Kissinger’s Shadow has been heralded as one of the must-read books in political science and international relations for both students and the every-day history buff . In this piece we will review Kissinger’s Shadow, a monograph by Greg Grandin and see if it truly is a new standard in the field (spoiler: it’s an excellent piece of scholarship). Grandin is a very well published Professor, who taught at New York University before finding a new home at Yale. His research is originally grounded in Latin American history, specifically publishing The Blood of Guatemala. He has since expanded his research to encapsulate a larger international perspective. Outside of his monographs and teaching endeavors, he has continued to write extensively and serve on the board of the publication The Nation.
Kissinger’s Shadow has been heralded as one of the must-read books in political science and international relations for both students and the every-day history buff . In this piece we will review Kissinger’s Shadow, a monograph by Greg Grandin and see if it truly is a new standard in the field (spoiler: it’s an excellent piece of scholarship). Grandin is a very well published Professor, who taught at New York University before finding a new home at Yale. His research is originally grounded in Latin American history, specifically publishing The Blood of Guatemala. He has since expanded his research to encapsulate a larger international perspective. Outside of his monographs and teaching endeavors, he has continued to write extensively and serve on the board of the publication “The Nation”.
Kissinger’s Shadow picks up with a young Henry Kissinger, who is still a graduate student at Harvard. From his time as a student, Kissinger has a talent for creating and controlling narratives. His natural understanding of media as well as starting his research at such a prestigious university seemed to have made his transition to government work almost inevitable. Kissinger was able to waltz into the DC with his new fresh perspective. This book does a great job bringing the reader into the backrooms of DC and the decision making during the cold war. Specifically, I would say the source work regarding Kissinger’s time as NSC chair was fantastic. Grandin’s work on Southeast Asia stood out, as it was extremely well researched as well as tells a compelling cold war narrative. Grandin’s background in Latin America served him well, in the sense that his narratives around southeast Asia flow very naturally. He created a detailed story that allows readers who might be unfamiliar with the more intricate details to still follow along naturally.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is how clearly it ties Kissinger and his actions to the present day. His discussions with Regan where the phrase “Well just fire all the bureaucrats” gets thrown around rings a little different in 2025. Moreover, Kissinger’s thoughts on Panama and its relationship to the projected power of the United States sound eerily familiar. Kissinger is a surprising figure in many ways, but his ability to stick around in Washington after his time in the White House jumped off the page at me. This extended all the way to Hilary Clinton invoking his name during her 2016 presidential run.
Where this monograph does fall short is in its lack of discussion of US-China relations. Grandin does a phenomenal job demonstrating how Kissinger’s thoughts and philosophical frameworks continued to shape the world into the 21st century. However, Kissinger’s work with China is notably absent. Kissinger and China are one of the most extensively covered topics, but with Grandin’s unique and detailed perspective it leaves just a little more to be desired. This omission leaves me wondering how Kissinger’s shadow was cast over the Middle Kingdom. Considering how well researched of a figure Henry Kissinger is, I would not say the field is clamoring for more scholarship to be done. But if I were to recommend one area of research, especially for an audience that stretches beyond academia, would be Kissinger’s family life and his role as a husband and father. It would be fascinating to compare the themes Kissinger discusses in history and philosophy with how he parented. A realpolitik parenting style sounds chaotic to say the least.
This book is a fantastic telling of one of the most complicated figures in American history. Should this be required reading? I would say so. Maybe not in the sense every single person needs to read this book. Rather, this book is a perfect companion to a 20th century history course. Kissinger’s shadow reaches every continent, making it a fascinating vehicle to explore world history. I would implore every reader of this book to use it as a springboard to start researching a new part of history. This book is beautifully researched and tells a captivating story, it can also lead you down a new path you may never have known was there.
