{"product_id":"the-spoils-of-war-bruce-bueno-de-mesquita-9781610396622","title":"The Spoils of War: Greed, Power, and the Conflicts That Made Our Greatest Presidents","description":"\u003cb\u003eTwo eminent political scientists show that America's great conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror, were fought not for ideals, or even geopolitical strategy, but for the individual gain of the presidents who waged them.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e It's striking how many of the presidents Americans venerate-Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy, to name a few-oversaw some of the republic's bloodiest years. Perhaps they were driven by the needs of the American people and the nation. Or maybe they were just looking out for themselves. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e This revealing and entertaining book puts some of America's greatest leaders under the microscope, showing how their calls for war, usually remembered as brave and noble, were in fact selfish and convenient. In each case, our presidents chose personal gain over national interest while loudly evoking justice and freedom. The result is an eye-opening retelling of American history, and a call for reforms that may make the future better. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Bueno de Mesquita and Smith demonstrate in compelling fashion that wars, even bloody and noble ones, are not primarily motivated by democracy or freedom or the sanctity of human life. When our presidents risk the lives of brave young soldiers, they do it for themselves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Andrew Cockburn\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1610396626\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781610396622\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e PublicAffairs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/27\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.30h x 6.10w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/15\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/07\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/01\/2017","brand":"Andrew Cockburn","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43987940573439,"sku":"9781610396622","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_6859e18e-aee3-487b-b5a8-8013f7dc141f.jpg?v=1683291715","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-spoils-of-war-bruce-bueno-de-mesquita-9781610396622","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}