First published 1997
Robert McNamara sits at the center of America's most controversial war, making calculations that will ripple through countless lives. As Secretary of Defense during Vietnam, his strategic decisions create a web of consequences that ensnare five individuals in tragedy. Paul Hendrickson traces how McNamara's policy choices during the conflict transformed these five people forever. Each life represents a different facet of the war's human cost. Their stories unfold against the backdrop of McNamara's tenure, revealing how distant governmental decisions penetrate intimate human experiences. The book examines McNamara's role in shaping the conflict while following the personal trajectories of those caught in its wake. Hendrickson shows how one man's choices in Washington offices translate into altered destinies across America, creating a portrait of responsibility and consequence that extends far beyond the battlefield.
Genres: history, 20th-century, non-fiction, biography-memoir, military-history, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: responsibility, tragedy
Setting: America, Vietnam
Period: 20th Century
437 pages · Paperback · Papermac
Content warnings: death, war