Ideologies in Conflict

The author characterizes this book as a docu-story. As such it is an exceptionally well-researched and skillfully written chronology of the history of Russia the Soviet Union and the cold War. The work is unusual and unique. It is unusual because unlike most books of an historical nature it is free-flowing and not tightly structured. It is unique because it is written with considerable input from the author's personal experiences interwoven with perceptions and anecdotal observations. The work is <B>Assertive:</B> <I>I have no doubt that there was Cold War. I fought in it.</I> (The Author); <B>Candid:</B><I> Stalin is an unconscionable dictator but I liked the little son-of-a-bitch.</I> (Truman); <B>Provocative:</B><I> Truman is worthless.</I> (Stalin); and <B>Challenging:</B> <I>Why not set a goal just between the two of us; let's find a practical way to solve our critical issues.</I> (Reagan) and <I>we can set a specific agenda for how to straighten-out Soviet-American relations.</I> (Gorbachev). Finally it is <B>Cautionary:</B><I> The world has become in many respects a safer place unfortunately it is also still a dangerous place fraught with uncertainty.</I> (Commander-in-Chief US Strategic Command) and: <I>The missile force is in the same state of readiness as ten years ago. My men and my missiles are always ready.</I> (General of the Army Igor Sergeyev Republic of Russia.)