Why and how did the Cold War begin? The origins of the Cold War have been the subject of extensive study and debate. Through thorough, multilingual, and multi-archival research, China's leading historian of the Cold War Shen Zhihua argues that the conflict between the US and the USSR was rooted in mutual misperceptions and misjudgments regarding economic policies. Domestic-focused speeches and policies were mistakenly seen as signs of aggressive global ambitions. Even George Kennan’s famous “long telegram” and “X” article misinterpreted Stalin’s ultimate intentions. This history provides a crucial lesson for the 21st century: understanding the impact of perception and misperception on international relations.