War & Peace/nucl Age

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

``Focusing largely on the American presidency, this comprehensive review of the nuclear age chronicles the effect of nuclear weapons on relations between allies and potential adversaries,'' reported PW. (May)

Library Journal

This companion to a public television series with the same title by New Yorker writer Newhouse is a history of nuclear diplomacy, from the origins of the Manhattan Project to 1988. The bipolar relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union forms the core of the discussion. He gives considerable attention to intra-U.S. political struggles affecting nuclear armaments and, where information is available, he parallels conflict within the Kremlin. The narrative, although buttressed with notes, is written for a popular audience. The author has made some errors, albeit harmless ones. In treating the successive U.S. administrations, the author is evenhanded and nonpartisan, but he does level some strong, well-reasoned criticisms of presidents. Recommended. Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor