In “The Cold War: A New History,” John Lewis Gaddis provides a concise and authoritative account of the global ideological conflict between democracy and authoritarianism from 1945 to 1991. Gaddis examines the origins, evolution, and legacy of the Cold War, analyzing the roles of key leaders, nuclear deterrence, espionage, and proxy wars, and arguing that containment, not rollback, was the most effective US strategy. He concludes that the Soviet Union’s economic and military overextension ultimately led to its collapse, leaving a lasting impact on international relations, global politics, and modern history.