Norman Cousins: Peacemaker in the Atomic Age

Norman Cousins, the editor of the Saturday Review for thirty years, was a powerful platform to shape American public debate during the Cold War. His progressive, nonpartisan editorials earned him the respect of the public and US government officials. This book explores his deep impact on postwar international humanitarian aid, anti-nuclear advocacy, and Cold War diplomacy, highlighting his secret citizen diplomacy missions and role in getting the Limited Test Ban Treaty signed.

Format: Hardback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 29 November 2022
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

Norman Cousins, the esteemed editor of the Saturday Review for over three decades, wielded a significant influence during the height of the Cold War. Under his leadership, the magazine gained widespread recognition as one of the most influential literary publications. Cousins' progressive, nonpartisan editorials earned him the respect of both the public and US government officials. However, his profound impact on postwar international humanitarian aid, anti-nuclear advocacy, and Cold War diplomacy has remained largely unexplored.

In this captivating book, Allen Pietrobon presents the first comprehensive biography of Norman Cousins. Cousins, far more significant than we may realize, played a pivotal role in several secret citizen diplomacy missions during the Cold War. As a private citizen, he played a crucial role in securing the Limited Test Ban Treaty's signature. Additionally, he authored JFK's renowned 1963 American University commencement speech, which emphasized not only peace in our time but also peace for all time.

This book offers a fascinating exploration of the outsized influence that one individual had on the trajectory of American public debate, international humanitarianism, and the Cold War itself. The biography of Cousins' public life, encompassing his vocal anti-communist and anti-nuclear activism, will captivate readers across the ideological spectrum.

Weight: 726g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421443706