The Road Not Taken

(Hardback)

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'Judicious and absorbing' New York Times Book Review In this biography of Edward Lansdale (1908-1987), the man said to be the model for Greene's The Quiet American, Max Boot demonstrates how Lansdale pioneered a 'hearts and minds' diplomacy, first in the Philippines, then in Vietnam. It was a visionary policy that, as Boot reveals, was ultimately crushed by America's giant military bureaucracy, steered by elitist generals who favoured napalm bombs over winning the trust of the people. Through dozens of interviews and access to never-before-seen documents, Boot recasts this cautionary American story, tracing the bold rise and the crashing fall of Lansdale from the battle of Dien Bien Phu to the humiliating American evaculation in 1975. Boot rescues Lansdale from historical ignominy and suggests that Vietnam could have been different had we only listened. With reverberations that continue to resonate, this is a biography of profound historical consequence. 'Essential reading for students of military policy and the Vietnam conflict' Kirkus 'A thoroughly engaging and enlightening biography' Military History Monthly

Reviews

I couldn't stop reading this -- Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn
A fascinating portrait of Lansdale... superb' -- Philip Caputo, author of A Rumor of War
Brilliant... offers important lessons for the present day' -- David Petraeus, former Director of CIA
Controversial in some of its conclusions, perhaps, as Lansdale's arguments were in their day, and essential reading for students of military policy and the Vietnam conflict * Kirkus Reviews *
Judicious and absorbing * New York Times Book Review *
Provides new perspective on a murky period in American history * Choice magazine *
A thoroughly engaging and enlightening biography * Military History Monthly *

Author Bio

A senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and renowned military historian, Max Boot is a regular contributor to the New York Times and other publications. Author of two previous books, he lives in New York.