Author Event: “The Inevitability of Tragedy”
Facilitated by Barry Gewen
Thursday, January 7, 2021
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Location: Virtual Event via Zoom
In this deeply thoughtful, meticulously researched work, Barry Gewen looks at Henry Kissinger’s life experiences—in particular, his teen years as a Jew in Bavaria living under Nazi persecution—and crucially places Kissinger’s pessimistic thought in a European context. Gewen also explores the links between Kissinger’s notions of power and those of his mentor, Hans Morgenthau, as well as Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt, both German-Jewish émigrés who shared his concerns about the weaknesses of democracy. Notoriously, Kissinger believed that foreign affairs ought to be based primarily on the power relationships of a situation, not simply on ethics. Many today dismiss Kissinger as a latter-day Machiavelli, ignoring the breadth and complexity of his thought. With The Inevitability of Tragedy, Gewen corrects this shallow view, presenting the fascinating story of Kissinger’s development as both a strategist and an intellectual and examining his unique role in government. The Inevitability of Tragedy offers a nuanced, thought-provoking perspective on the origins of Kissinger’s sober worldview and argues that a reconsideration of his career is essential at a time when American foreign policy lacks direction.
Please order “The Inevitability of Tragedy” at either:
Flashlight Books in Walnut Creek
Click to Order:https://www.flashlightbooks.com/handseller-1
They are accepting appointments for in-store shopping and have curbside pickup hours, Tues-Sat, 10 AM - 4 PM. For pick-up, please order online or contact them at contact@flashlightbooks.com
OR
Rakestraw Books
Click to Order: https://www.rakestrawbooks.com/book/9780393867565
Prepaid orders are available for curbside pickup 11am-3pm, Monday through Saturday. If you’re local, they can also deliver your order as soon as possible.
Sponsored by: Congregation B’nai Shalom, CCJCC and The Jewish Book Council