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| Plot Summary of In Retrospect |
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"Former US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's autobiography spans the period from his early childhood in San Francisco to the day of his departure from office in 1968. The main focus of the book, however, lies on the decisions and considerations that led to the Vietnam war and its continuance throughout the sixties. McNamara retrospective account is enriched with reflections upon the diplomatic mistakes made during that period that could have been avoided and ends with a chapter on the lessons of Vietnam for the future of US diplomacy. The book also contains a comprehensive appendix including a series of reactions from leading scholars, journalists, and former colleagues of McNamara. "
Dorothea Lotter, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of In Retrospect |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
War/Cloak & Dagger story?
- Led as politician
War/Spying
Yes
Period of greatest activity?
- 1950+
Which war?
- Vietnam
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
Age:
- long lived adults
Biography of famous person?
Yes
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- American (!)
How sensitive is this person?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other people
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Southeast Asia
City?
Yes
City:
- Washington D.C.
Century:
- 1960's-1970's
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel?
- concerned
Is book humorous?
Yes
If humorous, kind of humor
- gentle
Commentary on society?
Yes
Unusual Style:
- a lot of flashback and forwards
Writer's slant towards subject:
- neutral
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of set of events during life
Autobiography?
Yes
Pictures/Illustrations?
- A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio?
- significantly more descript than dialog
A LOT of info about personal vices?
Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 51%-75% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 0-25% of book
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Click here for more information about this book
Robert McNamara Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Dorothea Lotter
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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