On Thermonuclear War - 1961

A groundbreaking and controversial analysis of nuclear strategy that helped define Cold War military thinking -- on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Herman Kahn's seminal work applies rigorous systems analysis and game theory to the unthinkable prospect of nuclear warfare, examining scenarios ranging from limited nuclear exchanges to full-scale thermonuclear conflict. Kahn, a RAND Corporation strategist, presents a chillingly rational framework for understanding nuclear deterrence, escalation dynamics, and the mechanics of mutual assured destruction. Through detailed scenarios and mathematical modeling, he explores questions that military planners and policymakers could no longer avoid: How might nuclear wars actually unfold? What would constitute "acceptable" casualties? How can nations maintain credible deterrence while avoiding accidental war? Written with clinical precision yet accessible to general readers, *On Thermonuclear War* sparked intense debate about the morality and practicality of nuclear strategy. Kahn's willingness to discuss the "unthinkable" earned him both praise as a clear-eyed analyst and criticism as a cold-blooded architect of doomsday scenarios. - On Thermonuclear War: Three Lectures and Several Suggestions - Herman Kahn Published 1961, Princeton University Press, Princeton Hardcover. Approx. 6.5x9.5in. 668pp. Chunk missing from lower dustjacket spine; underlines on first page (see photos) Book itself is otherwise in good vintage condition.