Abyss
The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
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Abyss
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Narrated by:
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John Hopkins
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By:
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Max Hastings
About this listen
A Times History Book of the Year 2022
From the #1 bestselling historian Max Hastings ‘the heart-stopping story of the missile crisis’ Daily Telegraph
The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis was the most perilous event in history, when mankind faced a looming nuclear collision between the United States and Soviet Union. During those weeks, the world gazed into the abyss of potential annihilation.
Max Hastings’s graphic new history tells the story from the viewpoints of national leaders, Russian officers, Cuban peasants, American pilots and British disarmers. Max Hastings deploys his accustomed blend of eye-witness interviews, archive documents and diaries, White House tape recordings, top-down analysis, first to paint word-portraits of the Cold War experiences of Fidel Castro’s Cuba, Nikita Khrushchev’s Russia and Kennedy’s America; then to describe the nail-biting Thirteen Days in which Armageddon beckoned.
Hastings began researching this book believing that he was exploring a past event from twentieth century history. He is as shocked as are millions of us around the world, to discover that the rape of Ukraine gives this narrative a hitherto unimaginable twenty-first century immediacy. We may be witnessing the onset of a new Cold War between nuclear-armed superpowers.
To contend with today’s threat, which Hastings fears will prove enduring, it is critical to understand how, sixty years ago, the world survived its last glimpse into the abyss. Only by fearing the worst, he argues, can our leaders hope to secure the survival of the planet.
©2022 Max Hastings (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
‘Grabs from the get-go… as if this were the very best fiction’ Daily Mail
‘A brilliant, beautifully constructed and thrilling re-assessment of the most perilous moment in history’ Daily Telegraph
‘Frightening but hopelessly addictive’ The Times
What listeners say about Abyss
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- TonyG
- 25-10-22
Detailed analysis well narrated
As someone who was told at school that we could all be incinerated during the events of 1962 this book is compelling listening for anyone who fears the same outcome 60 years later. The crowning of Emperor Xi in 2022 serves to remind us all how a tiny group of individuals could destroy the whole planet.
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- yandinazetland@bigfoot.com
- 11-01-23
A frightening story of (my) our time.
A well timed insight into the Cuban Crisis and the cast of characters that took the world to the edge of destruction.
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- Amazon Customer
- 20-03-23
Brilliant book, brilliant narration
Yet another completely masterful exploration of a pivotally important historic moment. Brilliantly written and wonderfully narrated.
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- djmp
- 20-09-23
Superb
The book maintains the high standard of the author. Absorbing, engaging persuasive and thought provoking.
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- Anonymous User
- 05-03-24
One of the most influential books ive heard
Excellent book - critical analysis of how decisions are made and how the chaos of the world can be managed.
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- CEILIMAX
- 09-12-22
Brilliant book
Fantastically told, brilliantly read…..
Word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word unique word more unique word
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- Amazon Customer
- 22-05-23
Abyss Review
I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in American or world history as it is relevant to what is happening today between Ukraine, Russia, America and also China. Brilliant narration by Jon Hopkins and a great job by Max Hastings giving all the different perspectives from all the major countries involved in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Highly recommended.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-11-23
Clear and concise
As always Hastings’ books are well read and well written!!! Giving as balanced a view as possible from ‘our’ side.
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- P. Kapoor
- 16-01-23
Excellent
A very well researched and written book and narrated very well too - highly recommended. Important parallels drawn between then and now
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- karmapanda
- 20-03-23
Very good
Informative, well researched and good narration. At once illuminating but also frightening and has relevance for our modern world.
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