I have finished reading a couple of books on WWI in the last fews weeks. Read the "Guns of August" and "A World Undone".
WWI was the seminal event of the 20th century. Most all of the issues going on around the world today are byproducts of the outcome of the Great War. What stands out the most for me was there was no reason for it. So Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, it really wasn't that big of a deal. The monarchs weren't warmongering, although some of their officials likely were, but that was no excuse. The monarchs, especially Willy and Nicky, allowed themselves to be manipulated. There were also a multitude on entangling alliances that started sucking the combatants in after Russia mobilized.
