Philip Zelikow Books

"A deeply researched international history of how a divided world ended and our present one was fashioned, as the world drifts toward another great time of choosing." --Back cover.

During the Cuban missile crisis the United States twice came to the brink of attacking Soviet military units, which were equipped for nuclear retaliation. This book presents the transcripts of tape recordings of the situation secretly made by President Kennedy.

"Essence of Decision" is both a vivid account of a crucial international event and a breakthrough in the application of organizational and political theory to events. Professor Allison analyzes the Cuban missile crisis in terms of three alternative frames of reference. By examining it first through one set of conceptual lenses, then through a second, and finally through a third, he explores some of the fundamental yet often unrecognized choices among the categories and assumptions that channel our thinking and thus influence our decisions and the outcomes in situations such as the missile crisis.

During a pivotal few months in the middle of the First World War all sides- Germany, Britain, and America-believed the war could be concluded. Peace at the end of 1916 would have saved millions of lives and changed the course of history utterly.

This work provides an analysis of the moves and manoeuvres that brought an end to the Cold War division of Europe. Coverage includes discussion of the opening of the Berlin Wall and a study of the relationship between West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and reform Communist leader, Hans Modrow.