One Minute to Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend In October 1962, at the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union appeared to be sliding inexorably toward a nuclear conflict over the placement of missiles in Cuba. Veteran Washington Post reporter Michael Dobbs has pored over previously untapped American, Soviet, and Cuban sources to produce the most authoritative book yet on the Cuban missile crisis. In his hour-by-hour chronicle of those near-fatal days, Dobbs reveals some… Product details and pricing info |
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24 Customer Reviews Posted
- GREAT BOOK
- This book is equally great for those who have little background information on the Cuban missile crisis or those who are very familiar with the subject. The research us up to data and the material is written in a way that will not turn away fiction readers.
- 2008-10-01, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Scarier Than You Thought
- We remember the Cuban Missile Crisis as the most dangerous moment of the Cold War...when we were "eyeball to eyeball". As time has allowed access to records and players on all three sides, the truth turns out to be much more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. Michael Dobbs does a commendable job following the chronology of the crisis from a variety of levels: in the Kremlin and the White House; as well as in the cockpits, conning towers, and firing rooms. JFK's cool leadership was a product partly of his searing experience as a rookie president with the Pentagon and the CIA during the Bay of Pigs fiasco. 18 months later, in this penultimate crisis, he was very skeptical and cautious of the vehement demands of Curtis LeMay and others to launch airstrikes and an invasion. We can now see how the invasion would have turned out: armed to the teeth with battlefield nukes, our invasion force would have been vaporized by the Soviets and Cubans on the beaches, with WW III immediately following.
It is just by the most remarkable luck that some little thing didn't go wrong, accidentally or in anger by any one of a vast number of warriors on both sides, armed to the teeth, eyeball-to-eyeball, on hair-trigger alert. Kennedy and Khrushchev both understood the danger in no longer being in control...that, as Kennedy remarked, 'there's always some s.o.b. who doesn't get the word'. That we both were able to disengage is nothing short of a miracle...again, thanks to Dobbs able retelling, a vastly greater miracle than we ever knew. Like a man in the street who is just missed by a swerving car, every day for humanity since October 1962 is our renewed lease on life. - 2008-09-30, 1 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- No One's in Charge
- Wow. Even though everybody knows how the Cuban Missile Crisis ended, this book had me sweating it out. The new info that Michael Dobbs turned up made me realize that no one really knew what was going to happen. The politicians, from Kennedy and Khrushchev on down, were kind of making it up as they went along. I had learned about the Cuban Missile Crisis in school, but this book brought it to life in a way that no textbook on any subject ever managed. This book isn't just for history buffs. It's really a book for everybody, I think, because it shows how much international relations ought to matter to all of us.
- 2008-09-12, 2 of 2 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Outstanding History Written as a Thriiler
- I also remember the Cuban missile crisis. I was in college and remember the Sunday night speech and watching the Russian ships heading for the blockade line. I also was of age to idolize President Kennedy and be inspired by him.
I reading Mr. Dobbs work all the memories came back. This book really covered the back stories. The CIA almost silly attempts to overthrow Castro, the mistaken U2 overflights of Russia and the lack of the ability to communicate. Also I learned for the first time the number of troops the Russians had in Cuba. Lastly, I was so impressed with how human error got us closer to war.
The most important part of the book was the understanding how both leaders realized that war was the last option and not the first. When looking at the abyss they each understood they needed to find a way around it. Mostly, I was impressed with the wisdom and sense of history of JFK.
I could not help reflect upon our current leadership. Before going to war did they really understand the costs and the dangers. As we come closer to the return of the Cold War, reading this makes me understand the importance of judgement in our leaders. This book really explains not who will answer the phone at 3AM but what will they do when it rings.
With all the historic lessons Mr. Dobbs wrote a book in a thriller format. There were sections I was at the edge of my seat even though I knew the answer. This proves great history does not have to be dull
This book should be required reading for every college student in the US. Thank you Mr. Dobbs for such a valuable lesson written in such an entertaining way. - 2008-09-06, 1 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON A DEFINING MOMENT IN HISTORY
- THIS IS A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY COMMENTARY ON A DEFINING MOMENT IN CONTEMPORARY HISTORY....WELL WORTH A READ....A RECOMMENDATION FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY THERE.
- 2008-08-31, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
