The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War

The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War

by Nicholas Thompson

4.7 (114)

4.7 stars from 114 reviews

432 pages~7.2 hr readPublished by PicadorPublished 2009-01-01

$3.99Deal73% off peak

Last checked: Jun 9, 2026

Price history: $2.99 $14.99

Good deal — this title is discounted today.

Price range: $2.99 $14.99

Buy on Amazon - $3.99

0 readers are tracking this book's price

Fans of these authors will like this...

  • Walter Isaacson
  • Evan Thomas
  • Barbara Goldsmith

Fans of these books will like this...

  • Team of Rivals
  • The Smartest Guys in the Room
  • Barbarians at the Gate

Perfect for you if...

  • You're fascinated by Cold War history and want the human story behind nuclear brinkmanship and foreign policy decisions.
  • You enjoy dual biographies that explore how ideology shapes friendship across opposing worldviews.
  • You appreciate deeply researched narrative nonfiction that reads like a thriller but grounded in documented fact.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You want a straightforward policy analysis rather than intimate character study and personal relationship detail.
  • You prefer bite-sized Cold War summaries over a 432-page deep dive into two men's entire lives and careers.
  • You're looking for revisionist takes on Cold War history rather than a balanced, sympathetic treatment of both perspectives.

About this book

A double biography of Paul Nitze and George Kennan, the two Americans who held positions of great influence throughout the Cold War and were the chief advocates for opposing strategies in the conflict. Both rose to power during World War II and reached their professional peaks during the Cold War's most dangerous moments, engaging in political battles that spanned decades. Nitze, characterized as the hawk, was an insider who believed the best way to avoid nuclear war was to prepare to win one and was largely responsible for the arms race. Kennan, characterized as the dove, was a diplomat and academic whose "X article" argued for containing the Soviet Union while waiting for its internal collapse. For forty years, Kennan exercised more influence on foreign affairs than any other private citizen. Despite their opposing views, the two men remained lifelong friends, dining together and attending each other's children's weddings. Nicholas Thompson, grandson of one of them, traces their relationship and competing philosophies from the beginning of the Cold War to its end, telling the story of the nation during this dangerous period in history.

Get the best deal every time

We track price drops, sale patterns, and predict when this book will go on offer next.

Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

Sign up to unlock
Free$7.50$14.99Mar '20Oct '25Nov '25Mar '26
$2.99$14.99

Currently on sale at $3.99 — 73% off peak. Price has dropped 5 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 331 days. Typically stays discounted for 100 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Sign up to unlock
#30,587#624,730#1,218,872May '18May '23Oct '25May '26

Currently around #399K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Sign up to unlock
4.0★4.5★5.0★Aug '23Apr '24Sep '24May '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.7★ from 114 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has remained stable at 4.7 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Sign up to unlock
Free$7.50$14.99Mar '20Oct '25Nov '25Mar '26PredictedJun '26

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $3.99. It typically returns to around $14.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

Never miss a deal on this book

Create a free account to unlock full price history charts, sale predictions, and get notified instantly when the price drops.

Nicholas Thompson

1 book on Vagrant Press

View all books →

More Biography Memoir books you might like

View all Biography Memoirbooks →

Today's Best Deals

View all deals →
The Hit (Will Robie Book 2)
The Hit (Will Robie Book 2)

by David Baldacci

$1.99Deal
4.5 (52,796)
$1.99$11.99
Morning Star
Morning Star

by Newcomb, Kerry

$3.99DealHidden GemHighly rated but flying under the radar. Fewer readers have found this one yet.
4.6 (47)
Free$4.99
The Rescue
The Rescue

by Nicholas Sparks

$3.99Deal
4.5 (27,881)
$1.99$10.99
Memory Man (Amos Decker Book 1)
Memory Man (Amos Decker Book 1)

by David Baldacci

$1.99Deal
4.4 (106,935)
$1.99$9.99
The Bible in 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study for Women
The Bible in 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study for Women

by Dr. Kimberly D. Moore

$1.99Deal
4.7 (31,861)
$1.99$7.46
Buy The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War on Amazon - $3.99

Affiliate link. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.