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9781597971751

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The longer the debate over how the Cold War ended continues, the greater grow the intellectual stakes. By supplementing his careful analysis with judiciously selected documents, John Prados provides an essential foundation to engage the questions. He asks, he answers, he argues, and he challenges in a manner certain to provoke all readers to think harder. --Richard H. Immerman, Edward J. Buthusiem Family, Distinguished Faculty Fellow in History, Marvin Wachman Director, Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy, Temple University-- (10/31/2010) For a quarter-century no student of the Cold War has brought broader knowledge or keener insight to the subject of superpower relations than John Prados. His gifts are on display again in this volume, in which he examines the crucial questions of how and why the Cold War ended the way it did. Newcomers to the field will be informed and inspired, specialists challenged and provoked. This is a wonderful addition to a distinguished series. --H. W. Brands, Dickson Allen Anderson Centennial Professor of History and Government, University of Texas at Austin and author of American Colossus-- (11/01/2010) This book offers an invaluable window into the political and military dynamics at the end of the Cold War. Integrating a clear analysis of events with a deep investigation of personalities and policies, Prados explains how internal transformations in the Soviet Union and the United States changed the relations between these two antagonistic societies. Prados emphasizes the role of contingency and the importance of leadership in this process. He provides a superb example of serious historical analysis for contemporary events with continued relevance in our present world. --Jeremi Suri, E. Gordon Fox Professor of History, University of Wisconsin, and author of Henry Kissinger and the American Century-- (11/03/2010) For those who have read one of John Prados's past books, the quality of How the Cold War Ended will come as no surprise. It is expertly organized, exhaustively researched, and highly readable. Above all, it is a book which will challenge readers and invite them to conduct some extensive intellectual work. This is what makes it such a unique and valuable volume. --Rick Baillergeon, On Point--Rick Baillergeon On Point An indispensable primer on the myriad factors that contributed to the denouement of the Cold War. Prados lays bare the historian's tools, giving every reader a chance to analyze the epic events of the period. This is an invaluable book for all those who are frustrated by the short-sighted triumphalism of post-Cold War America. --Vladislav M. Zubok, professor of history, Temple University, and author of A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev-- (11/02/2010) In a masterful and multifaceted rebuttal to the argument that Ronald Reagan's assertive stance won the Cold War, John Prados gives us a fuller picture of what happened. The collection of documents that he provides is fascinating and a great asset for teaching. --Robert Jervis, Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics, Columbia University, and author of Why Intelligence Fails: Lessons from the Iranian Revolution and the Iraq War-- (11/04/2010) A choice addition for any community and college library collection focusing on Cold War history. --Midwest Book Review--Midwest Book Review (03/21/2011)

For those who have read one of John Prados's past books, the quality of How the Cold War Ended will come as no surprise. It is expertly organized, exhaustively researched, and highly readable. Above all, it is a book which will challenge readers and invite them to conduct some extensive intellectual work. This is what makes it such a unique and valuable volume. Rick Baillergeon, On Point review

For those who have read one of John Prados's past books, the quality of How the Cold War Ended will come as no surprise. It is expertly organized, exhaustively researched, and highly readable. Above all, it is a book which will challenge readers and invite them to conduct some extensive intellectual work. This is what makes it such a unique and valuable volume.

Author Information

John Prados is a senior fellow at the National Security Archive in Washington, D.C., and holds a Ph.D. in political science (international relations) from Columbia University. He is the author of numerous books, including Lost Crusader: The Secret Wars of CIA Director William Colby (Oxford, 2003), Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945–1975 (University Press of Kansas, 2009), and Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA (Ivan R. Dee, 2009). His work has focused on national security, presidential decision making, intelligence and military history, and Southeast Asia. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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