George F. Kennan
An American Life
Book • 2011
Drawing on extensive interviews with George Kennan and exclusive access to his personal archives and diaries, John Lewis Gaddis delivers a revelatory 800-page biography of one of the most influential figures in Cold War history.
The book reveals Kennan as a complex, agonized individual who often felt alienated from American society despite his tireless service to his country, while also examining his profound contributions as a diplomat, policy maker, and scholar of Russian history.
Through Kennan's own journals and personal reflections, Gaddis portrays a man of incredible foresight in international affairs who nonetheless struggled with self-doubt, depression, and dissatisfaction with the very strategies he helped create.
The book reveals Kennan as a complex, agonized individual who often felt alienated from American society despite his tireless service to his country, while also examining his profound contributions as a diplomat, policy maker, and scholar of Russian history.
Through Kennan's own journals and personal reflections, Gaddis portrays a man of incredible foresight in international affairs who nonetheless struggled with self-doubt, depression, and dissatisfaction with the very strategies he helped create.
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Peter Robinson
John Lewis Gaddis
Why the Cold War Still Matters with John Lewis Gaddis | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution
