World War II: Impossible Choices and Deeds That Changed History

By: Michael Bess

Narrated by: Michael Bess

The lives of five generations, including yours, are indelibly marked by the deeds of those who fought in the Second World War. Join award-winning historian Michael Bess in exploring their stories.

In 24 engaging lectures, WWII historian and celebrated Vanderbilt professor Michael Bess introduces you to the men and women who faced some of history’s toughest choices. You will meet the man who stopped Hitler’s atomic bomb, the pilots who won the Battle of Midway, the Soviet “Man of Steel”, the pacifist who built the bomb, and many more.

World War II was the quintessential “good war”. But it was not free of moral ambiguity, painful dilemmas, and unavoidable compromises. How could ordinary citizens have brought themselves to perpetrate atrocities? Was the United States justified in dropping the atomic bomb? Why didn’t the Allied Powers do more to help the Jews of Europe escape persecution before the war?

Professor Michael Bess marshals a trove of research and letters to probe big questions like these. While honoring the war’s countless heroic deeds, and expressing deep gratitude to those who sacrificed so much for the freedom of subsequent generations, he also seeks a nuanced reckoning with the complicated and ambiguous moral dimensions of one of the most pivotal conflicts in human history.

We owe it to every generation impacted by the Second World War to understand the momentous choices and deeds that shaped our world.

©2020 Now You Know Media, Inc. (P)2020 Now You Know Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Michael Bess is widely known at Vanderbilt as one of our most outstanding teachers. His World War II course has long been on the ‘must take before graduation’ list. He brings passion, intellect, and deep psychological insight into a fascinating exploration of one of humanity's most traumatic and consequential experiences. I highly recommended this audio course for anyone, regardless of previous historical knowledge.” (Joel Harrington, Centennial Professor of History, Vanderbilt University)

“Michael Bess stands out for his capacity to delineate the broad forces at work in the global conflict of World War II while illuminating the difficult, crucial choices of governments, individual soldiers, and ordinary citizens that shaped the war’s direction and outcome. Through vivid storytelling, judicious analysis, and arresting insights, Bess creates a compelling, multi-faceted narrative.” (Sarah Farmer, professor of history, University of California, Irvine)

WWII in a nutshell

This is the cheapest World War II University course you can get. Michael Bess masterfully crams a lot of history of the second great war into almost 9 hours of engaging lectures. An excellent introduction into the complex global political landscape leading into WWII and the events that led to some of the most shocking and world changing actions taken during the war. I highly recommend for anyone interested in learning a grand overview of the second world war.

Great Stories about WW2

This was just a great program. It isn't a book; more like a series of recorded college-style lectures. The presenter is a Vanderbilt History professor. As a former history major myself, I loved his dramatic retelling of WW2's pivotal moments. What's also interesting is the presenter focuses some of the lectures on individuals (on both sides of the war) who encountered moral dilemmas. For instance, did you know that one of the chief scientists who helped the US develop atomic weapons was an avowed pacifist? How do you reconcile those two views? There are lots of other intriguing questions like that one in this course. It really makes you think.

Outstanding history course

This audio course is both insightful and gripping. I have enjoyed several history courses by Learn25, and believe this is one of the very best. Bess has a knack for posing fascinating questions, the sort of questions that commanders, common soldiers, and policy makers actually faced on the battlefield and off. His description of the Battle of Midway is amazing. I can't recommend this course highly enough for history buffs.