The Opportunity: America’s Moment to Alter History’s Course
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Politics Among Nations by Hans Morgenthau (McGraw-Hill, $58). This is the classic statement of realism. It is not easy. Like fudge, you have to take it in small pieces, because it is so rich. Unlike fudge, though, it won’t make you fat.
American Diplomacy 1900–1950 by George Kennan (Chicago, $10). This slim book includes the famous article, by “X,” which laid out the containment doctrine that guided U.S. foreign policy throughout 40 years of Cold War. It began as a cable to the State Department from a young foreign service officer serving in Moscow, and it appeared in Foreign Affairs in 1947. The prose is clear and the thinking still valuable, in this case as a guide for what the United States should do now regarding Iran and North Korea.
A World Restored by Henry Kissinger (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, $29). Based on what is quite possibly the best doctoral dissertation ever, Kissinger’s study of the Congress of Vienna is a powerful mix of history, portraits, and statecraft. I first read this as a graduate student. It inspired me at the same time that it intimidated me because I knew I could never write anything nearly as good.
Just and Unjust Wars by Michael Walzer (Basic, $22.50). A thoughtful introduction to the morality and legality of using military force. Essential reading if you want to appreciate the arguments behind the decision to attack Iraq.
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
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Burkina Faso's misinformation warUnder The Radar The president of the West African country has quickly become the face of a viral, AI-powered propaganda campaign
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Jeffrey Epstein's secretsFeature Six years after his death, conspiracy theories still swirl around the sex trafficker. Why?
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Voting: Trump's ominous war on mail ballotsFeature Donald Trump wants to sign an executive order banning mail-in ballots for the 2026 midterms
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Keith McNally's 6 favorite books that have ambitious charactersFeature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
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Garrett Graff's 6 favorite books that shine new light on World War IIFeature The author recommends works by James D. Hornfischer, Craig L. Symonds, and more
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Helen Schulman's 6 favorite collections of short storiesFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Raymond Carver, James Baldwin, and more
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Beatriz Williams' 6 timeless books about history and human relationshipsFeature The best-selling author recommends works by Jane Austen, Zora Neale Hurston, and more
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Aysegul Savas' 6 favorite books for readers who love immersive settingsFeature The Paris-based Turkish author recommends works by Hiromi Kawakami, Virginia Woolf, and more
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Geoff Dyer's 6 favorite books about the realities of warFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Ernie Pyle, Michael Herr, and more
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Laura Lippman's 6 favorite books for those who crave a high-stakes adventureFeature The Grand Master recommends works by E.L. Konigsburg, Charles Portis, and more
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Thomas Mallon's 6 favorite books from the 80's and early 90'sFeature The author recommends works by James Merrill, Calvin Trillin, and more
