Oct 02, 2015 the first volume of niall ferguson s new biography focuses attention on kissinger s life before he became the most revered and reviled statesman in modern times. Niall ferguson a taiwan crisis may mark the end of the. See all books authored by niall ferguson, including the ascent of money. To some hes the ultimate diplomat, to others a war criminal, but to the historian niall ferguson whos spent years poring through his archives henry kis.
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. In this remarkable new book, the first of two volumes, niall ferguson. There was a discussion of world order, kissinger s latest book, questions about iran and the middle east, ruminations on china. This first volume of fergusons authorized biography of kissinger ends in january 1969, when kissinger had. He is the milbank family senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and the managing director of greenmantle llc.
The idealist shifts the trajectory of kissinger studies fundamentally. Like his classic twovolume history of the house of rothschild, kissinger sheds dazzling new light on an entire era. Niall ferguson on misunderstood henry kissinger youtube. John bew, new statesman books of the year this is a superb history of the. 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. But the books i value most are the books based on primary sources that is why im so keen on this new kissinger book. He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. But it is the subject of greg grandins kissinger s shadow.
Not only has this book been written with henry kissingers cooperation. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Ferguson tries to defend his subject but is deaf to his darker notes, and manages to trivialise his own book. 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. Mar 21, 2021 niall ferguson is the milbank family senior fellow at the hoover institution at stanford university and a bloomberg opinion columnist. In the first of a planned twovolume henry kissinger biography, harvard historian ferguson civilization. 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. The idealist is the story of the single most important strategic thinker america has ever produced. In this first of a twovolume history, we learn that. 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. Hate to say it but i havent read a book in years hated by many, confronted by nonee. Kissinger is not precisely an authorized biography, but ferguson was given access to all of kissinger s papers, and granted multiple inter views with kissinger himself. Apr 17, 2015 there was a discussion of world order, kissinger s latest book, questions about iran and the middle east, ruminations on china.
Drawing on 50 archives around the world, including kissingers private papers, this book by niall ferguson, kissinger. Kissinger received were the intellectual equivalent of underhand softballs. Niall ferguson books list of books by author niall ferguson. For big, bold and compelling, it is impossible to ignore kissinger. Oct 12, 2015 niall ferguson webchat as it happened the celebrated historian, back in the public eye with a biography of henry kissinger, joined us to answer your questions and tackled the likes of isis. He was not the first to be asked, and recalled being reluctant. Oct 12, 2015 niall ferguson niall ferguson webchat as it happened. 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. Kissingers birth and early years shaped him, along with his studies of political philosophy, especially regarding human rights and the liberty ideas. Sep 29, 2015 hailed by some as the indispensable man, whose advice has been sought by every president from john f. Niall ferguson webchat as it happened books the guardian. Fergusons new look at kissinger and the lessons of history.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. First edition of the first volume of ferguson s definitive biography of henry kissinger. The idealist, the first of his projected twovolumes on henry kissinger, ferguson delves into the statesmans early life and thinkin. Every question ferguson asked could have been competently. Working as a weekly columnist in sunday times in london, niall ferguson has become a highly prolific author and voice among his many peers and contemporaries. Aaron paul leads an allstar cast in the black book audio drama. Producing work as both a historian and a biographer, he has also published a number of biographies on figures such as henry kissinger and siegmund warburg. Books by niall ferguson author of the ascent of money. Networks and power from the freemasons to facebook.
The idealist niall ferguson new york, ny, allen lane, 2015, isbn. He was previously a professor of history at harvard, new york. 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. Niall ferguson s most popular book is the ascent of money. Yet as niall ferguson shows in this magisterial biography, the idea of kissinger as the ruthless archrealist is based on a profound misunderstanding. 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. He is the milbank family senior fellow at the more about niall ferguson. Not only has this book been written with henry kissinger s cooperation. Apr 18, 2015 ferguson was to screen all questions ahead of time, and the questions mr. A financial history of the world, and civilization. K issinger s complete legacy is beyond the scope of ferguson s book, which ends just before kissinger assumes power in 1969. Drawing not only on kissinger s hitherto closed private papers but also on documents from more than a hundred archives around the world, ferguson argues that the true foundation of kissinger s. Niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians.
Kissinger is not precisely an authorized biography, but ferguson was given access to all of kissingers papers, and granted multiple interviews with kissinger himself. Signed by both niall ferguson and henry kissinger on the title page. Bush, kissinger has also attracted immense hostility from critics who have cast him as an amoral machiavellian the ultimate coldblooded realist. Drawing on 50 archives around the world, including kissinger s private papers, niall ferguson s new book, kissinger. Henry kissinger invited niall ferguson to write his biography. Previously, he was a professor at harvard university, the london school of economics and new york university, visiting professor at new college of the humanities and senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. 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. He is the author of sixteen books, including civilization, the great degeneration, kissinger, 19231968.
Drawing not only on kissinger s hitherto closed private papers but also on documents from more than 100 archives around the world, this biography is niall ferguson s masterpiece. Andrew roberts praised the book in the new york times, concluding. Sep 29, 2015 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. Buy it at a 58% discount by clicking here or order in kindle edition at a 47%. Niall ferguson already has many important, scholarly and controversial books to his credit. The idealist ferguson, niall, hillgartner, malcolm on. He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford. Sep 29, 2015 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. 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. Niall ferguson, signed abebooks shop for books, art. Sep 27, 2016 niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians.
Niall ferguson history and the practice of diplomacy. Nov 14, 2016 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. Oct 02, 2015 niall ferguson wants us to reject the stereotyped image of henry kissinger as a cynical, amoral realist. Niall ferguson has 61 books on goodreads with 181419 ratings. Like his classic twovolume history the house of rothschild, kissinger sheds dazzling new light on an entire era. The all souls historian rohan butler concluded the first volume of his biography.
Mar 22, 2021 niall ferguson s latest book is the square and the tower. A case for the defence this biography attempts to redeem the former secretary of state. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading kissinger. The idealist, 19231968, argues that americas most controversial statesman, and the cold war history he witnessed and shaped, must be seen in a new light. The kissinger wars early in their new books on henry kissinger, niall ferguson and greg grandin tell the same story about a decisive break between kissinger and his former harvard colleagues over the u. Hed like us to believe that kissinger was a kind of tormented idealist who believed in. Fergusons new look at kissinger and the lessons of.
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