A review by ewbanh
George F. Kennan: An American Life by John Lewis Gaddis
4.0
Gaddis does an excellent job of bringing Kennan to life, and showing him as an infinitely complex and sensitive human being. Filled with Kennan's own writings and self-reflections (and criticisms), Gaddis' biography is empathetic towards its subject--though he does not hesitate to point out inconsistency and failures both public and private.
Well-researched and curated, I enjoyed the book immensely. I teared up at Kennan's passing, but I am not sure if it is because I was saddened by the man's death (at 101--no easy feat!) or if I would just miss the man's voice--after 800 pages it had become more familiar than my own.
Well-researched and curated, I enjoyed the book immensely. I teared up at Kennan's passing, but I am not sure if it is because I was saddened by the man's death (at 101--no easy feat!) or if I would just miss the man's voice--after 800 pages it had become more familiar than my own.