The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris
by Peter Beinart
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A century of unwise American military adventures is probed in this perceptive study of foreign policy over-reach from Woodrow Wilson's "hubris of reason" to George W. Bush's "hubris of dominance." In each case, Beinart finds a dangerous confluence of misleading experience and untethered ideology.Tags
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I'm glad I impulsively bought this book at a book sale; very interesting read; the final chapter is a great summary of his point of view for anyone interested in the topic of U.S. foreign relations from WW I forward
Apparently the war to end all wars was really a misnomer. As if the slaughter of over 75m in the two world wars was not lesson enough, it was followed in quick succession by the Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War and now the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. The author is trying to examine if this is hubris taken to it's extreme with the eagle soaring towards the sun and trying to reach it. Is the apogee of American Intellectualism defined by it's capacity to foment war (in foreign lands of course), thereby inviting the inevitable backlash?
Apparently the war to end all wars was really a misnomer. As if the slaughter of over 75m in the two world wars was not lesson enough, it was followed in quick succession by the Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War and now the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. The author is trying to examine if this is hubris taken to it's extreme with the eagle soaring towards the sun and trying to reach it. Is the apogee of American Intellectualism defined by it's capacity to foment war (in foreign lands of course), thereby inviting the inevitable backlash?
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10+ Works 614 Members
Peter Beinart is an associate professor of journalism and political science at the City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. He is the senior political writer for The Daily Beast and a contributor to Time. Beinart is a former fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations and the author of The Good Fight He lives show more with his family in Washington, D.C. show less
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- Genres
- Nonfiction, Politics and Government, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 327.73 — Society, Government, and Culture Political science International Relations: Spies North America United States
- LCC
- E183.7 .B43 — History of the United States United States History Diplomatic history. Foreign and general relations.
- BISAC
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- 3
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- (3.64)
- Languages
- English
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- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
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