For fifty years, the Cold War shaped our lives and divided our world. Other authors have portrayed the period as an uneasy peace, enforced by the possibility of mutual destruction through atomic and nuclear weapons. However, Norman Friedman has synthesized a vast array of information from a diverse spectrum of sources on both sides of the iron curtain to produce some extraordinary new conclusions. The renowned defence analyst has challenged conventional thinking on the subject. "The Fifty-Year War" is an essential book for those who wish to make sense of one of the most complex and fascinating epochs of world history.