Blood and Splendor by Daniel Myerson (2001, Paperback)

Nero, Ivan the Terrible, Stalin, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein.The names evoke horror and bloodshed -- but also awe at the range of power of these despots and their accomplishments.What makes a tyrant? And why, when history has taught us time and again that they must be stopped, do such leaders continue to exist?The five short but substantial biographies in this volume help answer these questions as they tell the stories of five diabolical geniuses, exploring who they are, what they did, and what they drove them to such cruel lengths.You'll read about how the extragance of their lives and the complexity of their obsessions were played out through their political actions, often with global consequences. And you'll discover what conditions could create a tyrant just as horrible today. Spanning centuries and continents, these biographies offer a fascinating glimpse into history's darkest hearts and minds.