If I had a time machine…
The wife is watching this show about an American girl working in Paris.
After 10 minutes I realize that if I had a time machine I’d give a copy of The Guns of August to the German high command in 1913.
Just to make sure that they destroy the French Army and capture Paris and win the war by 1915. Also to avoid getting into a war with the Russians.
For that matter I’d give the Prime Minister, Czar and Sultan a copy of the book too.
Without the Russians getting into the war there would be no Soviet Revolution, the Ottoman Empire wouldn’t have collapsed leading to a rise in Middle Eastern Islamism.
WWII and the Holocaust would have been averted.
And the snooty French would be crushed under the boot heel of the industrious Germans.
The British wouldn’t have gotten involved and neither would the Americans, meaning no long drawn out WWI, no Roaring 20, no Great Depression, and no FDR.
But mostly no insufferable French.
Now all I need is my time machine.