The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made

Evan Thomas

Walter Isaacson

February 28, 2012

The Wise Men is a detailed and riveting story of the six men who crafted postwar American foreign policy. Evan Thomas’s book delves into the lives of Dean Acheson, George Kennan, Robert Lovett, Averell Harriman, Charles Bohlen, and John McCloy. Each chapter recounts a different man’s contributions and their relationships with the other five. The book draws out thoughtful and sometimes surprising details of the men’s upbringing and the major events that shaped their decisions. The author provides real insight into their political motivations and the power dynamics of the period.We learn how they were able to influence three presidents – Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy – as well as the roles they played in shaping U.S policy during the Cold War. Each of the six men faced unique challenges that tested their character in different ways. The Wise Men is a historical account of their contributions through the end of the Cold War. It provides some fascinating context to the reality of US-Soviet relations and the historically difficult decisions that these men faced. Above all, this book reveals the courage and conviction of these six men and the effect their lives had on the shape of our world. Evan Thomas has supplied a penetrating look into their political and diplomatic acumen, strategy and tactics, creative problem solving, and a foundation of loyalty and friendship that held true no matter the cost. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the men behind the Cold War and how the consequences of their decisions and relations still resonate today.