The Kissinger Tapes: Inside His Secretly Recorded Phone Conversations, edited by Tom Wells, Oxford University Press, 640 pages, $34.99
Some consider Henry Kissinger a master statesman who advanced American interests by deftly navigating complex international affairs. Others argue that his achievements were exaggerated, preferring to highlight his violations of international law and his complicity in war crimes. Tom Wells' The Kissinger Tapes: Inside His Secretly Recorded Phone Conversations will not resolve this debate, because those who view him as savvy and adept will find ways to construe these transcripts as evidence for their position. Reading them reveals Kissinger's skills as a power broker who strategically maneuvers his way through the political system to achieve his goals. But there is plenty of ammunition here for those of us who view him as a villain.
