Surprise, Security, and the American Experience by John Lewis Gaddis

   This book may surprise you.  It did me. Written by a renowned history professor at Yale University, it is highly readable and only 118 pages long (excluding notes and index) 

   In it, Professor Gaddis examines the Bush Administration's current Middle East policy from the standpoint of American's own foreign policy history. He points out, among other things, that George W. Bush is only the third United States President to devise a 'grand strategy' for the security of our nation and is not the first United States President to employ the tactics of unilateralism, preemption and hegemony.

 I first read this little book soon after it's publication in 2004 and I have given several copies away to people I knew to be critical of the Bush Doctrine.  The fact that none of these people came back with any arguments disputing Professor Gaddis' premise convinced me this was a book of historical accuracy and logical thinking  - and one that could enhance the prospective of every American at this crucial time in our country’s history.

I hope you will read it and pass it around, as I have done.  This could help change some extremely negative attitudes so detrimental to the success of our current Middle East policies.

This book is available new in hardback from Amazon for $9.95.
 Used copies are also available from Amazon for less price.. 

Patricia W. Earle
June 11, 2006