The Thirty Years War and the Conflict for European Hegemony 1600-1660 by S. H. Steinberg

The Thirty Years War and the Conflict for European Hegemony 1600-1660 by S. H. Steinberg is a revisionist history of the 30 years war. Unlike most history texts the author describes the conflict not as a religious war but as power politics. He also takes a skeptical view of the level of destruction wrought upon Germany. He makes a convincing case that the level of destruction has been exaggerated by various historians who had an ax to grind.

The book is quite short and contains a decent summary which can help illuminate the often confusing different alliances and phases of the conflict.