Sledgehammer

Why people recommend it

Sledgehammer by David Friedman is a political memoir detailing the author's diplomatic experiences and how breaking with traditional diplomatic norms helped facilitate historic peace agreements in the Middle East. On The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast episode titled 279. Middle East: Peace Beckons, host Jordan Peterson welcomed Ambassador David Friedman as a guest to discuss regional geopolitics. During the introduction of the episode, Peterson formally presented the book, mentioning its publication details by HarperCollins on February 8, 2022, and stating its full title as Sledgehammer: How Breaking with the Past Brought Peace to the Middle East. Later, toward the end of the interview, Peterson brought up the book once more to ensure that the audience was fully aware of it. The host noted to everyone listening that the guest had indeed written a book about these critical geopolitical events. By highlighting the memoir at both the beginning and the conclusion of the conversation, Peterson provided a clear framework for listeners interested in exploring the behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts and foreign policy strategies that shaped the modern Middle East under the author's tenure.