Niall Ferguson, "Kissinger"

In Kissinger: 1923-1968: The Idealist, the first of his projected two-volumes on Henry Kissinger, Ferguson delves into the statesman’s early life and thinking, providing the little-known background that formed this influential figure’s world view. Ferguson traces his subject’s intellectual coming-of-age with a depth and scope that recalls his magisterial work on Siegmund Warburg, The High Financier, and his comprehensive investigation of The House of Rothschild.
Founded by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in 1984, Politics & Prose Bookstore is Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, a gathering place for people interested in reading and discussing books. Politics & Prose offers superior service, unusual book choices, and a haven for book lovers in the store and online. Visit them on the web at www.politics-prose.com/

[@stevenbetz2041]

About halfway through this right now. Really enjoyed it so far. Hope Part II comes out soon!

[@aedanwinterhawk8368]

HK's 4th insight "A foreign policy based purely on considerations of national interests is not sustainable." Obviously Kissenger forgot about that insight in many of his later Foreign Policy decisions regarding Cambodia and, Chile. Also seems that Niall had lost a healthy impartiality towards his subject and sadly it seems became deeply co-opted . At least based upon this video.

[@MonkeyspankO]

Its an excellent read. Almost finished, taking my time, but its very well written. I would recommend to anyone interested not just in kissinger the man, but in mid 20th century history. Lots of digression from the biography part.

[@adrianainespena5654]

Kissinger, the man was a piece of crap.

[@Williamtipq]

Tremendous objectivity, great work!

[@adrianainespena5654]

Objectivity: "Collateral damage does not matter, because the victims are not white."

[@alley2405]

I haven't read the book and the second volume is still to come out, but I do wonder how Ferguson will reconcile some of Kissinger's more violent policy decisions, such as the illegal and secret bombing of Laos. I'll suspend judgement until I read it.

[@syourke3]

Alley Suspend judgement about genocide? Really? Ferguson is nothing but an apologist for imperialism. He’s a cockroach. If you want to read the real thing about Kissinger, read The Price of Power by Seymour Hersch and Christopher Hitchens’ book on Kissinger. He’s a vile war criminal.

[@texasarcane7894]

Snowjob on a psychopath. See if you can get your entire head up there, Ferguson.

[@danteshydratshirt2360]

+Texas Arcane ROFL

[@klynch5156]

You do realise that the more controversial stuff is coming in Vol II, don't you? By his own admission, Ferguson said that although still only part of the way through his research for the sequel, he was having trouble reconciling aspects of Kissinger's earlier character with his later deeds. Let's reserve judgment until we've seen the second volume.

[@DrCruel]

Now you know how the rest of us feel when the likes of Lenin and Chomsky are lauded.

[@panscopia1791]

starts: 3:30

[@biobelewilliam-west1310]

Prof.Niall Ferguson is aligning himself for something bigger in the geopolitical global stage...."if you know what I mean" with Henry Kissinger "blessing"

[@elizabethanderson2968]

A rather selective memory from Niall, of all people, on the harbinger of death himself ... or, was it merely professional discretion? Stark contrast to Hitch's book ...

[@huiyichen6554]

War start because of resources, in the name of ideals, stop because of either one out muscle another or, both exhaust their capital and the first to reach out for peace talk is often the once first to realise its wrong estimate of the opponent's ability. Why Kissinger would ever think peace could be born out of negotiation alone is puzzling, given his intellect and experiences.

[@HundreadD]

Good writer but I've never actually thought Ferguson was a very compelling speaker; this was one of his better ones

[@JMM333]

I'm curious: did Henry told you the difference between Franconia and Bavaria? And had you access to the state archives, even the classified ones (i guess not)? I was in Führt this spring in the Henry Kissinger Square area. I didn't see a commemorative plaque or anything else and even walkers from Fürth couldn't help me. Also in front of his birthplace and former residence (two different buildings, which are only a few meters apart) I could not find anything, but this is done with every third class philosopher. As Zvi Rex said: "Auschwitz the Germans will never forgive us!" You could call the second part "The Neocon", because he definitely pursued a realistic foreign policy, even if it may not have been ideal typical. In this sense, the mixture of idealism and realism would be neoconservatism. Based on Ferguson's description, there are probably also some similarities to the neocons of the 1st generation, certainly less with the 2nd generation. Or: "The questionability of the Boomer generation". But it will probably appear on 7.1 under "A Biography"

[@killthestereotype4601]

It seems to me, that this is a clean up job

[@javierborda8684]

Imagine Lavrentiy Beria asks you to write his biography, you'd know what you have to do...

[@freemason4979]

the trial if h kissinger anyone?

[@RobinHood-hk5dk]

Will definitely order this. Clearly, Ferguson struggled with tacking the research on this brilliant, yet controversial statesman. I look forward to 2nd volume too.

[@Tsnore]

Niall is back.

[@ThePatsyMusic]

yeah like most people on comments - im gonna stick to the christopher hitchins version thanks.

[@micheledibenedetto7780]

And that’s all I need to know, I was going to give NF an opportunity to re-ingratiate himself to my former view and esteem that I once held so high, thanks for saving my time.. oh what a pity such a colossus has diminished to quasi prostitution..... sad sad day

[@QuadCloudNine]

Host kinda sounds like Tom hanks

[@huiyichen6554]

"It is a moral act, to choose the lesser of two evils" First of all, the old smoothie does not have such ideals as a lie that elevates is dearer than a host of cheap truth, he aims to shorten processes. "The illegal we do immediately the unconstitutional takes a little longer" to quote Kissinger. "Pure realism of foreign policy that is based entirely on consideration of national interest and is decoupled from any morality is not sustainable". The key word is ANY. The mortifying experience of Nazis fortified Kissinger's lowly regards of the value of human lives, that is more plausible an explanation than Machiavellian ideals I guess it is a choice between efficiency and morality. Kissinger has achieved a lot in his life.

[@marcusimpresario7724]

I remember Kessinger from the time he worked for Nixon. I've watched Ferguson's entire presentation and haven't changed my opinion. I don't care about Viet Nam or war crimes. Kessinger was just another asshole, gaming the system. Niall Ferguson used to be able to think clearly. Something terrible must have happened to him.

[@TommyGlint]

Or something is wrong with you? Which one of you are a distinguished historian again?

[@TheGrowlingAraknid]

Mind control is a strong asset. Kessinger would know all about that.

[@ronc7743]

It should have a forward by Klaus Schwab.

[@melisp1]

HK the snake 😖

[@meoneandonly_]

Up to now, I actually loved Fergusons work and his perspectives on different topics quite a lot. Especially his series about China and his book on WW I.But this piece on Kissinger is truly disgusting A disgrace for historians to paint one of the worst criminals and psychopaths of the cold war in such a rosy picture. I guess Ferguson knows exactly that hes lying and he probably got a lot of money for it. Another sad day for intellectual honesty

[@d.mavridopoulos66]

I have an idea about a series of books Niall can author, to follow this one : "Genghis Khan: The Visionary", "Timur the Great : The Merciful Slayer", and he'll have to rack his powerful intellect, to prettify the quite unsalvageable Ivan the Terrible. My dear fellow all these people that you've been swearing at, have extremely strong grounds for opposing your view. Why have you assumed that every single one one of them is not as erudite as you are ? The 'Idealist' successfully undermined peace talks in 1968 between the US and Vietman, and as a result the Vietnam war was prolonged for another 4 years. Another 4 years of killing, maiming, burning alive, psychological trauma, and starvation. I think you will agree that the action, is not one of the strongest contenders, to be inscribed in the annals of humanitarian accomplishments. He once in 1971 infamously ordered of his pilots in Indochina, the highly idealistic (verging on saintly) : "everything that flies against everything that moves". In plain English: feel free to make a holocaust out of them. He gave the green light to Indochina to invade East Timor, and bent the law to arm the aggressors/violators of international law. Not a figure to have reservations and be sceptical about.

[@danielkurzyna7394]

Kissinger haters are pathetic..

[@javierborda8684]

@@danielkurzyna7394 sure...

[@elizabethanderson2968]

Agree, 100%

[@tonylord9917]

I know what's going on here. You suffer from preconceived ideas. It is obvious that you neither listened to the lecture nor did you read the book. What is disgusting is someone like you who doesn't do any critical thinking, nor can you set bias aside and just listen and take information. Niall Ferguson obviously showed great bravery because he would have known otamatone droids like yourself would simply lambaste him without even a desire to hear him out. He doesn't fit your thin worldview. You, clearly, are not a thinker. What you are is a vile, narrow minded jerk.

[@punchcat1234]

The thinker really I guess all killers and war criminals are thinkers

[@texasarcane7894]

+punchdogggy That's exactly what Kissinger isn't. His books are rabbinical rubbish and sophistry and he never paused to consider deeply in his life. He was a slack jawed idiot and whenever the United States listened to a word out of his mouth thousands of soldiers died. This moron should've stuck to driving jeeps. Niall Ferguson and Kissinger are both pseudo-intellectual academics who wanted to run the world which explains Ferguson's fascination with him. "We can't make good foreign policy decisions until we have better data processing." What an absolute pair of frauds.

[@texasarcane7894]

***** As if the people who work in government know why government isn't working. It's not a problem with methodology, it's a problem with the sorts of people who are attracted to the government. It's not better data processing, it is higher native intelligence that is missing. Obama and Bernie Sanders are just another two men who have never held actual day jobs. Admit it, you worship the State as a god so you assume the people who represent it must be gods. They aren't. Kissinger is a vulgar fat little pudding who parlayed his "smart" act into a career. It is all circular logic. "Now I'm working for Nixon, so would I be an idiot if I was working for Nixon? Domino effect! Like the Snakes and Ladders effect but more like dominos!" He should have become a rabbi because that is all he was ever qualified for.

[@texasarcane7894]

***** Sorry, it is what I do for a living. So here we have another situation with an outsider trying to sound like he knows what he is talking about. What are your credentials to understand what is meant by data processing? You saw The Matrix four times?

[@texasarcane7894]

***** Keep winning. Your future is so bright I have to wear shades.

[@texasarcane7894]

***** Keep tonguing that Kissinger crack tenderly, he likes it. I moved to Australia 25 years ago because I saw all of this coming. I knew it would end like this.

[@smujismuj]

Nothing will likely get better until we remove 'personalities' from politics. Principles not Principals

[@truth5761]

The biggest criminal in the world Henry Kissinger

[@emiliopena6841]

War criminal

[@marcusimpresario7724]

I remember Kessinger from the time he worked for Nixon. I've watched Ferguson's entire presentation and haven't changed my opinion. I don't care about Viet Nam or war crimes. Kessinger was just another asshole, gaming the system. Niall Ferguson used to be able to think clearly. Something terrible must have happened to him.

[@tobywaller8717]

Ive read two thirds of the book, its had all soul ripped out of the story. It's a cover up, a right wing sympathetic novel.

[@marza339]

I'm in love with you