"In Record's usual elegant and powerful prose, this is an insightful mining of a historical case study for broader conclusions on the dynamics of deterrence, culture, perception, and rationality in strategy. Those who read it will learn much."—Steven Metz, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute “Tells an important story about momentous strategic miscalculation—on both sides—that most Americans only think ... Read morethey know. Record draws clear and compelling lessons that should caution current leaders against the risks in dealing with proud and ambitious enemies whose judgments flow from different cultures, assumptions, and priorities.”—Richard K. Betts, director, Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, Columbia University “Jeffrey Record's important new book incisively and persuasively analyzes the reasons why two nations that had every reason to avoid war in 1941 found themselves engaged in what would become an unusually brutal struggle.”—George C. Herring, author of From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations since 1776 Show Less