The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War
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By: Stephen Kinzer
A joint biography of John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles, who led the United States into an unseen war that decisively shaped today's world During the 1950s, when the Cold War was at its peak, two immensely powerful brothers led the United States into a series of foreign adventures whose effects are still shaking the world. John Foster Dulles was secretary of state while his brother, Allen Dulles, was director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In this book, Stephen Kinzer places their extraordinary lives against the background of American culture and history. He uses the framework of biography to ask: Why does the United States behave as it does in the world? The Brothers explores hidden forces that shape the national psyche, from religious piety to Western movies—many of which are about a noble gunman who cleans up a lawless town by killing bad guys. This is how the Dulles brothers saw themselves, and how many Americans still see their country's role in the world. Propelled by a quintessentially American set of fears and delusions, the Dulles brothers launched violent campaigns against foreign leaders they saw as threats to the United States. These campaigns helped push countries from Guatemala to the Congo into long spirals of violence, led the United States into the Vietnam War, and laid the foundation for decades of hostility between the United States and countries from Cuba to Iran. The story of the Dulles brothers is the story of America. It illuminates and helps explain the modern history of the United States and the world. A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of 2013
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Comprehensive Overview of "The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War" by Stephen Kinzer
Plot Summary: "The Brothers" by Stephen Kinzer is a joint biography of John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State, and Allen Dulles, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, during the 1950s. This period was marked by the peak of the Cold War, and the Dulles brothers played pivotal roles in shaping U.S. foreign policy. The book explores how these two powerful brothers led the United States into a series of foreign adventures that had profound and lasting impacts on the world.
Kinzer places the lives of the Dulles brothers against the backdrop of American culture and history, using biography as a framework to ask why the United States behaves as it does in the world. The narrative delves into the hidden forces that shape the national psyche, including religious piety and Western movies that often depict a noble gunman cleaning up a lawless town by killing bad guys. This narrative reflects how the Dulles brothers saw themselves and how many Americans still perceive their country's role in the world.
The book details how the Dulles brothers, driven by a quintessentially American set of fears and delusions, launched violent campaigns against foreign leaders they saw as threats to the United States. These campaigns destabilized nations, led to long-term consequences, and contributed to conflicts in various parts of the world, including Guatemala, the Congo, Vietnam, Cuba, and Iran. The story of the Dulles brothers is presented as a microcosm of America's broader foreign policy endeavors and its global role.
Key Themes:
- Human Agency: The book emphasizes the significant impact of powerful individuals on world events. The Dulles brothers' interventions, driven by their specific worldview, often destabilized nations and led to long-term consequences.
- Historical Memory: Kinzer argues that understanding the Dulles brothers' influence is crucial to comprehending modern U.S. history and its global role. He notes that many have forgotten the Dulles brothers and their impact, which hinders our understanding of world history and current events.
- American Exceptionalism: The book critiques the dangers of American exceptionalism, highlighting how the Dulles brothers pursued power without regard for the consequences for others. This theme is echoed in the critical reception, with authors like Evan Thomas and Andrew J. Bacevich noting the dangers of such a mindset.
Critical Reception: "The Brothers" has received widespread critical acclaim for its masterful assessment of the Dulles brothers' roles in shaping U.S. foreign policy. Here are some notable reviews:
- Kirkus Reviews: Described as "A well-documented and shocking reappraisal of two of the shapers of the American century".
- John le Carré: Praised for its "secret history, enriched and calmly retold; a shocking account of the misuse of American corporate, political and media power; a shaming reflection on the moral manners of post imperial Europe; and an essential allegory for our own times".
- John Deutch: Commended for its detailed description of U.S. efforts to change governments during this period in various countries.
- Robert D. Kaplan: Noted for demonstrating how the Cold War might have been waged with more subtlety than it was, highlighting the Dulles brothers' actions as a polemic.
- Evan Thomas: Described as "A disturbing, provocative, important book" that vividly brings the Dulles brothers to life and makes a strong case against the dangers of American exceptionalism.
- Andrew J. Bacevich: Praised for telling the story of the Dulles brothers with verve, insight, and just the right amount of indignation, highlighting their legacy of mischief.
Overall, "The Brothers" is a significant work that illuminates and helps explain the modern history of the United States and the world, offering a compelling narrative that challenges readers to reflect on the enduring impact of powerful individuals on global events.