Tisch professor of history at harvard university and current senior fellow at the center for european studies at harvard university, a visiting professor at tsinghua university, beijing, and founder and managing director. Some regard him as the countrys greatest strategic foreign relations thinker, while others describe him as conspiratorial or as a war criminal. The secret to henry kissingers success niall ferguson. For big, bold and compelling, it is impossible to ignore kissinger 1923 1968. Henry kissinger is one of the most controversial statesmen in american history. Niall ferguson on the life of henry kissinger chicago. In his new biography of henry kissinger, the historian niall ferguson recalls that halfway through what. Early in their new books on henry kissinger, niall ferguson and greg grandin tell the same story about a. The book illustrates just what an extraordinary human being kissinger is. The idealist excerpted here in politico magazine came out last month, it sparked a new discussion about the controversial statesmans.
Yet as niall ferguson shows in this magisterial twovolume biography. December 5, 2016historian niall ferguson has won the fifteenth annual council on foreign relations cfr arthur ross book award for kissinger. Internationally renowned harvard historian niall ferguson came to the intelligence squared stage to discuss his new appraisal. Apr 01, 2014 niall ferguson is a senior fellow at the hoover institution at stanford university, former laurence a. When niall fergusons henry kissinger, 1923 to 1968.
In this remarkable book, the first of two volumes, niall ferguson has created an extraordinary panorama of kissingers world, and a paradigmshifting reappraisal of the man. Previously, he was a professor at harvard university and new york university, was also a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford, and a visiting professor at the new college of the humanities. In his charmless biography of henry kissinger, niall ferguson fails to make a. Niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians. Like his classic twovolume history of the house of rothschild, kissinger. In his book, professor ferguson argues that henry kissingers approach to foreign policy was grounded in. Noted harvard historian niall ferguson tells the first part of kissingers story in great detail in kissinger.
That very name, niall ferguson writes in the first volume of his biography of. 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. But while kissingers position at the heart of twentieth century us foreign policymaking, and as advisor to every president from kennedy to obama is legendary, less well known are the life experiences that molded his character. Winner of the council on foreign relations arthur ross book award. Andrew roberts praised the book in the new york times, concluding. He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. I d made it 375 pages into niall fergusons newish first volume of a. A threepart television adaptation, niall fergusons networld, will air on pbs in march 2020. Niall fergusons dishonest biography of henry kissinger. The idealist by niall ferguson available from rakuten kobo. 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. For kissinger and ferguson, china is, simultaneously, a serious threat to western dominance and an opportunity for selfaffirmation as it downloads some might say, pirates or hacks the wests killer apps. Oct 10, 2015 when niall fergusons henry kissinger, 1923 to 1968.
Niall ferguson on henry kissinger ottawa international. When an accomplished historian writes about one of the worlds great diplomats, the results are sure to be a masterpiece and that is exactly how to describe niall fergusons epic on henry kissinger. Niall ferguson already has many important, scholarly and controversial books to his credit. In his charmless biography of henry kissinger, niall ferguson fails to make a dishonest argument come out in his own favor. Thick, heavy volume which would incur extra postage outside of uk. Kissinger by niall ferguson, 9781455834556, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. He is also a senior research fellow of jesus college, university of oxford, a senior fellow of the hoover institution, stanford university and visiting professor at the new college of the humanities. The all souls historian rohan butler concluded the first volume of his biography. The all souls historian rohan butler concluded the first volume of. Niall campbell ferguson is a british historian from scotland.
Indeed it could be said that kissinger comes alive through this epic biography. Kissinger by niall ferguson penguin books australia. 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. Although this book is long at 986 pages, and kissinger has only just. Tisch professor of history at harvard university and current senior fellow at the center for european studies at harvard university, a visiting professor at tsinghua university, beijing, and founder and managing director of advisory firm greenmantle llc. War ii, ferguson shows that he saw action during the battle of the bulge.
There is no doubt that niall fergusons kissinger is a brilliant book by an outstanding historian about a great and durably interesting statesman, who is also a distinguished historian and gifted strategic thinker. Apr 04, 2018 this feature is not available right now. If volume i had surprised readers with its subtitlethe idealistshould volume ii perhaps be subtitled the networker. Sep 29, 2015 niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians.
Bit by bit, kissinger was becoming a foreign policy expert with few rivals. Yet as niall ferguson shows in this magisterial twovolume biography, drawing not only on kissingers hitherto closed. More history more nonfiction more nonfiction more by niall ferguson. From the bestselling author of the ascent of money and the square and the tower, the definitive biography of henry kis. The idealist, 19231968 by niall ferguson 2015, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. By engaging in such unabashed cheerleading, fergusons book. The idealist, which recently won the arthur ross book prize of the council on foreign relations. Niall ferguson wants us to reject the stereotyped image of henry kissinger as a cynical, amoral realist. Oct 02, 2015 niall ferguson wants us to reject the stereotyped image of henry kissinger as a cynical, amoral realist. As brzezinski argued in his book between two ages, the new global city being created by the technetronic age was a nervous, agitated, tense, and fragmented web of interdependent relations. Henry kissinger is one of the most important strategic thinkers america has ever produced, according to harvard historian niall ferguson.
The idealist, the first of a projected twovolume biography. Id made it 375 pages into niall fergusons newish first volume of a. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read kissinger. The idealist shifts the trajectory of kissinger studies fundamentally. I grew rather fond of him by reading his correspondence with kissinger and his diaries, so. That very name, niall ferguson writes in the first volume of his biography of the former us national security adviser and secretary of state, hit some neuralgic spot in the collective brain of a generation. Hed like us to believe that kissinger was a kind of tormented idealist who believed in. He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford. Were featuring millions of their reader ratings on our book pages to help you find your new favourite book. Niall fergusons protestations aside, henry kissinger was the quintessential. No american statesman has been as revered or as reviled as henry kissinge. Ferguson was the philippe roman visiting professor at the london school of economics in 201011. It would be refreshing to be able to report that niall fergusons kissinger, 19231968.
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. He is also a senior research fellow of jesus college, university of oxford, a senior fellow of the hoover institution, stanford university and. Professor niall ferguson talked about his book, kissinger. Networks and power from the freemasons to facebook. But if the second volume of kissinger is anywhere near as comprehensive, well written and riveting as the first, this will be his masterpiece. Tisch professor of history at harvard university, a senior fellow at the hoover institution, and the author of the forthcoming book kissinger, 19231968. The idealist, 19231968, is the first volume of henry kissingers biography, written by niall ferguson. Like his classic twovolume history of the house of rothschild, kissinger sheds dazzling new light on an entire era.
This is among the many canards that niall ferguson shoots down in this first volume of his life. 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. Niall ferguson has written what i feel must become a classic for all those in search of the essence of a great statesman whose works, policies and actions have affected all our lives. Drawing not only on kissingers hitherto closed private papers but also on documents from more than a hundred archives around the world, this biography is niall fergusons masterpiece. Like his classic twovolume history of the house of rothschild, kissinger sheds dazzling new. The biography begins in furth, germany, kissingers place of birth, and describes the vibrant jewish community that existed there during the 19th and early 20th century. Kissinger biography is great, says pal of author and. 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 masterpiece. The secret to henry kissingers success niall ferguson journalism. The chinese have got capitalism, ferguson exults towards the end of the book. The secret to henry kissingers success many think the retired diplomats closeness to one manrichard nixonwas the source of his power.
In his pronouncements on the war in vietnam, ferguson insists kissinger was an idealist first and foremost. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. The idealist excerpted here in politico magazine came out last month, it sparked a new. In this remarkable new book, the first of two volumes, niall ferguson. Niall fergusons most recent book is the square and the tower.
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