Review: Interesting and clear review of the Detente period
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2013
This book is a fascinating introduction to the political history of the period 1962 to 1979 that includes the Détente.The book simplifies the issues and the vast interconnecting network during a time of incredible complexity.The style is such although there is a high level of content, the narration is done in such a way that the reader can follow and remain interested.The author clearly highlights the "tipping points" such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the introduction of the "Hotline", and the effects of individual world players such as Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Mao Zedong (Mao Tse Tung), Kennedy, Johnston and Nixon.I was reminded of the adopted Mutually Assured Destruction Policy that certainly warranted the acronym of MAD.What was interesting to me also, is that I have lived through the period covered in this book and was only lightly aware of the complicated interactions going on between the Super Powers.Things like the Russian intrusion into Africa and South America, the tensions between the USA and China over Taiwan, and the hard to imagine Russian forces eyeballing Chinese forces on their common borders.So I have found the book interesting, very informative and an easy way to get to understand the international geo political history of that time.