Thinking Historically

Francis J. Gavin is the Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and the director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. His previous books include Gold, Dollars, and Power; Nuclear Weapons and American Grand Strategy; and The Taming of Scarcity and the Problems of Plenty.

“I devoured this book, and consider it essential reading for every policymaker on the front lines of statecraft and strategy, and for every student who aspires to a career in national security.”—Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor“This is a remarkable and illuminating exploration of the value of an historical sensibility for policymakers, providing perspective and context, encouraging thoughts about causality and trends, and showing why it’s important to address the challenges of complexity, evidence, and bias.”—Lawrence Freedman, author of Strategy: A History“A superb book on a question of great and enduring importance: what is a ‘historical sensibility,’ and how can political leaders—and the rest of us—go about acquiring it? Frank Gavin is one of our leading authorities on the subject, and he shows it on every page of this essential study.”—Fredrik Logevall, author of JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956“In today’s world, history is the daily weapon of national and international contests for power and authority. Frank Gavin shows how thinking historically can make a difference to statecraft and strategic decision-making. How do we not repeat the mistakes of the past? Here Gavin proves himself the best of allies for both IR and historical practitioners alike.”—Glenda Sluga, author of The Invention of International Order: Remaking Europe after Napoleon