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The Next World War

The new age of global conflict and the fight to stop it

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The Next World War

By: Peter Apps
Narrated by: Peter Apps
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About this listen

 'Incredibly well sourced . . . One of the most plugged-in voices in modern warfare' - TELEGRAPH

'Truly excellent ... a gripping tour de force. Every politician and military expert needs to read this book' - Iain Dale

'Reads like a real-life geopolitical thriller . . . The fact it doesn't feel like scaremongering says a lot about the state of the world' - Jonn Elledge, author of A History of the World in 47 Borders


The Next World War takes readers behind the scenes of the most dangerous era of international tensions since the end of the Cold War, as countries and military forces prepare for potential large-scale combat on a scale unseen since 1945.

From the corridors of power in Washington, Whitehall, Moscow and Beijing to the new frontlines of conflict in Ukraine, Taiwan, cyberspace and even the far side of the moon, Peter Apps unflinchingly explores the fault lines where global peace is already starting to unravel.

Featuring the voices of the commanders, diplomats and technologists already shaping history, as well as the nervous conscripts and ordinary people directly caught up in events, The Next World War examines the real-world effects of this new era of global confrontation. For some - including millions of citizens told to stockpile food and water and prepare for potential mass disruption - it still may not feel entirely real. But for Russia, China and their growing 'axis of upheaval', today's conflicts represent a growing opportunity to reshape the world as they would like it - leading to potential disaster for the West if it cannot heed the warnings in time.

From the return of Cold War-style atomic threats to new forms of sabotage and 'hybrid warfare', the battle for global dominance is already firmly underway. The Next World War is the book you need to understand the growing precariousness of our current situation - and the unending battle to stop it escalating past the point of no return.

'Gripping and important . . . A warning order for the future' - General Sir Tim Radford KCB DSO OBE

'Sweeping and compelling, with plenty of human stories that really pull you in. A must-read book from the expert I go to when I really want to get a sense of where things might be going' - Anna-Joy Rickard, Great British Foreign Affairs podcast©2026 Peter Apps (P)2026 Headline Publishing Group Limited 21st Century Military Modern Politics & Government War Russia China Thought-Provoking Imperialism Cold War

Critic reviews

Incredibly well sourced . . . One of the most plugged-in voices in modern warfare.
Reads like a real-life geopolitical thriller . . . The fact it doesn't feel like scaremongering says a lot about the state of the world.
Gripping and important . . . A warning order for the future.
Sweeping and compelling, with plenty of human stories that really pull you in. A must-read book from the expert I go to when I really want to get a sense of where things might be going.
Truly excellent ... a gripping tour de force. Every politician and military expert needs to read this book.
Comprehensive and detailed ... the detail is remarkable.
All stars
Most relevant
it is well resurged and seems very factual, so like it or not facts are facts.

a real global overview

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Peter Apps captures the mass of information so well and helps us gain an understanding of a complex world

In a fast moving world this tells it well.

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I came to this book after listening to a podcast where Peter Apps was interviewed.
during that interview it was clear he was thoughtful, intelligent and passionate about the subject matter.
I did have a nagging concern that the book may be a bit dry, but decided to jump in.
I need not have worried.
this is presented in an absorbing fashion which is testament to the authors skill.
it is incredibly well researched and to be honest, reads like any good novel.
this book should be on all school curriculums. an unbiased and factually correct account of post war politics and defence policy that has lead to the current geopolitical system.
in a world of lies, disinformation and gaslighting, we need more of this.

excellent

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That was enlightening. The goings on slightly behind the media but it's all there. Frightening.

enlightening

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Complicated global geo political and military situation explained well highlight how interlinked the current situation is and how the roots of this reach back in history.

Both insight and delivery

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