The Road Not Taken

A chronicling of CIA operative Edward Lansdale, this biography definitively reframes our understanding of the Vietnam war.

About the author

A senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and renowned military historian, Max Boot is a regular contributor to the New York Times and other publications. Author of two previous books, he lives in New York.

Summary

In this biography of Edward Lansdale (1908-1987), the man said to be the model for Greene's The Quiet American, Max Boot demonstrates how Lansdale pioneered a 'hearts and minds' diplomacy, first in the Philippines, then in Vietnam. It was a visionary policy that, as Boot reveals, was ultimately crushed by America's giant military bureaucracy, steered by elitist generals who favoured napalm bombs over winning the trust of the people.
Through dozens of interviews and access to never-before-seen documents, Boot recasts this cautionary American story, tracing the bold rise and the crashing fall of Lansdale from the battle of Dien Bien Phu to the humiliating American evaculation in 1975. Boot rescues Lansdale from historical ignominy and suggests that Vietnam could have been different had we only listened.
With reverberations that continue to resonate, this is a biography of profound historical consequence.

Foreword

A chronicling of CIA operative Edward Lansdale, this biography definitively reframes our understanding of the Vietnam war.

Additional text

Provides new perspective on a murky period in American history' Choice magazine.

Product details

• Authors: Max Boot, Boot Max
• Publisher: Head of Zeus
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 09.07.2020
• EAN: 9781788542685
• ISBN: 978-1-78854-268-5
• No. of pages: 768
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Biographies, autobiographies; USA, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political, Biography: historical, political & military, c 1960 to c 1970, Later 20th century c 1950 to c 1999, United States of America, USA, Military intelligence, c 1960 to c 1969, Modern warfare, Non Fiction, Biography: historical, political and military, Military history: post-WW2 conflicts, Specific wars and campaigns, Political leaders and leadership, c 1955 to c 1975 (Vietnam War period), Vietnam War, HISTORY / Wars & Conflicts / Vietnam War