The Powers That Be: David Halberstam's Epic Account of America's Power Elite

The Powers That Be is a 1979 book by American journalist David Halberstam. The book is a detailed and wide-ranging account of the American power elite, focusing on the individuals and institutions that Halberstam believed wielded the most influence in American society.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part, "The Men Who Make the World," profiles 12 powerful individuals, including Henry Kissinger, William Colby, Cyrus Vance, and George Bush. The second part, "The Institutions," examines the institutions that Halberstam believed were most influential in shaping American society, including the media, the military, and the financial industry. The third part, "The Future," offers Halberstam's thoughts on the future of the American power elite.

Halberstam's book is a fascinating and insightful look at the American power elite. Halberstam is a gifted writer, and his prose is clear, concise, and engaging. He is also a skilled reporter, and he has done a tremendous amount of research for this book. The result is a book that is both informative and thought-provoking.

The Powers That Be

by David Halberstam

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7362 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	963 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

One of the most striking things about The Powers That Be is the range of individuals that Halberstam profiles. He includes not only well-known figures like Henry Kissinger and George Bush, but also lesser-known figures like William Colby and Cyrus Vance. This gives the reader a more complete picture of the American power elite than they would get from a book that focused on only the most famous individuals.

Halberstam is also careful to examine the institutions that he believes are most influential in shaping American society. He looks at the media, the military, and the financial industry, and he shows how these institutions have come to play such a powerful role in American life.

The Powers That Be is a timely and important book. It is a book that can help us to understand the nature of power in America, and it is a book that can help us to make informed decisions about the future of our country.

Here are some of the key takeaways from The Powers That Be:

• The American power elite is a small, cohesive group of individuals who wield a tremendous amount of influence over American society.
• The institutions that are most influential in shaping American society are the media, the military, and the financial industry.
• The future of the American power elite is uncertain, but it is likely that it will continue to play a significant role in shaping the course of American history.

The Powers That Be is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the nature of power in America. It is a book that is both informative and thought-provoking, and it is a book that can help us to make informed decisions about the future of our country.

About David Halberstam

David Halberstam was an American journalist and author. He was born in New York City in 1934, and he graduated from Harvard University in 1955. He began his journalism career as a reporter for The Tennessean in Nashville, and he later worked for The New York Times, Harper's Magazine, and Time magazine.

Halberstam wrote more than 20 books, including The Best and the Brightest, The Powers That Be, and War in a Time of Peace. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Vietnam War, and he was a three-time finalist for the National Book Award.

Halberstam died in a car accident in 2007. He was 73 years old.

Additional Information

• The Powers That Be was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1979.
• The book is 768 pages long.
• The book was a bestseller, and it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
• The book has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Alt Attributes

• A black-and-white photograph of David Halberstam, surrounded by images of some of the individuals profiled in The Powers That Be.
• A group of people sitting around a table, discussing a document.
• A man standing in front of a microphone, giving a speech.
• A woman looking at a computer screen, analyzing data.
• A group of people protesting in the streets, holding signs.

The Powers That Be

by David Halberstam

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7362 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	963 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE