At last, a well-written, objective account of the evolution of U.S. nuclear weapons policy and efforts at nuclear arms control from the beginning of the nuclear age to the dangerous situation we face today. In At the Borderline of Armageddon, James Goodby examines how each U.S. president since World War II has sought to manage the atomic bomb. . . . I strongly recommend the book to anyone interested in the evolution of U.S. nuclear policy or seeking a challenging text for a college course. Our current president might well profit from this book as he contemplates his legacy. In addition, it should be mandatory reading for any aspirant to the presidency in 2008.

Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr., Arms Control Today

At the Borderline of Armageddon provides a crisp and thoughtful summary of the lessons taught by half a century of effort to control nuclear weapons. It is also a powerful reminder of how much we are in danger of forgetting those lessons.

Ernest May, Harvard University

This book examines how U.S. presidents have discharged the enormous responsibilities they carry with respect to nuclear weapons. Jim Goodby draws on his own extensive experience in government to provide a clear and lively account of U.S. nuclear weapons policy from the beginning to the present. His analysis is authoritative, and his judgments wise. He explains how we got to where we are and shows what we should do to address our current nuclear problems. For those concerned about U.S. nuclear weapons policy this is an indispensable book.

David Holloway, Stanford University

At a time when terrorism and proliferation have once again forced us to consider how to deal with nuclear weapons, At the Borderline of Armageddon recalls the fascinating and terrifying history of the nuclear age. James Goodby has written an extraordinary and engaging book that has much to teach leaders and ordinary citizens alike.

Lee Hamilton, president, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and vice chair, 9/11 Commission

Since 1945 and the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima, every American president has had to make daunting decisions about nuclear weapons. James Goodby has been intimately involved in the administrations of 8 presidents, starting with Dwight Eisenhower, in U.S. efforts to reduce nuclear danger through diplomatic negotiations and policy choices. He has written an authoritative and fascinating account of these efforts, discussing the political, strategic, and technical components. This book is an important contribution for all who wish to understand the past history and what it portends for future challenges.

Sidney Drell, Stanford University

Goodby begins at the end of World War II and examines how each president dealt with and handled the threat of nuclear weapons. . . . Those with an interest in politics and American history would enjoy this book.

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