The Essential Herman Kahn: In Defense of Thinking

by Paul Dragos Aligica (Editor), Kenneth R. Weinstein (Editor)

By the time of his untimely death in 1983, Herman Kahn was recognized by both friends and intellectual adversaries as "one of the world's most creative and best minds." The current growing resurgence of interest in Kahn's ideas and intellectual legacy demonstrates the enduring relevance of his work. Yet, in spite of the constant influence of his arguments, there is a shortage of books summarizing Kahn's essential contributions, and thus his work is not as well known as it should be.

The Essential Herman Kahn is an attempt to cope with this predicament and offer the public for the first time an anthology consisting of the essence of Kahn's work, organized thematically. The two decades that have passed since his death allow us today to approach his work undisturbed by the "sound and fury" of the many public debates and controversies he participated in and to focus on some of the deepest and most enduring dimensions of his intellectual contributions. The anthology will try to bring together, out of the several thousands pages published by Kahn during his life, the "essential Kahn," the most relevant, consequential and interesting themes, ideas and arguments defining his legacy. As such it will met the needs of those who are interested in Kahn's work but do not have the time and energy to access his out-of-print books, to make their way through the voluminous number of pages, and then to sort out the essential from the accidental, the perennial from the contextual.

Genres: Military Fiction, History

286 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Charles Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not anticipating giving this volume 5 stars. I thought it would deserve 4 at most given its structure as a series of reprinted essays and chapters of Kahns works. As I continued reading I kept gaining new insights, new perspectives and a renewed appreciation and admiration for his intellect, intellectual audacity and courage. I wish I had paid more attention to him when I had the chance to sit with him as I did as a college student and young professional.
The cover of this book is a photo of Kahn, sitting in the middle of his audience of white shirted/grey suited intellectuals and professionals. He has their rapt attention. After finishing this book its no secret why. The subtitle "In defense of thinking", is provocative and suggestive of his intention, all through his career to ask the hard questions , even more to ask the unspoken ones, those questions that no one wanted to or could ask about everything from thermo-nuclear war to politics, famine, economic development, poverty and everything else under the sun.
His chapter on "experts and educated incapacity" , are so prescient of our current divisive society and the consequences of closed loop education and thinking, that I wondered whether I was reading something written in 2015 rather than 1976.
Its unfortunate that there are few, if any thinkers like this today. I get the impression that his description of closed loop expertise has led us to the ultimate consequence that we have today, little original or dangerous thinking. Too many dogmas of left, right and "the good"' instead of dangerous and courageous thinking on the great problems of our day.
I sometimes think about grabbing my time machine and bringing some great minds from the past to our time, to get their thoughts, reactions and one hopes guidance on possible solutions or steps to take. Socrates, Jesus are easy, Cicero, Lincoln, Jefferson, Hamilton would make my dinner table for sure. After rediscovering Herman Kahn, I would welcome with enthusiasm his attendance at least for after dinner cigars and brandy.