Why people recommend it
The Back Channel by William J. Burns is a diplomatic memoir that offers a rare insider look at American foreign policy and the mechanics of international negotiation over several decades. On the December 8, 2023 episode of The Ezra Klein Show, titled A Different Path Israel Could Have Taken — and Maybe Still Can, guest Nimrod Novic recommended the work to the audience. Novic highlighted the book as one of his key recommendations, noting that it was written by CIA Director William Bill Burns. He described it as the memoirs of an exceptional diplomat, but emphasized that it is much more than a personal account. According to Novic, the book vividly demonstrates the critical lessons of the importance of diplomacy, detailing both the failures that occur when diplomacy is neglected and the successes that follow when it is actively deployed. By examining major historical turning points through the lens of a seasoned practitioner, the author provides valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and citizens interested in the art of statecraft, the prevention of conflict, and the vital role of communication in maintaining global stability and navigating complex international crises.
Who recommended it
- Nimrod Novic Recommended
Nimrod Novic — 1 mention
“one is Cia director William Bill Burns the back Channel which is Memoirs of an exceptional diplomat but more than that the lessons of the importance of diplomacy the failures not to deploy it and the successes when it is deployed”