Evolution of Nuclear Strategy, Third Edition

Lawrence Freedman was written many important articles and books but _The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy_ is probably his best. He presents a comprehensive analysis of the development nuclear strategy from 1945 to the end of the Cold War. The book usefully explains a multitude of concepts such as second strike capabilities, massive retaliation, and selective options. Freedman gives added depth by covering nuclear strategy in China, Europe, and the Soviet Union.One of the great strengths of this book is its objectivity. Most works on nuclear strategy focus on arguing whether nuclear war is still possible, how a nuclear war would be fought, or if mutually assured destruction is a stable and inevitable strategy. Freedman definitely questions the logic of strategies that aim to fight nuclear wars and favors mutually assured destruction. However, the text is devoid of rhetoric or argumentation that would cloud his historical analysis.Some may criticize the book because it does not concentrate on certain issues relevant today, such as non-proliferation or nuclear terrorism. From the perspective of 2001, though, Freedman's work serves as a history of the major strategic discourse of the Cold War. In a way, his work serves as a the cap on fifty years of writings on nuclear strategy.For students of strategy, _The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy_ is an essential read. In terms of comprehensiveness, objectivity, and good explanation, this book cannot be matched.