--- product_id: 4954318 title: "Diplomacy (Touchstone Book)" price: "6010 som" currency: KGS in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.kg/products/4954318-diplomacy-touchstone-book store_origin: KG region: Kyrgyzstan --- # Diplomacy (Touchstone Book) **Price:** 6010 som **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Diplomacy (Touchstone Book) - **How much does it cost?** 6010 som with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.kg](https://www.desertcart.kg/products/4954318-diplomacy-touchstone-book) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description A brilliant, sweeping history of diplomacy that includes personal stories from the noted former Secretary of State, including his stunning reopening of relations with China. The seminal work on foreign policy and the art of diplomacy. Moving from a sweeping overview of history to blow-by-blow accounts of his negotiations with world leaders, Henry Kissinger describes how the art of diplomacy has created the world in which we live, and how America’s approach to foreign affairs has always differed vastly from that of other nations. Brilliant, controversial, and profoundly incisive, Diplomacy stands as the culmination of a lifetime of diplomatic service and scholarship. It is vital reading for anyone concerned with the forces that have shaped our world today and will impact upon it tomorrow. Review: I was amazed Kissinger could write so well - If I could give Kissinger's Diplomacy 10 stars, I certainly would. This book is extremely well written. I was amazed at how well Henry Kissinger explained 300 years of Western history and diplomacy. Because the book is so well written, I would recommend it to folks interested in history, political science, international relations, or for just interesting reading of a good book. I found the early chapter on Woodrow Wilson's approach to American exceptionalism, which included our native idealism, collaborative successes, and mutual security and multilateral action in international affairs to be very insightful and Kissinger returns to these concepts again and again in his analysis of statescraft. Likewise in this early chapter he contrasts Wilson to Theodore Roosevelt's philosophy of action only with clear national interests in mind, a world of realpolitik. He also explains balance of power approaches and adequately demonstrated the barriers, benefits, consequences, and downside of each of these approaches. After reading this 800 page book, I am ready to sit down and start reading again. It is really that good. There are numerous highlights but I will share a few with you. His chapter on Richelieu and Louis XIV demonstrated how Richelieu created the first modern state to emerge from the Middle Ages. Richelieu acted to consolidate power for the French king which ran counter to the mind set of the Middle Ages. Unfortunatley, as Kissinger demonstrates, Louis XIV squanders this power with needless wars, for which his relative Louis XVI paid the ultimate price. One section of the book, regarding the Concert of Europe after the fall of Napoleon, reveals statescraft at the heights. Metternich and Talleyrand helped create a peace that lasted over 100 years based on realistic balance of power and alliances based on common values. The development of the German state under the power of Bismark compared to the downfall of France under Napoleon III was very interesting. Unfortunately the power of the new German state was misused in World War I. The sections on World War I demonstrated the pattern by which military decisions and preparedness outweigh and preceed correcting diplomacy. In this section Kissinger and Tuchman offer a common view of the origins of World War I. Kissinger and Tuchman however diverge when it comes to Vietnam. Tuckman's short crisp summary of the tragedy of Vietnam in her book The March of Folley is a very good summary, but Kissinger's chapters on Vietnam in Diplomacy certainly put meat on the bones of fact. Finally Kissinger's analysis of his years working with Richard Nixon were real eye-openers. Richard Nixon undoubtedly had considerable gifts in the area of foreign policy which makes the tragedy of Watergate even more sad. I just do not think anyone with half a brain would be dissatisfied with this excellent book. Review: Excellet introduction to foreign relations - This book provides an excellent introduction into Western foreign relations. Kissinger's writing style is very easy to follow and is not dense or overly academic. I highly recommend it for any student in an introductory international relations course or anyone interested in the history of Euro-American foreign policy. Kissinger starts with the formation of the modern European state system during the 17th century. He uses Cardinal Richelieu, France's First Minister, as the frame to explain the foreign relations of the period. The author uses the pattern of analyzing foreign relations through leaders throughout the book. While this may seem too simplistic, which it is at times, it is effective. Considering the book is 700-plus pages already, the book would have to be longer to account for absolutely every factor in a particular period's foreign relations. I was surprised at how little Kissinger interjected his own (direct) thoughts into some of the chapters. I didn't think this was a flaw overall, just a surprise. However, Kissinger is able to blend history with astute foreign policy analysis that only he could bring as a prime mover of American international relations. As a WWII buff, I also liked how the author devoted a chapter to Soviet-German relations as well as relations among the European powers in the inter-war period. I was surprised to learn that at one time in the late 1920s Italy was allied with Britain and France to help contain Germany. The book contains numerous other anecdotes and passages that are left out of other books or classes that help explain the reasons behind certain historical situations. In closing, a fascinating read with great analysis for the student or anyone interested in foreign policy. The lengthy book must simplify certain aspects, but the author includes an extensive bibliography for further reading or research. Overall an excellent read. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #34,096 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #10 in International Diplomacy (Books) #75 in US Presidents #363 in United States History (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,343 Reviews | ## Images ![Diplomacy (Touchstone Book) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61xV4AvH5pL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I was amazed Kissinger could write so well *by C***S on November 16, 2004* If I could give Kissinger's Diplomacy 10 stars, I certainly would. This book is extremely well written. I was amazed at how well Henry Kissinger explained 300 years of Western history and diplomacy. Because the book is so well written, I would recommend it to folks interested in history, political science, international relations, or for just interesting reading of a good book. I found the early chapter on Woodrow Wilson's approach to American exceptionalism, which included our native idealism, collaborative successes, and mutual security and multilateral action in international affairs to be very insightful and Kissinger returns to these concepts again and again in his analysis of statescraft. Likewise in this early chapter he contrasts Wilson to Theodore Roosevelt's philosophy of action only with clear national interests in mind, a world of realpolitik. He also explains balance of power approaches and adequately demonstrated the barriers, benefits, consequences, and downside of each of these approaches. After reading this 800 page book, I am ready to sit down and start reading again. It is really that good. There are numerous highlights but I will share a few with you. His chapter on Richelieu and Louis XIV demonstrated how Richelieu created the first modern state to emerge from the Middle Ages. Richelieu acted to consolidate power for the French king which ran counter to the mind set of the Middle Ages. Unfortunatley, as Kissinger demonstrates, Louis XIV squanders this power with needless wars, for which his relative Louis XVI paid the ultimate price. One section of the book, regarding the Concert of Europe after the fall of Napoleon, reveals statescraft at the heights. Metternich and Talleyrand helped create a peace that lasted over 100 years based on realistic balance of power and alliances based on common values. The development of the German state under the power of Bismark compared to the downfall of France under Napoleon III was very interesting. Unfortunately the power of the new German state was misused in World War I. The sections on World War I demonstrated the pattern by which military decisions and preparedness outweigh and preceed correcting diplomacy. In this section Kissinger and Tuchman offer a common view of the origins of World War I. Kissinger and Tuchman however diverge when it comes to Vietnam. Tuckman's short crisp summary of the tragedy of Vietnam in her book The March of Folley is a very good summary, but Kissinger's chapters on Vietnam in Diplomacy certainly put meat on the bones of fact. Finally Kissinger's analysis of his years working with Richard Nixon were real eye-openers. Richard Nixon undoubtedly had considerable gifts in the area of foreign policy which makes the tragedy of Watergate even more sad. I just do not think anyone with half a brain would be dissatisfied with this excellent book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellet introduction to foreign relations *by S***S on March 11, 2015* This book provides an excellent introduction into Western foreign relations. Kissinger's writing style is very easy to follow and is not dense or overly academic. I highly recommend it for any student in an introductory international relations course or anyone interested in the history of Euro-American foreign policy. Kissinger starts with the formation of the modern European state system during the 17th century. He uses Cardinal Richelieu, France's First Minister, as the frame to explain the foreign relations of the period. The author uses the pattern of analyzing foreign relations through leaders throughout the book. While this may seem too simplistic, which it is at times, it is effective. Considering the book is 700-plus pages already, the book would have to be longer to account for absolutely every factor in a particular period's foreign relations. I was surprised at how little Kissinger interjected his own (direct) thoughts into some of the chapters. I didn't think this was a flaw overall, just a surprise. However, Kissinger is able to blend history with astute foreign policy analysis that only he could bring as a prime mover of American international relations. As a WWII buff, I also liked how the author devoted a chapter to Soviet-German relations as well as relations among the European powers in the inter-war period. I was surprised to learn that at one time in the late 1920s Italy was allied with Britain and France to help contain Germany. The book contains numerous other anecdotes and passages that are left out of other books or classes that help explain the reasons behind certain historical situations. In closing, a fascinating read with great analysis for the student or anyone interested in foreign policy. The lengthy book must simplify certain aspects, but the author includes an extensive bibliography for further reading or research. Overall an excellent read. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ lots of knowledge *by P***D on January 2, 2022* The amazing thing about Kissinger is that he's still around and still writing, with a new book planned for May. I recommend his books On China, World Order, and A World Restored (?). Here in Diplomacy he makes a sweeping study of history, going back to the Holy Roman Empire. He goes through major turning points like the Peace of Westphalia (1648), the Congress of Vienna (after 1815), and the Treaty of Versailles (1918-19). These key moments helped to forge the balance of power and the world order of the modern nation state. There are many figures like Cardinal Richelieu, Napoleon, Metternich and Bismarck. Being from the Old World, Kissinger has more of an instinctive knowledge of obscure events from long ago, and how they have parallels in contemporary current events. Europeans tended to have more of a realist view of the need for the balance of power to maintain peace, while Americans have an idealistic sense of encouraging democracy and human rights around the world. Kissinger contrasts the idealistic Wilsonianism with the more realist views of Teddy Roosevelt. Although Nixon became less popular than TR, he had a similar brilliance in understanding the balance of power. But for most of the 20th century, idealism clearly won out over realism, with figures like JFK and Reagan. Once again, I don't understand why Kissinger is viewed as an amoral strategist. He clearly is seeking peace, but comes from an Old Europe view of the balance of power, based on deep knowledge of history. Kissinger gives an insightful psychoanalysis of Stalin and Hitler, along with laudatory studies of FDR and Churchill. Then there's a lengthy discussion of the diplomacy of the Cold War. As an intellectual, Kissinger tends to underestimate Reagan, but there's little doubt that his diplomacy worked. The history continues right to the New World Order of Bush 41 and the beginning of the Clinton administration. Many disagree with Kissinger, but the breadth and scope of his knowledge of the subject almost requires that one go through his book learning and life experience, if you want to learn about diplomacy. ## Frequently Bought Together - Diplomacy (Touchstone Book) - The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made - The Jungle Grows Back: America and Our Imperiled World --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.kg/products/4954318-diplomacy-touchstone-book](https://www.desertcart.kg/products/4954318-diplomacy-touchstone-book) --- *Product available on Desertcart Kyrgyzstan* *Store origin: KG* *Last updated: 2026-05-23*