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The Inevitability of Tragedy

Henry Kissinger and His World

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The Inevitability of Tragedy

By: Barry Gewen
Narrated by: Paul Woodson
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A new portrait of Henry Kissinger focusing on the fundamental ideas underlying his policies: Realism, balance of power, and national interest.

Few public officials have provoked such intense controversy as Henry Kissinger. During his time in the Nixon and Ford administrations, he came to be admired and hated in equal measure. Notoriously, he believed that foreign affairs ought to be based primarily on the power relationships of a situation, not simply on ethics.

He went so far as to argue that under certain circumstances America had to protect its national interests even if that meant repressing other countries' attempts at democracy. For this reason, many today on both the right and left dismiss him as a latter-day Machiavelli, ignoring the breadth and complexity of his thought.

With The Inevitability of Tragedy, Barry Gewen corrects this shallow view, presenting the fascinating story of Kissinger's development as both a strategist and an intellectual and examining his unique role in government through his ideas. It analyzes his contentious policies in Vietnam and Chile, guided by a fresh understanding of his definition of Realism, the belief that world politics is based on an inevitable, tragic competition for power.

©2020 Barry Gewen (P)2020 Kalorama 20th Century Americas Diplomacy International Relations Modern Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Presidents & Heads of State United States Socialism Soviet Union Imperialism Vietnam War Self-Determination Russia American Foreign Policy Capitalism Iran Latin America Refugee War Imperial Japan

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One of the best written books I’ve read in the past decade. Anyone who is curious about Henry Kissinger and what he accomplished will find great satisfaction in reading this book.

Superb analysis

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This book is extraordinarily well positioned in that each subtopic to the overall premise is introduced in a succinct order that provides the reader/listener with a knowledgeable foundation before understanding the processes employed in practice to the philosophical influences and abstracts utilized. This unique analysis assists in understanding what came to comprise the attitudes, and various personas that dominate US Foreign Policy decision making.

Well Groomed

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Not sure why a complete chapter on Arend and Strauss was needed. Various sections rambled on although well written.

Interesting but rambles

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There is an extended reflection on the history and intellectuals that most influenced Kissinger. I was surprised to see Nietzsche here, and I was not familiar with Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt. The book then moves to various of Kissinger's signature policies, in light of these influences, and places Kissinger against a backdrop of recent schools of thought in US foreign policy.

Times and thinkers that made Kissinger tick

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Entirely enticing and inspiring!! Having read all Kissinger’s books and his biography, I found this book adds another dimension of this complicated diplomat. I would find other books by this author.

Great book

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