From Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills, a groundbreaking examination of how the atomic bomb profoundly altered the nature of America...
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Mar 07, 2010
brian
rated it: 
1. in the 70s, nixon took the american economy off the gold standard.
after that, american money was kind of an abstraction - backed by futures. backed by nothing.
a friend of mine came up with this scenario: a guy walks into a deli and tosses some beer on the counter. the clerk asks for payment and the guy takes out a gun: "fuck you." the guy leaves with whatever he wants.
the american money that was formerly backed by gold, is now backed by 'fuck you' -- More...
after that, american money was kind of an abstraction - backed by futures. backed by nothing.
a friend of mine came up with this scenario: a guy walks into a deli and tosses some beer on the counter. the clerk asks for payment and the guy takes out a gun: "fuck you." the guy leaves with whatever he wants.
the american money that was formerly backed by gold, is now backed by 'fuck you' -- More...
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Jun 10, 2010
Kelly
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True words. Garry Wills is probably the most under-appreciated historian working today. His previous books are intense, provocative and intellectually bulletproof; this latest one is no exception. His thesis in "Bomb Power" is that the advent of the nuclear age irrevocably changed the nature of executive power in America, tilting it towards an imperial presidency, a state of perpetual war, and a corrosive dependence on secrecy. That David Hoffman can win a Pulitzer ("The Dead
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May 06, 2010
Chrishna
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The theory that underlies this book is that the power of the executive branch has grown far beyond anything that the Constitution envisions and allows. I completely agree with that theory and find evidence for that in the fact that President Obama has authorized the first capture or kill order for a United States citizen. No president has ever issued such an order for a citizen of this country. The author places the beginning of that power grab with the development of nuclear weapons, namely,
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Apr 06, 2010
Bookmarks Magazine
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Despite his provocative subject matter, Wills refuses to side with either party and condemns Republicans and Democrats alike. The critics responded likewise by evaluating Bomb Power on its approach and arguments, making historical rather than political assessments. Some saw Wills's alarming account of the unprecedented growth of the executive branch's power as rational and persuasive; others were not so easily convinced. The Los Angeles Times, for example, considered Wills's ""permanen
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Apr 22, 2010
Elaine
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Incredibly overwhelming for such a short book. He covers the emergence of the "National Security State" in the late 40s/early 50s, starting with the massive secrecy and command-and-control nature of the Manhattan Project, then tackles particular dangers and pitfalls since then. Starting with the bomb, our politics have gone into a unconstitutional twilight zone, to the point where it's really hard to recognize it that way anymore.
This quote from Madison (his italics) stood More...
This quote from Madison (his italics) stood More...
May 27, 2010
Joe
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This was a peace to be based on a weapon, and the care and keeping of that weapon began a whole series of security measures that made it impossible to put the nation back on a truly peacetime basis.
In the atomic era, the President as Commander in Chief has taken on a mystique that makes him a power apart.
An elaborately constructed set of institutions enforces the idea that anything executive agencies do is justified in the name of national security. The Bomb instilled a More...
In the atomic era, the President as Commander in Chief has taken on a mystique that makes him a power apart.
An elaborately constructed set of institutions enforces the idea that anything executive agencies do is justified in the name of national security. The Bomb instilled a More...
Jan 25, 2012
Tim
rated it:
Dense book covering the growth in power of the American Executive since the development of nuclear weaponry. This is well-written and heavily researched, and shows how the bomb has distorted the balance between the 3 branches of government.
Details: Wills starts with the Manhatten Project that developed the bomb, and the unprecedented level of secrecy that surrounded the scientists involved. He then describes the ascendancy of the National Security State through the '60's and '70's, and More...
Details: Wills starts with the Manhatten Project that developed the bomb, and the unprecedented level of secrecy that surrounded the scientists involved. He then describes the ascendancy of the National Security State through the '60's and '70's, and More...
Aug 17, 2011
Brief, thorough, well researched, potent, articulate and alarming. It is astounding to read how much power has been ceded to the President over the last 60 years. Wills makes an excellent and compelling argument that the advent of nuclear weapons has accelerated the push toward the executive branch becoming the locus of power in the United States rather than Congress. It is astonishing to read how little oversight there is on the President, and how effectively the President is able to act on the
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Sep 14, 2011
Michael
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Garry Wills doesn't like Dick Cheney. Not one little bit. Sure, most of us don't, but Wills goes all the way back to before the Second World War in order to do battle with the Cheney legacy. Wait. Don't I mean the George W. Bush legacy? Well in some sense yes, but Wills lays out pretty convincingly Cheney's long history of active work at making the Presidency unconstitutionally powerful, and then winding up a sort of Cardinal Richelieu to W's idiot prince. (My choice of words, not Wills'.)
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Feb 11, 2010
Herb
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This book makes the compelling point that our Constitutional form of government ended with the manner in which the atomic bomb was developed. It was financed "off the books" and without Congressional oversight as required by the Constitution. The power to use atom bombs was placed solely in the hands of the president. This ended the balance of power required for our Constitutional government to function. Two generations have grown up with this view of presidential power and the actual
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Jan 19, 2011
Lee
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First book read in 2011 (finished being read, it's taken quite several library check-outs to get through it). This was a very eye-opening book. I had no idea of the secrets that have been such big issues in in our government since the advent of nuclear weaponry. I no longer think of Pres. Reagan as the model American president, nor do I think intervening in the middle east was necessary. Even though this man is credible, has won the Pulitzer prize, I still don't buy into everything he says.
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Jun 07, 2010
Jb
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Author recounts immense inflation of US presidential power since A-Bomb inception. Today’s president holds kingly powers that the Founders certainly did not intend. Using national defense as an excuse, a modern president can and does circumvent information disclosure to both Congress and the public. CIA secrecy and ruthlessness was common under all presidents (except Carter) from Truman through Bush II. Particularly, Eisenhower’s underhanded, tricky Iranian foreign policy has resulted in vicious
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Jul 26, 2011
I found this book rather dry and too detailed in some respects, but it does give an excellent perspective of how the "National Security State" creeped on us upon the invention and deployment of nuclear weapons. It made me wonder if we will ever be able to regain the democratic spirit that drove our republic for the first 150 years of its existence.
Jul 26, 2011
Another elegant book from Gary Wills pointing out the ramifications of the obvious--nuclear weapons change the constitution by putting immediate and unilateral war power in the hands of the executive in a way never anticipated by the framers, and leading down a trail to NSC60, United States v. Reynolds and the domination of "psywar" by people like Lansdale and Harvey
Feb 21, 2010
Vince
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The author puts in perspective the out-of-control progression of presidents of both parties grabbing more power that the writers of the Constitution ever intended--to all of our detriment. Congress has to learn to say "no" emphatically.
Sep 11, 2010
Terrorism and weapons, war is a pendulum, it keeps shifting from the left (the Western Countries) to the right (the Eastern Countries)...
Mar 21, 2010
Mike
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Anyone who describes themselves as a so-called "strict constructionist" of the U.S. Constitution needs to read and understand this book. It is not the frequently accused judicial branch that has undertaken an unprecedented power grab in the post World War II era. It is the presidency (of both parties)and the postwar national security agencies, which have seriously disrupted the balance of power enshrined in the Constitution.
Mar 07, 2010
Holly
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I read about this in the New York Times book review and I pride myself on reading modern non fiction political stuff from every viewpoint. This book has a lot of merit in the argument that in the last 60 years the presidency has surpassed the power it was allotted (remember I am also reading original meanings.. about the constitutional convention). But... doesn't ultimately SOMEBODY have to be in charge ?
Aug 28, 2010
Pamela
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Fascinating perspective of the effect the creation and use of the atomic bomb has had on our country and its politics. Eye opening and thought provoking.
May 03, 2010
Dave
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Fascinating account of the rise of the imperial presidency and the security state as a function of the development of the atomic bomb. A warning to all who feel that a change in administrations means a change in the balance of power.
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