"Odd Arne Westad makes the case that the world we are entering bears striking similarities to that of the late 19th and early 20th Century, as Britain's hegemony began to give way and a rising Germany sought its place in the sun. Historical analogies are usually difficult to sustain, but Westad brings so much erudition, intelligence, and insight to the table that he pulls it off! This is a short book on a big subject that will make you think long after you put it down."
—Fareed Zakaria, author of Age of Revolutions

"Remarkable... In the mode of the ancient historian Polybius, Westad offers a kind of universal history that works to disentangle causes, pretexts, and beginnings... Inviting readers to draw the hypothetical analogy between the millions who died in the "war to end all wars" and the millions more who would die in the next great-power war, Westad performs an urgent and inestimable service."
—Foreign Affairs

"Striking... a fluently written and wide-ranging book... It is not that Westad sees any inevitability in The Coming Storm of which he warns, but rather that he sees danger in the repeat of a mix of volatile personalities, changing power relationships and emerging technologies."
—Bill Emmott, Financial Times

"This may be the most important book you read this year. The Great Power peace of the last 80 years is ending as the U.S., China, Russia and others compete for global power. Yale historian Arne Westad traces history's lessons that may help us to prevent a future great power war."
—Nicholas Burns, Harvard Kennedy School Professor and former U.S. Ambassador to China

"Westad is very good at quantifying this century’s Great Power rivalry. . . . No one will close The Coming Storm without thinking of President Trump’s strike on Iran."
—Christopher Caldwell, Claremont Review of Books

“Odd Arne Westad, a preeminent historian of modern China and its international role, has written a passionate and informed warning about the very real prospects today for great-power war in light of the origins of World War I. But he recognizes analogies need not be fate and proposes policies needed to avert catastrophe. Can we and our leaders walk the knife-edge?”
—Charles S. Maier, professor emeritus of history, Harvard University

"The Coming Storm is an urgent and insightful book that speaks directly to the current moment. Odd Arne Westad offers a timely wake-up call about the risks we face as global tensions rise. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand where the world may be headed and how we might still change course."
—Stephen Hadley, former US National Security Adviser