Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis | 
| Author: Robert F. Kennedy
Creator: Arthur Schlesinger Jr.
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $3.98
You Save: $9.97 (71%)
New (33) Used (74) Collectible (5) from $3.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 6226
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 185
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 0393318346
Dewey Decimal Number: 327.73047
EAN: 9780393318340
ASIN: 0393318346
Publication Date: November 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Crease on cover, perfect interior!
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Book Description
The unique, gripping account of the perilous showdown between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the thirteen days in October 1962 when the United States confronted the Soviet Union over its installation of missiles in Cuba, few people shared the behind-the-scenes story as it is told here by the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In a clear and simple record, he describes the personalities involved in the crisis, with particular attention to the actions and attitudes of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. He describes the daily, even hourly, exchanges between Russian representatives and American. In firsthand immediacy we see the frightening responsibility of two great nations holding the fate of the world in their hands.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 29 more reviews...
 Inside look at critical inclusive decision making April 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Robert Kennedy's memoir gives not only a fascinating insight to this critical episode, but it serves as a paradigm for crisis management. The brevity of this book is a plus, as it can be an entry into both this critical moment in history as well in decision making for those without the time to wade through more detailed accounts. Theodore Sorensen edited this diary of Robert Kennedy's account after his death, but even with subsequent release of much more information, the essentials are all here, and surprisingly little is either left out or fabricated, given Robert Kennedy and Theodore Sorensen's loyalty to the President. One element of history that is misrepresented is how direct Robert was in offering to trade US missile bases in Turkey, for those of the USSR in Cuba. While we have often accused the Russians of being guilty of rewriting history, it is an American tradtition to emphasize certain elements while deftly underemphasizing certain others. Nontheless, this book could be recommended to anyone looking for a thriller which proves that indeed truth is stranger than fiction. I have three wishes: 1. Every high school student should read this book. 2. Every president and his cabinet should read this book prior to taking the oath of office. 3.
George W. Bush should read it at least once a week.
AS WE APPROACH IN HALF A YEAR THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS FBI ASSASSINATION LET US RECALL WHEN WISDOM AND DIPLOMACY RULED December 4, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Here we have in Robert Kennedy's own account how the world kept out of annihilating nuclear warfare nearly a half century ago, rather than the current highly profitable rushes to war with untold, uncounted millions of innocent victims these past few decades.
Here we can read how true, wise, competent and democratically elected national leaders kept us out of war, Averting 'The Final Failure': John F. Kennedy and the Secret Cuban Missile Crisis Meetings (Stanford Nuclear Age Series).
The only lamentable sectio of this chronicle may be, as ever, Schlesinger's introduction. The rest let us read and pray once more for leaders of peace and morality, not of corrupt as profitable war-mongering.
There are several accounts of those thirteen days, and films. Let us best begin with this book.
first-hand-account, fast-paced, fascinating September 12, 2007
Read up on one of the most terrifying moments in history, the near destruction of the world by nuclear holocaust. This quick read takes you inside the White House where policy makers decided how best to react to the Soviet Union's establishing a nuclear missile base on the island of Cuba. This is a first-hand-account, fast-paced, fascinating page-turner of a history book.
A short but complete walkthrough March 23, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I picked this book up as research for a speech I gave, and found I didn't have to look much further for an understanding of the events. RFK's account--from any source--is very accurate and detailed. It goes right along with the movie "13 days" but, as any book would, offers a much more accurate portrayal of the events. If you do get this book (which I highly recommend for anyone interested in the Cuban Missile Crisis, or history for that matter), you should also look in to the Havana Conference, which really shines some light on the full gravity of the situation.
 Some insight, some disappointment October 31, 2005
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
I was looking forward to reading this book on what I thought would be a keen insider's look at the Cuban missile crisis, and was somewhat disappointed. I realize that RFK was not able to complete the text, and perhaps that is reflected in it's length (100 pages of narrative). A large part of the printed material, about 1/3, is made up of supporting documents. I had hoped for more detail about the minute-to-minute events of those 13 days. The strength of the book is its undeniably interesting topic and author. There was insight to the crisis that I had not previously known, and reading it here was interesting and informative. For a mid-1900's buff, this might be one piece of a collection and its uniqueness may prove worthwhile. This is the first book I read on the Cuban missile crisis, and I am left wanting a lot more.
|
|
|
