The details of six remarkable men who, by historical chance, came together at a crucial time in America's history are truly fascinating.

When the nation needed individuals with a willingness to serve and an honorable character to guide presidents and those in power, and when the country required the valuable advice they could offer, these six men stepped forward.

Acheson, Harriman, Mc Cloy, Kennan, Lovett, and Bohlen began their stories as young lives, shaped by their education and upbringing into adulthood.

As World War II loomed, opportunities and needs emerged for each of them. The book then follows the political and economic landscapes, along with the many fears that were advancing globally.

Issues such as communism, threats from Russia, and the task of rebuilding Germany and Japan after the war took center stage.

Our country faced a decline during and after President Kennedy's era. The debilitating consequences of the Korean War, followed by the Vietnam War and the loss of countless American lives, had a profound impact.

This overall view of the past 50 years is of great importance. Being able to review these years as we have lived through them offers such wisdom and appreciation to the reader.

Fortunately, we have Walter Isaacson and Evan Thomas to show us "the world they made"!

I picked up this book with the intention of conducting research, and to my great delight, it served that purpose extremely well.

As I delved into its pages, I found a wealth of information that provided a more accurate and detailed account of the real US history, as opposed to the sanitized and edited version often presented in textbooks.

The author's meticulous research and engaging writing style made it a captivating read from start to finish.

I can't help but imagine that anyone with a genuine interest in uncovering the truth about US history, rather than settling for the watered-down textbook narrative, would also fall in love with this book.

It offers a refreshing perspective and a deeper understanding of the events and forces that have shaped the nation.

Whether you're a history buff or simply someone curious about the past, this book is definitely worth a read.

I am truly fascinated by Isaacson's in-depth exploration of the pre- and post-WWII government in the United States.

He delves into the lives and actions of six men who played crucial roles in the rebuilding of post-war Europe. With great detail, he presents not only their remarkable successes but also their inevitable failures, while also providing insights into their personal backgrounds.

Moreover, through his account, we are able to catch a glimpse of Truman's courage in making some of his most significant decisions.

This comprehensive and engaging narrative offers a unique perspective on a crucial period in history, allowing us to better understand the complex web of events and the individuals who shaped it.

Isaacson's work is a testament to the power of storytelling in bringing history to life and making it accessible to a wider audience.

I took this one slowly. It's long, and sometimes a bit dry - but SO interesting.

I only had a limited knowledge about Averill Harriman before. However, through reading this, I definitely learned a great deal about the people who were in charge behind the scenes of the government during this particular time period.

The parts specifically about Truman were especially captivating. They were so interesting that I'll be adding Truman by McCullough to my ever-expanding list of books to read.

This shows how this reading experience has not only increased my understanding of a particular individual but also piqued my interest in further exploring related topics and works. It makes me realize that even though a piece of writing might seem a bit challenging at first, the rewards of delving deeper and uncovering new knowledge can be truly remarkable.

Overall, it has been a valuable and engaging experience that has broadened my perspective and left me eager to learn more.

What an amazing book!

Wow! In nearly 900 pages, this remarkable book meticulously details the lives of the six Wise Men - Acheson, Harriman, Lovett, McCloy, Bohlen, and Kennan. They were part of the old foreign policy elite during the twentieth century. As Acheson so aptly puts it, they were "present at the creation" of a New World Order after World War II. Whether for better or worse, they played a crucial role in shaping the world we live in today.

On one hand, they were quintessentially part of an old boy network, all coming from prestigious prep schools, elite colleges, and secret societies. On the other hand, their membership in such a close-knit network seems to have enabled them to operate in a unique way. According to Henry Kissinger, they worked as "an aristocracy dedicated to the service of this nation on behalf of principles beyond partisanship."

By no means were they perfect, nor are they portrayed as such in the book. However, considering the enormous tasks that fell upon them during the twentieth century, I can't help but be in awe of their work and dedication to public service. Their courage was truly remarkable. (Just think about dealing with nuclear doomsday scenarios!) This book also serves as a powerful reminder that individuals can have important and unparalleled roles in shaping the course of history. I absolutely loved this book!

Fantastic history about a small group of political heavyweights of the 20th century establishment.

These individuals started as classmates and then advanced from being foreign service juniors to reaching the highest echelons of the cabinet across multiple administrations.

They had a profound impact on policy, playing a crucial role in restoring Europe after WWII through the implementation of the containment policy to check the USSR's aggression.

They were constantly striving for the betterment of the country in world affairs, firmly believing in liberalism, globalism, and America's leadership role in maintaining world peace, known as the Pax Americana.

Although they were somewhat elitist and perhaps a bit racist by today's standards, they were pragmatists rather than ideologues, and were willing to update their views as the facts changed.

I was particularly impressed by their consistent preference for diplomacy over force, even when their advice was disregarded.

Their loyalty to each other and respect for order and the various offices of the government are truly admirable.

One key takeaway is that perhaps everyone should have heeded George Kennan's advice at all times, as his views and predictions almost always proved to be accurate.

The book is structured in a way that begins by描绘 the personal backgrounds of these individuals, and the second half focuses mainly on world politics and their role within it.

Surprisingly, I was more interested in the personal aspect, but the political history was also captivating, and I gained a much more detailed understanding of the nuanced ebb and flow of those decades.

The writing is outstanding. However, I listened to this on Audible and was really disappointed with the narration. There were numerous strange mispronunciations, and I almost gave up because of it.

Thankfully, I persevered and got used to it, as the book itself is truly great. It has given me a deeper understanding of the world we live in today.

The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made offers a detailed and engaging account of the Cold War years.

Walter Isaacson and Evan Thomas trace the development of American foreign policy from the post-World War One era to the 1980s, focusing on six key figures.

The nickname "the Wise Men" was given to these men due to their gatherings during Cold War crises at the request of presidents.

Some of their relationships date back to their school days, and their entry into Skull and Bones at Yale symbolizes their connection to the elite crowd.

George Kennan played a major role in shaping U.S. Cold War policy, and his anti-Soviet stance grew over the years.

Ambassador to Russia Charles "Chip" Bohlen was a skilled diplomat who dealt with difficult Kremlin officials.

The book also explores the collapse of relations between America and Russia after World War Two, the debate over nuclear policy, and the division between containment and confrontation.

Asia became a key pivot point, with the Korean Peninsula and Vietnam serving as test cases.

The Korean War had a significant impact on Soviet and Chinese perceptions, and the lessons learned were applied to Vietnam.

The Vietnam portion of the book is complex, with the domino theory and concerns about being soft on Communism driving U.S. policy.

The authors sum up the era, highlighting the bipartisan consensus that collapsed over China and Korea, and the oversimplification and overstatement of the truth by Truman's men.

The Wise Men is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in understanding the post-World War Two international order and the rationales behind U.S. foreign policy decisions.

This book delves into a bygone era when foreign policy held precedence over party politics.

The six men that the author centers on were consulted by both democratic and republican administrations. Although their advice wasn't always followed, it was always taken into account.

Nevertheless, these men were far from being saints, and the authors don't shy away from highlighting their faults. Undoubtedly, they were snobbish.

Certainly, some of their views would have led to their being "cancelled" in today's society. They were firm believers in the idea of America, yet not in Americans themselves.

As Dean Acheson so aptly put it, "democracy is only tolerable because no other system is." This at times made them out of touch with the mood of the country.

In the case of Korea, this detachment might have been necessary, but in the case of Vietnam, it most definitely was not. At the end of the day, they were "wise" men, but they were also human, with all the flaws and limitations that come with being so.

This is an extremely interesting book that delves into the world of the bi-partisan, or rather, non-partisan policy elite who steered US foreign policy from the mid-1930s to, in certain cases, the 1980s.

The book shines a light on the early life backgrounds of these men, exploring how they came to know each other, their relationships, and how they either got along or didn't. It also examines how their positions evolved over time and in relation to one another.

The book is truly compelling and even gripping up until the end of the Korean War. However, as the narrative progresses into the Vietnam War, it starts to lose a bit of its focus.

It is quite remarkable and something that I didn't fully understand before, just how close to power the policymakers and thinkers from the 1930s remained well into the mid-1960s and 1970s. Men who had met with Stalin on numerous occasions were also involved in working with the North Vietnamese.

Nevertheless, the book does seem to lack some depth towards the end. This is largely because the Wise Men were gradually being overshadowed by more careerist younger men during this period. These younger individuals prevailed mainly because they were politically and personally closer to Kennedy and Johnson, rather than through a straightforward victory in policy debates.

Consequently, the fading of these men from power is described in a more opaque manner compared to the intricate and detailed account of their rise. Still, the book is excellent overall. And if the author seems to have developed a bit of an affinity for his subjects, it is clear where that occurred. Their mistakes are duly documented along with their successes, allowing the reader to form their own judgments.

DAVID GERGEN: Let me pose this question to you. When we look back on the past forty or fifty years of American foreign policy, one of the ironies is that in this era of information, you suggest that we have too little wisdom.

GEORGE KENNAN: Indeed, I do. One of the aspects that troubles me about the computer culture of the present age is that it seems to me that one of the things we least need is more information. What we truly require is intelligent guidance on how to handle the information we already possess.

In today's world, with the rapid development of technology and the explosion of information, we are inundated with an overwhelming amount of data. However, having access to a vast amount of information does not necessarily translate into having wisdom or the ability to make sound decisions.

We need to develop the skills and判断力 to sift through the information, analyze it critically, and determine its relevance and significance. This requires not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of history, politics, and human nature.

Intelligent guidance can help us navigate the complex landscape of information and make informed choices that are in the best interests of our country and the world. It can provide us with a framework for thinking about problems and offer alternative perspectives and solutions.

Therefore, instead of simply amassing more information, we should focus on developing the wisdom and判断力 to use the information we have effectively. This is the key to success in an age of information.

Important History of America Became A World Power

This book documents the story of six friends who originated from similar elite backgrounds and went on to form the core of our foreign-policy leadership. It offers a truly fascinating tour through the历程 of our reluctant emergence as a world power. It delves into the details of how we gradually rose to this status, facing numerous challenges and making crucial decisions along the way.

Moreover, it also explores how we learned the limits of that power. We discovered that being a world power is not just about having military might or economic superiority. There are complex political, social, and cultural factors at play. We had to navigate through international relations, balance our own interests with those of other countries, and deal with the consequences of our actions.

This book provides valuable insights into this important period of American history, helping us to better understand how we became the world power we are today and the lessons we have learned along the way.

I often find myself struggling with Isaacson's writing.

He has a tendency to go on and on without getting to the point, which can be quite frustrating.

When he wrote about the Wright brothers and Steve Jobs, the subjects themselves were interesting enough to somewhat make up for his rather poor (in my opinion) writing style.

However, in this particular case, the story progressed far too slowly.

While there were some excellent history lessons about the elite and wealthy that were truly fascinating, about halfway through, I just couldn't bear to pick up the book and read anymore.

I had to stop. This is very unusual for me, as I usually finish even the worst of books once I start.

This year, I made a promise to myself that I would persevere through difficult books just to say I finished them, and I also agreed to give every book a fair chance.

But this one took several hours of my time before I finally gave up.

Unless you are an extremely passionate history buff, I would recommend skipping this book.