I find WW2 fascinating, but I feel as though I have a lack of formal knowledge about the overall structure of the conflict. I'd like to read a single work as starting point for future reading. I'd prefer it covered the entire conflict, in all theaters and across the various economic, political, and military contexts. I know this is a difficult question. I've done some research and found:

• A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II by Weinberg
• The Second World War: A Complete History by Gilbert
• Inferno: The Second World War by Hastings
• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Shirer

I'm not sure the Shirer book is really a contender for what I'm looking for. I'm excited about his first-person take on things, but I've read that his account is considered dated and doesn't include much outside of Europe.

I've heard Weinberg is a bit dry, but it ultimately seems like what I'm looking for in terms of a comprehensive, largely objective telling of the war across all contexts.

I've heard great things about Gilbert and Hastings too, but not enough to know where they excel.

Is one of these the best to start with? Are there any others? Thank you for your suggestions!