Synopses & Reviews
Review
"There was a time when nuclear war was 'unthinkable,' but current changes in political directives make Thomas Powers' recent book one of considerable interest. Thinking about the Next War is a collection of essays from a journalist whose writing brings to the fore concern for human life rather than the applicability of just war theories to nuclear war or the utility of the 'balance of terror' and strategies of deterrence. To be sure, these essays are permeated with ominous overtones, for the possibility of nuclear war is considered to be more of an inevitability. 'Common sense' is the reply defense experts give to Powers' query about why a nuclear war will never be fought, but to Powers, it is precisely
'common sense' that suggests such a war is inevitable: preparation for war entails that a war will be fought. Nuclear armaments are not constructed without purpose. We should hope, as Powers himself hopes, that his perspective is fallible." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)