First published 1994
George Kennan draws on decades of diplomatic experience to diagnose what ails American government. He argues that individual ambition corrupts leadership while the nation's vast size separates rulers from citizens. Washington makes shortsighted decisions driven by electoral cycles rather than long term planning. Congress serves narrow interests and the executive branch drowns in crisis management. Democracy loses its capacity for careful deliberation. Kennan's solution is radical: create a Council of State that stands apart from politics yet advises policymakers with enough prestige to cut through partisan noise. He insists America must repair its own institutions before leading other nations. This book captures the wisdom of a man who witnessed a century of war and upheaval, offering both critique and blueprint for democratic renewal.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, non-fiction, 21st-century, government, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: critique-and-blueprint
Setting: America, Washington
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
276 pages · Paperback · W. W. Norton & Company