First published 1984
Fred Kaplan reveals the hidden world of nuclear strategists who designed America's atomic warfare policies during the Cold War. These men worked in secrecy, crafting theories and plans that would determine how the United States might deploy nuclear weapons. Kaplan exposes their methods, their thinking, and their influence on military doctrine. The book uncovers a previously unknown chapter of American political and military history, showing how a small circle of thinkers shaped nuclear strategy. Published as part of the Stanford Nuclear Age Series, this account illuminates the human decisions behind atomic policy. Kaplan demonstrates how these strategists operated behind closed doors, developing frameworks that would guide presidential decisions about nuclear warfare. The book offers readers access to classified deliberations and strategic thinking that remained hidden from public view for decades.
Genres: history, 20th-century, non-fiction, military-history, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-closed-doors, hidden-history
Setting: America, United States
Period: Cold War
452 pages · Paperback · Simon & Schuster