Book · 1993 · History
The Best and the Brightest
- mentions
- 6
- people
- 5
- podcasts
- 5
- episodes
- 6
- recommendations
- 2
It's just an incredible observation on the nature of elitism, institutional priorities, groupthink.
What they say about it
- Discusses the Vietnam War3
- Cites as a favorite book“one of my favorite books”2
The best things said about it
Uh i would read the uh i would read the best and the brightest about the kennedy in the in the in the vietnam war definitely read that.
Steve Bannon Timcast IRL · Dec 2021 It was probably the first book I read when I came to the United States in '74. I find it's just remarkable how it opened up the US political system.
This is my copy of Best and the Brightest, which I just read for this book that I'm reading on. And I you can see I marked up literally almost every page.
Ryan Holiday The Daily Stoic · Oct 2026 One of my favorite books is about Vietnam. This what is The Best and the Brightest. We had the world's greatest minds, you know, sit there and come up with their stat sheets and their ideas behind how to win against North Vietnam.
Saagar Enjeti Breaking Points · Jan 2026 Another one of my favorite books is called uh it's like this no it's uh the best and the brightest David halberstam and specifically a reconstruction of the US decision to you know escalate into Vietnam.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
5 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam is a historical account examining the hubris, elitism, and institutional groupthink of American policymakers that led the United States into the Vietnam War. Abdul El-Sayed strongly recommended the book on The Ezra Klein Show, praising its incisive observations on institutional priorities. Steve Bannon similarly recommended the book on Timcast IRL as essential reading for understanding the history of the Vietnam War. Liaquat Ahamed discussed the book on Conversations with Tyler with Tyler Cowen, explaining how reading it shortly after arriving in the United States in 1974 fundamentally opened up his understanding of the American political system. Ryan Holiday displayed his heavily annotated copy on The Daily Stoic to discuss the value of returning to challenging historical texts. Saagar Enjeti and a co-host on Breaking Points both cited the book as a favorite reconstruction of the flawed planning and elite decision-making behind the escalation in Vietnam.
Every mention
Abdul El-Sayed So the first one is the best and the brightest, David Halbuchar, Sam. And I think it's just an incredible o… 1
“So the first one is the best and the brightest, David Halbuchar, Sam. And I think it's just an incredible observation on the nature of elitism, institutional priorities, groupthink.”
Steve Bannon uh i would read the uh i would read the best and the brightest about the kennedy in the in the in the vietn… 1
“uh i would read the uh i would read the best and the brightest about the kennedy in the in the in the vietnam war definitely read that”
Liaquat Ahamed David Halberstam’s The Best and the Brightest. Why do you find that book so notable? Oh, it was probably th… 1
“David Halberstam’s The Best and the Brightest. Why do you find that book so notable? Oh, it was probably the first book I read when I came to the United States in ’74. I find it’s just remarkable how it opened up the US political system.”
Ryan Holiday This is my copy of Best and the Brightest, which I just read for this book that I'm reading on. And I you c… 1
“This is my copy of Best and the Brightest, which I just read for this book that I'm reading on. And I you can see I marked up literally almost every page.”
Saagar Enjeti In fact, one of my favorite books is about Vietnam. Uh this what is the best and the brightest. We had the… 1
“In fact, one of my favorite books is about Vietnam. Uh this what is the best and the brightest. We had the world's greatest minds, you know, sit there and come up with their stat sheets and their ideas behind how to win against North Vietnam.”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“another one of my favorite books is called uh it's like this no it's uh the best and the brightest David halberstam and specifically a reconstruction of the US decision to you know escalate into Vietnam”
