The idealist, the first of a projected twovolume biography. Henry kissinger invited niall ferguson to write his biography. From the bestselling author of the ascent of money and the square and the tower, the definitive biography of henry kissinger, based on. The book examines kissingers life from being a refugee and fleeing. Bush, kissinger has also attracted immense hostility from critics who have cast him as an amoral machiavellian the ultimate coldblooded realist. The definitive biography of henry kissinger, based on unprecedented access to his private papers, written by one of our greatest historians.
The idealist, 19231968, is the first volume of henry kissingers biography, written by niall ferguson. Fergusons new look at kissinger and the lessons of history. In this remarkable new book, the first of two volumes, niall ferguson has created an extraordinary panorama of kissinger s world, and a paradigmshifting reappraisal of the man. Spectator, new statesman, telegraph, sunday times and financial times books of the year 2015 no american statesman has been as revered and as reviled as henry kissinger. Niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians. Niall ferguson already has many important, scholarly and controversial books to his credit. In the first of a planned twovolume henry kissinger biography, harvard historian ferguson civilization. For big, bold and compelling, it is impossible to ignore kissinger 19231968. In this remarkable new book, the first of two volumes, niall ferguson has created an extraordinary panorama of kissingers world, and a paradigmshifting reappraisal of the man.
Kissinger by niall ferguson penguin books new zealand. Kissinger book ocean city free public library bibliocommons. The book attempts to show that kissinger was much more idealistic when he was younger, although he became a solid political realist later in life. Once hailed as superk, the indispensable man whose advice has been sought by every president from kennedy to obama, henry kissinger has also been hounded by conspiracy theorists, scouring his every telcon for evidence of machiavellian malfeasance. Niall ferguson has taken on the life and times of henry kissinger with verve and originality. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Oct 04, 2015 ferguson gives the full story of the kissinger familys experience under the third reich before they emigrated in 1938, and ferguson has identified at least 23 close family members who perished in. Check out the intelligence squared website to hear about future live events and podcasts. Niall campbell ferguson is a scottish historian and the milbank family senior fellow at the. The idealist by niall ferguson, read by roy mcmillan. Buy kissinger by niall ferguson, paperback, 9780141022000 online at the nile. But ferguson does a superb job in one book of explaining why kissinger is a complex figure with as much of an idealist and philosophical grounding as a realist one. The secret to henry kissingers success niall ferguson. Hitchenss the trial of henry kissinger is the most entertaining such book, but. Niall fergusons protestations aside, henry kissinger was the. Oct 15, 2015 book of the day niall ferguson kissinger 19231968. The idealist shifts the trajectory of kissinger studies fundamentally. The west and the rest traces kissinger s life from his birth in germany in 1923 through his service in wwii and growing career as a foreign policy expert, culminating in his 1968 appointment as national security advisor to newly elected president richard nixon.
Niall ferguson, kissingers authorized biographer, begins the arduous task of. Kissingers birth and early years shaped him, along with his studies of political philosophy, especially regarding human rights and the liberty ideas. Kissinger book santa clara county library bibliocommons. Adam nadel the book illustrates just what an extraordinary human being kissinger is. He spent his early adolescence under the third reich. Fast delivery with free 30 day returns across australia. I very much appreciated how fully the author engaged kissinger s ideas and written works as well as his actions.
Oct 02, 2015 niall ferguson wants us to reject the stereotyped image of henry kissinger as a cynical, amoral realist. Richard drayton, rhodes professor of imperial history at king. A definitive portrait of the american statesman, based on unprecedented access to his private papers, challenges common misconceptions to trace kissinger s beliefs to philosophical idealism. Ferguson gives the full story of the kissinger familys experience under the third reich before they emigrated in 1938, and ferguson has. He is the author of paper and iron, the house of rothschild, the pity of war, the cash nexus, empire, colossus, the war of the world, the ascent of money, high financier, civilization, the great degeneration, kissinger, 19231968. Discover delightful childrens books with amazon book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new amazon book box prime. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Niall ferguson history and the practice of diplomacy. The definitive biography of henry kissinger, based on unprecedented access to his private papers, by. He is the author of paper and iron, the house of rothschild, the pity of war, the cash nexus, empire, colossus, the war of the world, the ascent of money, high financier, civilization, the great degeneration, kissinger, 1923 1968. Noted harvard historian niall ferguson tells the first part of kissinger s story in great detail in kissinger. Kissinger book olathe public library bibliocommons.
The idealist henry kissinger, harvard professor, before the senate foreign relations committee in 1966. He is the author of sixteen books, including civilization, the great degeneration, kissinger, 19231968. His thesis that kissinger was an idealist in a distinctive kantian sense is intriguing. As ferguson notes in volume one, in researching the life and times of henry kissinger, i have come to realize that i had missed the crucial importance in american foreign policy of the history deficit. The idealist 19231968, the idea of kissinger as the ruthless arch. Drawing not only on kissinger s hitherto closed private papers but also on documents from more than a hundred archives around the world, this biography is niall ferguson s.
Niall ferguson argues that kissinger favored a moral foundation for. Nov 14, 2016 in this remarkable book, the first of two volumes, niall ferguson has created an extraordinary panorama of kissinger s world, and a paradigmshifting reappraisal of the man. This is a stunningly good biography of henry kissingers rise. Sep 26, 2015 since ferguson s book ends in 1968, there is no mention of the biggest controversies surrounding kissinger including the bombing of cambodia a neutral country in americas conflict in. Hed like us to believe that kissinger was a kind of tormented idealist who believed in.
Publishers summary penguin presents the audiobook edition of kissinger. Kissinger enticed him with revelations about the survival of diaries and private letters, such as one to his parents in 1948 quoted at length to launch the lecture as well as the many essays he had written as a. A proper understanding of american history requires a proper understanding of kissinger. Yet as niall ferguson shows in this magisterial twovolume biography, drawing not only on kissingers hitherto closed private papers but also on documents. Every question ferguson asked could have been competently. Kissinger book burlington public library bibliocommons. The idealist, the first of his projected twovolumes on henry kissinger, ferguson delves into the statesmans early life and thinkin. Yet as niall ferguson shows in this magisterial biography, kissinger. Cart hello select your address prime day deals best. His research included access to previously private papers, documents from more than 100 archives and many interviews with his subjects former colleagues. He is the milbank family senior fellow at the more about niall ferguson.
Kissinger niall ferguson paperback books online raru. No american statesman has been as revered and as reviled as henry kissinger. A portrait of the american statesman, based on unprecedented access to his private papers, challenges common misconceptions and covers everything from kissinger s beliefs to his philosophical idealism. A case for the defence this biography attempts to redeem the former secretary of state. Kissinger s power, still based on a network that crossed not only borders but also professional boundaries, endured long after he left government in 1977, institutionalized in the advisory firm kissinger associates, maintained by almost incessant flying, meeting, mingling, dining. Barbara keys is associate professor of history at the university of. Yet as niall ferguson shows in this magisterial twovolume biography, drawing not only on kissingers hitherto closed private papers but also on documents from more than a hundred archives around the world, the idea of kissinger as the ruthless archrealist is based on a profound misunderstanding. Kissinger by niall ferguson penguin books australia. Yet as niall ferguson shows in this magisterial twovolume biography, drawing not only on kissinger s hitherto closed private papers but also on documents from more than a hundred archives around the world, the idea of kissinger as the ruthless archrealist is based on a profound misunderstanding. Historian niall ferguson talked about his book kissinger. National book critics circle, general nonfiction award. Kissinger by niall ferguson, paperback, 9780141022000 buy. Apr 17, 2015 there was a discussion of world order, kissinger s latest book, questions about iran and the middle east, ruminations on china. The firm assists its clients in identifying strategic partners and investment opportunities and advising them on government relations.
The idealist, in which he looks at the early life of henry kissinger. Kissinger book alameda county library bibliocommons. The 1,000 pages of volume 1 are themselves divided into five books. Early in their new books on henry kissinger, niall ferguson and greg grandin tell the. Always thorough, often surprising, at times deeply moving, this is an extraordinary biography of the most significant scholarstatesmanstrategist of our time, by one of our most accomplished historians.
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