Recommended by  Marc Sokol

Starting with Henry Kissinger in the 60’s and examining the work of diplomats over the next 50 years, Stuart Eizenstat shares the inside story of international negotiators and how they served our country, shaped global agreements, and impacted the world around us. Each chapter reveals stories, interpersonal dynamics and what was going on in their minds and hearts as key world events were unfolding. Of particular interest to me is how international negotiators focus on personal relationships with their counterparts, and how they think almost in terms of three-dimensional chess about the sources of leverage to drive agreement or get negotiations unstuck. The author also reflects on how some presidents, while you may not like their domestic policies, were highly astute on the global stage, and other presidents who may have had a great feel for what was going on inside the USA, on a global stage not so much! If you are a student of history, this will add perspective for you regarding Vietnam, German reunification, Iran, the Abraham Accords, Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq and global climate change negotiations.