Books like The tragedy of U.S. foreign policy by Walter A. McDougall

A revealing nonfiction account of how the Cold War’s arms race collapsed, detailing the Soviet “Dead Hand” system, biological weapons, and the diplomatic, military, and political forces that brought nuclear brinkmanship to an end.

Argues that the United States is both economically and militarily the most powerful empire in history and will feel negative consequences as a result of imposing unrealistic timescales on interventions abroad.

"We're often told that the United States is, was, and always has been a Christian nation. But in One Nation Under God, historian Kevin M. Kruse reveals that the idea of 'Christian America' is an invention--and a relatively recent one at that. As Kruse argues, the belief that America is fundamentally and formally a Christian nation originated in the 1930s when businessmen enlisted religious activists in their fight against FDR's New Deal. Corporations from General Motors to Hilton Hotels bankrolled conservative clergymen, encouraging them to attack the New Deal as a program of 'pagan statism' that perverted the central principle of Christianity: the sanctity and salvation of the individual. Their campaign for 'freedom under God' culminated in the election of their close ally Dwight Eisenhower in 1952. But this apparent triumph had an ironic twist. In Eisenhower's hands, a religious movement born in opposition to the government was transformed into one that fused faith and the federal government as never before. During the 1950s, Eisenhower revolutionized the role of religion in American political culture, inventing new traditions from inaugural prayers to the National Prayer Breakfast. Meanwhile, Congress added the phrase 'under God' to the Pledge of Allegiance and made 'In God We Trust' the country's first official motto. With private groups joining in, church membership soared to an all-time high of 69%. For the first time, Americans began to think of their country as an officially Christian nation. During this moment, virtually all Americans--across the religious and political spectrum--believed that their country was 'one nation under God.' But as Americans moved from broad generalities to the details of issues such as school prayer, cracks began to appear. Religious leaders rejected this 'lowest common denomination' public religion, leaving conservative political activists to champion it alone. In Richard Nixon's hands, a politics that conflated piety and patriotism became sole property of the right. Provocative and authoritative, One Nation Under God reveals how the unholy alliance of money, religion, and politics created a false origin story that continues to define and divide American politics to this day"-- "In One Nation Under God, award-winning historian Kevin M. Kruse argues that the story of Christian America begins with the Great Depression, when a coalition of businessmen and religious leaders united in opposition to the New Deal. As Kruse shows, corporations from General Motors and Kraft Foods to J.C. Penney and Hilton Hotels, poured money into the coffers of conservative religious leaders, who in turn used those funds to attack FDR's New Deal administration as a program of "pagan statism" that perverted the central tenet of Christianity: the salvation of the individual"--

Patrick J. Buchanan argues for a United States foreign policy that protects national liberty by pursuing only vital interests and avoiding unnecessary international crusades.

The rise of the Religious Right is one of the most important political and cultural stories of our time. To many, the controversial movement threatens to upset the nation's delicate balance of religious and secular interests. To others, the Religious Right is valiantly struggling to preserve religious liberty and to prove itself the last, best hope to save America's soul. In With God on Our Side - the first balanced account of the impact of conservative Christians on post-war politics - William Martin paints a vivid and authoritative portrait of America's most powerful political interest group. Race relations, abortion and reproductive rights, homosexuality, the content of the mass media, school curricula, and the nature and role of the family - conservative Christians have engaged all of these socially charged issues, and their activism has irrevocably altered the way America confronts its thorniest problems. How does a free society draw the line between church and state without removing religious conviction from public life? What motivates individual Americans to do battle in the culture wars? Most important, when politicians and religiously motivated activists join forces, who holds the reins? Drawing on over 100 new interviews with key figures in the movement, William Martin brilliantly captures the spirit of the age as he explores both sides of this dramatic debate. Written in conjunction with the public television series of the same name, this landmark book is essential reading for all Americans - conservative and liberal, fundamentalist and atheist - who care about the spiritual health and political future of our country.

The definitive biography of the Bundy brothers, who advised presidents on peace and war during the Cold War and became key architects of America's Vietnam War strategy, despite their doubts about sending American troops to Southeast Asia.

John J. Mearsheimer explains his theory of offensive realism, outlining how great powers pursue military strength and regional dominance to secure national survival.

"A new account of America's most controversial diplomat that moves beyond praise or condemnation to reveal Kissinger as the architect of America's current imperial stance."--Provided by publisher.