Why read The Essence of Security?

Book cover of The Essence of Security: Reflections in Office

Book description

Published shortly after leaving the Pentagon, the author discusses various aspects of his tenure and position on basic national security issues; including policy statements from the author's public addresses and reports to Congress during his tenure as Secretary of Defense.

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Essence of Security as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Aurélie Basha i Novosejt

Author

This book is not McNamara’s most famous nor original–it essentially weaves together his speeches to provide reflections about war and nuclear weapons–but is arguably his most compelling.

The shadow of Ellsberg and his colleagues who wrote many of these speeches is present and shows a distinct subculture that existed around McNamara, who was far more refined than the warmonger stereotype suggests and also dedicated to educating the American people about national security. It shows a man sitting atop the world’s most powerful defense establishment, grappling with important moral dilemmas, including its enormous capacity for human destruction and institutional pressures toward…

From Aurélie's list on the life and times of Daniel Ellsberg.