What Good Is Grand Strategy?: Power and Purpose in American Statecraft from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush

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This is a remarkably good book. For one thing at the start of the book Brands explains his definition of “grand strategy” as the framework that guides the formulation of foreign policy. For another this book describes historic examples of the formulation and execution of grand strategy by four U.S. Presidents in a non-political series of discussions.Brands discusses U.S. Grand Strategy as it was developed under Presidents Truman, Nixon, Reagan, George W. Bush. He does so in an apolitical and objective manner that is refreshing in this age ideology. The development of a Grand Strategy for the Cold War under President Truman has been discussed in much more detail in other books, but this book provides a good summary of the processes involved. The exploration of the efforts of President Nixon and his national security advisor Henry Kissinger to develop the ultra Grand Strategy and their failure to do so makes for fascinating reading. Perhaps the biggest surprise for this reviewer in this book was the revelation of what a really brilliant strategist President Reagan was and the power of a simple, but clear and consistent vision can have on Grand Strategy. The final discussion of Grand Strategy under George W. Bush is a sad example of what happens when ideologues allow their own delusions to replace objective analysis in the formulation Grand Strategies.In short this is an excellent book that ought to be required reading for anyone who actually wants to understand what grand strategy is and it can be executed.

Awesome! Book was perfect!

Received the book in good condition

And what good is all this to me an average American who works hard, raises a family, obeys the law and pays his taxes. Why should I care if our country is the biggest frog in the pond.

Excellent overview using relevant examples

Excellent book.