In "The Origins of the Korean War," Bruce Cumings offers a compelling and meticulously researched narrative that challenges conventional understandings of this pivotal conflict. Delving deep into the tumultuous five years preceding the outbreak of war in 1950, Cumings argues that the roots of the conflict lie not in the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, but in the profound political, economic, and social upheavals within Korea itself. Drawing from an impressive array of sources, including Korean-language materials and previously classified documents, Cumings paints a vivid picture of a nation striving for self-determination after decades of colonial rule, only to find itself caught in the vise of global superpower politics. Cumings meticulously reconstructs the complex interplay of internal and external forces that led to the division of Korea and the eventual eruption of war. He portrays the Korean War as fundamentally civil and revolutionary in nature, driven by deep-seated conflicts over land reform, governance, and national identity that were evident as early as 1945. Through his analysis, Cumings challenges the reader to reconsider the war's legacy and its place in the broader context of twentieth-century history. This authoritative and thought-provoking book not only sheds new light on the origins of the Korean War but also offers insights into the ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula today.