Kissinger

A Biography

By: Walter Isaacson

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 34 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

By the time Henry Kissinger was made secretary of state in 1973, he had become, according to a Gallup poll, the most admired person in America and one of the most unlikely celebrities ever to capture the world's imagination. Yet Kissinger was also reviled by large segments of the American public, ranging from liberal intellectuals to conservative activists.

Kissinger explores the relationship between this complex man's personality and the foreign policy he pursued. Drawing on extensive interviews with Kissinger as well as 150 other sources, including US presidents and his business clients, this first full-length biography makes use of many of Kissinger's private papers and classified memos to tell his uniquely American story.

The result is an intimate narrative, filled with surprising revelations, that follows this grandly colorful statesman from his childhood as a persecuted Jew in Nazi Germany, through his tortured relationship with Richard Nixon, to his later years as a globe-trotting business consultant.

©1992 Walter Isaacson (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Worth the time if you love foreign policy history

I enjoyed this book very much. It was very well researched and balanced. It provided both the successes and failures of US foreign policy during the Kissinger years many of which most folks don’t know.

Excellent content

This is an engaging project. He lived an eventful life. The way the voice actor changes his voice for different figure in the story really adds to the consumption.

Very fair analysis

Great job praising and criticizing. I enjoyed the reader’s impersonations of Nixon and Kissinger. Recommend

Wow - I learned a lot from this book

What did you like best about this story?

An interesting life told in an interesting way. The story became alive in my head when I listened to this audiobook.

Thorough Review of Kissinger's Career

A thorough biography that initially focuses more heavily on Kissinger's personality traits than his policies, but broadens as Kissinger himself does. An updated, post Iraq and Afghanistan war prologue, would bring great value to an understanding of Kissinger.

Long yet essential bio

Isaacson is the best bio writer of our time and this is no exception. Thoroughness in detail is an understatement for this book, although at times it feels a bit too granular. Yet Isaacson’s ability to immerse himself with his subjects and zoom out and weigh their actions and their impact on the world and how things might have gone differently is a priceless ability. A portrait of Kissinger is revealed in all his depth and complexity.

Walter Isaacson was again terrific and balanced

A great biography by a great biographer on a great life.. Americans would do well to read this book and like Isaacson notes the question is not what is perfect but what is achievable when it comes to foreign policy

Great History of the man and times

Well written and very interesting. There were times where I wondered if it was a hit piece. However, Isaacson does acknowledge Kissinger's successes, almost grudgingly which were significant. I disagree, but not completely that realpolitik can't be exercised in the US. It can and Kissinger proved this. But, he's correct in stating that Americans tend to be isolationist. But that's only when the economy is in a rough patch. When the economy is good Americans don't vote on realpolitik or much of anything regarding foreign policy. Americans almost didn't notice we were fighting a war in Afghanistan for 20 years.

Incisive Portrait

Written in 1992, the analysis is a bit dated, but the book is still worthy reading because of the level of detail, and as it is based partly on countless interviews of insiders. It is only mildly critical of this very polarizing, controversial figure, however.

Another brilliant writing of Isaacson

Kissinger is an interesting character, and Walter Isaacson's method of showing his life makes it better