A subtle and perceptive essay that shows how American beliefs and political culture have shaped American foreign policy, often distorted our statemen's understanding of reality, and led to an exaggerated view of America's ability to transform the world.

Stanley Hoffmann

This is a clear and well-written plea to America's leaders to abandon illusions of the past and define our national purpose in the world realistically.

George C. Lodge, Harvard Business School

Raises fundamental questions about the liabilities of our national political culture for the practice of a reasonable long-term foreign policy.

David P. Calleo, Johns Hopkins University

Although the book was written before the Cold War was clearly over, the nation's behavior in the Gulf War indicates that the message still has some validity.

Foreign Affairs

So much of [Senator John Kerry's] foreign policy worldview comes straight from Richard Kerry.

Douglas Brinkely, author of Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War Douglas Brinkley, author of Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War

Richard Kerry shows not only great sensitivity to political issues, but also to the psychological factors that shape American thinking about foreign policy.

Jerome Bruner, New York University