Summer Reading List: 2013

Summer. Time to think, time to go to the beach and time to catch up on some reading. This summer, staff at Ploughshares Fund is looking forward to several new foreign policy books, and squeezing in a couple novels that we’ve been meaning to read. Got some time coming up on a plane? We suggest you check out one of these.

Non-Fiction Foreign Policy

Robert Oppenheimer: A Life Inside the Center. Ray Monk. Known as the “father of the bomb” Robert Oppenheimer was also a dynamic and compelling character. After reading this review by noted nuclear historian Richard Rhodes, we’re jumping at the chance to read this new biography.

The Dispensible Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat. Vali Nasr. From working with him for years on issues around Iran, we’re excited to read his thoughts on some of America’s greatest foreign policy challenges (including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, the Arab Spring and China) from an expert who understands nuclear issues in those regions well.

The Opportunity: Next Steps in Reducing Nuclear Arms. Steven Pifer and Michael O’Hanlon. Russian experts Steve Pifer and Michael O'Hanlon of our grantee The Brookings Institute weigh in with thoughts on realistic next steps in arms control. Want to know what issues will be facing Ploughshares Fund and our grantees in the next four years? Read this book.

Fiction & Fun

The Yellow Birds. Kevin Powers. This story about two young soldiers fighting to survive the Iraq war ranks as one of the New York Times’ Best Books of 2012. This tail of friendship, hardship and loss is a visceral reminder of why we need to think before sending our soldiers into battle.

The Bank of Fear. David Ignatius. David Ignatius is not only the Washington Post’s most influential national security columnist, he’s also the author of page-turning spy thrillers. His books give real insight into some of America’s foreign policy challenges, plus, they’re perfect reading on that long flight to vacation.

Michael Douglas, A Biography. Marc Eliot. Not into foreign policy on vacation? Check out this great biography of one of the nation’s stand-out voices for peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons, our board member (and United Nations Messenger of Peace) Michael Douglas.