only six days away from the outbreak of the war. As a small camp leader, under the non-resistance ideology advocated by Zhang Xueliang in Nanjing and the order from the Border Defense Staff Headquarters for the soldiers at Beida Camp to not resist the Japanese army, choosing to sacrifice their lives and uphold righteousness for the country. Will Jiang Lihui continue to follow this will? Witness a different kind of resistance war, from the beginning. The prosperous Qin Dynasty has passed, the grand Han and Tang Dynasties seem like dreams, the sorrowful song of the Jiawu War, the declining empire, five thousand years of vicissitudes, ten and more dynasties have weathered storms, dynasties age and republic remains eternal, sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, awaken, awaken! Take up spears and raise war swords. Defend against foreign invaders, safeguard the national territory forever. Vast East Sea, towering Kunlun Mountains, sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, awaken, awaken. Flags spread far and wide for thousands of miles, reforge the immortal Chinese spirit!

143.57 Million words | 2020-08-20 12:51Update

historical fiction time travel books history and historical fiction historical fiction timeline

Exquisite Cold Gentleman Fiction
Exquisite Cold Gentleman

A modern veteran backpacker traverses to the Eastern Jin Dynasty and possesses the spirit of a young man from a humble background named Chen Caozhi. Confronted with the difficult situation of his family's land being usurped and his virtuous widowed sister-in-law being forced into a remarriage, how will Chen Caozhi break through the prejudice against his social class and change his own destiny in order to protect his own and his clan's interests? Witness how the young man from a humble background rises step by step in the strict hierarchical system of the Nine-Rank Officials Law, befriends Gu Kaizhi, marries Xie Daoyun, and accomplishes great feats in warfare, contributing to the first book about time-traveling to the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

156.32 Million words | 2022-02-09 20:47Update

historical fiction ya historical fiction us history ya historical fiction

Da Ming 1937 Fiction
Da Ming 1937

"The Five-Day Tour of the Great Ming. In the present day, one day is equivalent to one year in the Ming Dynasty. After the protagonist arrives in the Ming Dynasty, they realize that something is not right with the passage of time. Moreover, the northern part of the country is under the rule of the Qing Dynasty... where it follows a monarchial autocracy, while the southern part of the country is under the rule of the Ming Dynasty, where it follows a constitutional monarchy. The capital of the Northern Qing is kilometers away from the border, while the capital of the Southern Ming is only meters away from the border. However, the protagonist is in the Southern Ming. What do people in the Ming Dynasty wear in this century? How much do they earn? What are the Eastern Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard like in this century? Who listens to whom in the imperial family and the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty? How would tank battles be fought between the Ming and Qing Dynasty? How can the Great Ming submarines blockade the Japanese archipelago? Book club: [name].

321.46 Million words | 2023-01-29 21:57Update

history and historical fiction historical fiction by time period historical fiction history

Drunken Pillow Over the Rivers and Mountains Fiction
Drunken Pillow Over the Rivers and Mountains

Emperor Wu Riyue, the Empress of Domination, Shangguan Wan'er, weighs the world, Li Guo'er, as enchanting as a flower, The Five Xingzi compete and conspire, Princess Taiping finds it difficult to bring peace, Li Sanlang of the Li family is truly outstanding, Di Renjie, Zhang Yizhi, Feng Xiaobao... Talented scholars, beautiful women, butchers of dogs! Red Sleeve Recruitment, wandering heroes, traversing under the Tang Dynasty sky, Intoxicatedly resting on the pillow of the landscape, laughing and looking at the universe!

394.94 Million words | 2021-11-02 23:47Update

passion novel historical fiction passion bl novel

Epitome of elegance and nobility Fiction
Epitome of elegance and nobility

He originally was a Peking Opera actor, but after crossing over to the era of the Ming Dynasty's Zhengde Emperor, he becomes an hereditary Jin Yiwei. Witness the Jin Yiwei's swift horses clad in fresh attire, as their embroidered spring sabers are unsheathed, illuminating the world with a chilling radiance.

214.47 Million words | 2021-08-25 23:06Update

history and historical fiction historical fiction by time period dual timeline historical fiction

Haner is not a slave. Fiction
Haner is not a slave.

The clouds emerge from the dragon, the wind arises from the tiger, fame and fortune mingled with dust and soil. Looking at the Divine Land, the people suffer, fertile lands for a thousand miles lay barren. Surveying the world, the Hu (nomadic tribes) dominates, but the heavenly path is incomplete, and a commoner must rectify it. A true hero, forsaking his parents, only for the people, not for personal gain. With a steel sword in hand, ninety-nine strikes will end the lives of the Hu, with no respite. I, a noble man, am I to be a puppet for the Tartar invaders? A valiant warrior drinking from a bowl of wine, on a thousand-mile journey, never turning back. The golden drums resound, the multitude roars, vowing not to cease until the Yellow Dragon is vanquished! ........... In the eleventh year of the puppet Qing Dynasty's Shunzhi reign, a Han man named Zhou Shixiang from Xinhui, Guangdong declared, "I, as a man of the Han lineage, will never be a slave!"

200.35 Million words | 2022-01-12 23:19Update

history and historical fiction historical fiction history historical fiction time travel

Illegitimate child of the Great Song Fiction
Illegitimate child of the Great Song

Welcome to the Song Dynasty. Here, you will find the poetry of Su Dongpo, the lyrics of Li Qingzhao, the heroic spirit of the northern frontier, and the misty rain of the southern regions. "Is there anything else?" Yes, for example, there are clandestine mistresses, alluring courtesans, secret rendezvous under the lantern festival, and it's worth emphasizing that nobody wears underwear. "You're being lewd. Can you talk about something else?" Are you not interested as a man? Very well, let me mention something else. Here, we have the fury of gentlemen, the sinister laughter of treacherous ministers, powerful emperors, and enchanting empresses. There are the palace guards of the Khitan dynasty, the iron cavalry of the Western Xia, there are shores filled with corpses and city walls stained with blood.

286.34 Million words | 2022-01-02 21:51Update

historical fiction by time period historical fiction history historical fiction time periods

General, Madam is calling you to work on the farmland. Fiction
General, Madam is calling you to work on the farmland.

Just took a nap in the lounge, and when I woke up, I found myself transformed into an ignorant chubby country girl in ancient times. Not only was I lazy and gluttonous, but I also bullied others in the village. No one in the surrounding area was willing to marry me, but I finally managed to buy myself a wealthy husband. However, he ran away on our wedding day. In a fit of anger, my tyrant father abducted a husband for me from the street. Wait, dad, isn't this abduction a little bit wrong? *After marriage, Su, the chubby girl, was very busy. Busy reforming her tyrant father and tyrant brother. Busy rescuing her handsome husband who was as beautiful as a god.

423.58 Million words | 2023-03-05 15:31Update

historical fiction by time period best time travel historical fiction historical fiction time periods

Struggling in the New Ming Dynasty. Fiction
Struggling in the New Ming Dynasty.

The introverted liberal arts student who is a homebody transmigrates to a mysterious Ming Dynasty. With a humble starting point as a crude and vulgar small yamen runner, he gives up hope on the path of imperial examinations. Let's see how the protagonist joyfully walks out of the marketplaces and embarks on an unconventional path to success. Additionally, this book unveils the various rules of the Ming Dynasty officialdom system! This newly added book is a serious work that adheres to history as a benchmark, relies on facts as a basis, presents logical and precise details. Hmm. Book discussion group number contributed by readers:

188.80 Million words | 2022-07-08 22:28Update

reborn rich novel reincarnated as a plant life novel historical fiction history

Unrivaled genius. Fiction
Unrivaled genius.

"Unparalleled in the Country" is another glorious era, a world of heroes and tyrants, scoundrels and villains. It is a forgotten history, as well as a condensed recollection. I am looking forward to it because I did not live in that era. Blood for Blood. If you think "Unparalleled in the Country" is good, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends in your QQ group and on Weibo!

413.99 Million words | 2021-07-08 20:28Update

historical fiction by time period dual timeline historical fiction historical fiction timeline

The Rise of the Poor Family Fiction
The Rise of the Poor Family

This is the story of a graduate student majoring in Ancient Chinese who has been repeatedly frustrated in his career. He goes back to the middle of the Ming Dynasty and ends up in the body of a young child in a rural village. With a reserved father and a fierce mother, and all kinds of troublesome relatives, the farmhouse is far from peaceful. Fortunately, our protagonist has thousands of years of historical accumulation, with a solid foundation in the Four Books, Five Classics, and the art of essay writing. Moreover, his expertise is well-suited to this era, and he can even perceive fate. Who says it is difficult for a poor family to produce an outstanding child? As the country's strength rises, the government maintains stability; however, there is lax law enforcement and bureaucratic inefficiency. There are a few treacherous officials and occasional pirate attacks, but overall, this is a fertile land where scholars and gentlemen can thrive freely. A legendary rise from a humble background begins here. With this story, I pay tribute to all the classic time-travel novels.

409.01 Million words | 2021-10-19 20:25Update

history of historical fiction history and historical fiction ya historical fiction

Iron Dynasty Fiction
Iron Dynasty

An engineering graduate with a technological gem traveled back to ancient times. As a prince, he had no ambitions for power struggles or schemes. All he wanted was to peacefully cultivate his land, engage in industrial pursuits, and live a carefree life. PS: This is a lighthearted tale of farming.

243.23 Million words | 2021-09-22 07:12Update

historical fiction new farming life in another world light novel historical fiction

The Awakening of Dreams: Three Kingdoms Fiction
The Awakening of Dreams: Three Kingdoms

I crossed into the Three Kingdoms period in a haze, whether it was following destiny or creating a new world. In this chaotic era where people are as insignificant as grass, let's see how the protagonist survives. Can someone tell me if this is reality or just a dream? Facing the crowd, Zhao Fei proudly declares, "In the past, I paid my respects to Zhao Yun, who fought in and out of the Battle of Changban seven times. I even hired the fierce warrior Guan Yu as my bodyguard." Tsk! The crowd responds by flipping him off one by one. If you think "Awakening in the Three Kingdoms" is not bad, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends in your QQ groups and on Weibo!

174.34 Million words | 2022-05-29 20:47Update

time travel historical fiction historical fiction time travel books historical fiction time travel

Child Emperor Fiction
Child Emperor

Three emperors died in succession, and an unnoticed prince inexplicably ascended the throne, finding himself surrounded by danger. The Empress Dowager disliked him, constantly wanting to install a younger and more obedient emperor in his place. His half-brothers resented him, believing he had taken their rightful throne. The eunuchs and palace maids also despised him, thinking he was not fit to be a true emperor... The juvenile emperor had no choice but to save himself.

182.74 Million words | 2020-08-09 08:21Update

history of historical fiction alternative historical fiction historical fiction

Rivers and mountains are enchanting, but the back is weary. Fiction
Rivers and mountains are enchanting, but the back is weary.

"Sir, sir, do you have anything that can support a woman's world?" "Yes, indeed~ It is made of two extremely silky silk cloths, not only capable of supporting a woman's world, but most importantly, it can make a woman even more feminine! If you draw a palm on it, it can also prevent counterfeits and fakes." "I have never seen such a miraculous item in this world..." QQ book lovers group: [insert group name]

210.62 Million words | 2022-03-23 08:00Update

war books fiction war fiction writing a war novel

Rebirth of the Crown Prince in the Great Tang Dynasty. Fiction
Rebirth of the Crown Prince in the Great Tang Dynasty.

The Three Generations of the Emperor's Legacy, Li Xing as the Martial Proxy! The prosperous era of the Great Tang, from the decline after Empress Wu Zetian, would it still be the renowned prosperous era if the rightful crown prince, Li Hong, had not died prematurely? In the female protagonist's court, powerful officials and cruel bureaucrats! When a different soul awakens in the Luoyang Palace, everything changes...

88.27 Million words | 2022-10-03 04:43Update

reincarnated as a plant life novel historical fiction ya historical fiction new

Return to the Ming Dynasty as a Pirate Fiction
Return to the Ming Dynasty as a Pirate

In the 34th year of the Jiajing reign, a graduate student in maritime studies woke up quietly. In this era, scholars abandoned their brushes to become pirates, while pirates delivered letters, waiting for orders at Zha'an. In this era, the emperor couldn't stop refining elixirs, but dared not open the dirty gates outside. But little did they know, this was already the age of great voyages. Soon, the world map would be filled with colorful flags. And I, who considered myself the divine ruling kingdom, was no longer the center of the world. The graduate student knew all this, so he worked hard to research and strive to excel. Friends were too foolish, enemies were too reckless, without research, one couldn't get through. The ocean was too vast, foreigners were too many, without more knowledge, one couldn't control it all.

312.57 Million words | 2020-07-08 23:29Update

historical fiction by time period dual timeline historical fiction historical fiction timeline

Rebirth of the Grand Duke of the Great Ming Fiction
Rebirth of the Grand Duke of the Great Ming

An unexpected accident sent Zhang Fan, an economics prodigy, back in time to the Ming Dynasty. With a different identity, environment, and life, how will he navigate through his new reality? His predetermined path leads him to the power center of the Ming regime, but what kind of experiences will he have and what changes will he bring to this era? Let's witness how Zhang Fan, a time traveler, step by step, ascends to the pinnacle of the Ming Dynasty! (Purely fictional, please do not imitate.)

167.16 Million words | 2020-08-01 17:31Update

time travel historical fiction historical fiction by time period historical fiction time periods