Another good, brief book on the Cold War. Also consider "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Cold War."

This book won the Pulitzer Prize. Remnick wrote, "Once the regime eased up enough to permit a full-scale examination of the Soviet past, radical change was inevitable. Once the System showed itself for what it was and had been, it was doomed." Gorbachev’s Perestroika and Glasnost reforms opened Pandora’s Box of freedom and a loss of control. USSR unraveled after a failed coup by Soviet hardliners.

This book by Reagan's top advisor and ambassador to USSR shows that Reagan first pressured USSR but then changed his posture after Gorbachev came to power. They peacefully ended the Cold War. Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize and Ronald Reagan Freedom Award. When asked by a reporter if the USSR was still "the evil empire," Reagan replied, "No. I was talking about another time, another era."

A classic book on the peaceful end of the Cold War.

A classic. Also read Vojtech Mastny's brilliant "Russia's Road to the Cold War: Diplomacy, Warfare, and the Politics of Communism, 1941-1945."

An masterpiece history of international relations, with the 20th-century taking center stage. A Kissinger classic.

JFK skillfully managed the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world came close to nuclear destruction. Also read the superb "The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Krushchev" by Michael Beschloss.

President Franklin Roosevelt profoundly changed America's foreign policy during WWII, such as his Four Freedoms, and then his blueprint for a new post-war world and active US policy. FDR laid the foundation to win the Cold War. He hastened the end of colonialism, ended isolationism, and entrenched a vision of freedom and human rights, which was radically different than before.

A terrific book for the high school level and even college. It provides plenty of primary source examples and visuals, letting the truthful history tell the story.

A classic on America's foreign policy from WWII through the end of the Cold War. The containment strategy avoided nuclear war while waging a winning long-term strategy. However, there were downsides to this strategy. Highest recommendation.

Eisenhower pressed Truman's Containment policy more firmly. Consevatives opposed Truman's NATO until Eisenhower stuck up for Truman. Eisenhower also resisted hard pressure from the right to nuke USSR.

An award-winning biography of the Stalin. Trotsky was supposed to lead USSR after Lenin died, but Stalin had him killed (with an ice pick!) and his leftist followers. A ruthless and shrewd dictator.

This book is often mentioned as one of the best books on the Cold War. I thought it missed the mark in many ways. NOT recommended.

Woodrow Wilson failed to win his plan for an engaged America in world affairs, and America recoiled into isolationism following World War One. FDR was a much more skillful president than Wilson and succeeded where Wilson failed. FDR made USA an engaged superpower, which would serve America well during the Cold War. The Atlantic Charter was a momentous achievement.

FDR, Truman, Eisenhower and others resisted isolationism, and instead forged an active foreign policy. Also read Harper’s "American Visions of Europe,” which mostly credits FDR, Acheson and Kennan.

The title aptly describes the book.

The fear of communism, especially after WWII against Hitler, led to a tough line against USSR.

The Cold War with communist China. Some say Mao's Little Red Book is the second most published book in history.

This excellent partial history details Reagan's lifelong crusade against communism and the unraveling of the Soviet Empire. A great read and a reasonably honest account of what actually happened -- actually part of the story.

Personal reports at the highest levels on the end of the Cold War.