The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro, and America's Doomed Invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs: Rasenberger, Jim: Amazon.com: Books

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Jim Rasenberger

The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro, and America's Doomed Invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs Hardcover – Bargain Price, April 5, 2011

by Jim Rasenberger (Author)

4.6 252 ratings

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A REMARKABLY GRIPPING ACCOUNT OF AMERICA’S BAY OF PIGS CRISIS, DRAWING ON LONG-HIDDEN CIA DOCUMENTS AND DELIVERING, AS NEVER BEFORE, THE VIVID TRUTH—AND CONSEQUENCES—OF FIVE PIVOTAL DAYS IN APRIL 1961

The U.S.-backed military invasion of Cuba in 1961 remains one of the most ill-fated blunders in American history, with echoes of the event reverberating even today. Despite the Kennedy administration’s initial public insistence that the United States had nothing to do with the invasion, it soon became clear that the complex operation had been planned and approved by the best and brightest minds at the highest reaches of Washington, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President John F. Kennedy himself.

The Cuban-born invaders were trained by CIA officers, supplied with American matériel, and shadowed by the U.S. Navy. Landing by sea with fighter-plane support, they hoped to establish a military beachhead and spark a counterrevolution against Fidel Castro’s regime. The gambit was a stupendous failure, resulting in the death or imprisonment of more than a thousand men. In its wake, the United States appeared inept, reckless, and corrupt.

Now, journalist Jim Rasenberger takes a closer look at this darkly fascinating incident in American history. At the heart of the crisis stood President Kennedy, and Rasenberger traces what Kennedy knew, thought, and said as events unfolded. He examines whether Kennedy was manipulated by the CIA into approving a plan that would ultimately involve the American military. He also draws compelling portraits of the other figures who played key roles in the drama: Castro, who shortly after achieving power visited New York City and was cheered by thousands (just months before the United States began plotting his demise); Dwight Eisenhower, who originally ordered the secret program, then later disavowed it; Allen Dulles, the CIA director who may have told Kennedy about the plan before he was elected president (or so Richard Nixon suspected); and Richard Bissell, the famously brilliant “deus ex machina” who ran the operation for the CIA—and took the blame when it failed. Beyond the short-term fallout, Rasenberger demonstrates, the Bay of Pigs gave rise to further and greater woes, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and even, possibly, the assassination of John Kennedy.

Written with elegant clarity and narrative verve, The Brilliant Disaster is the most complete account of this event to date, providing not only a fast-paced chronicle of the disaster but an analysis of how it occurred—a question as relevant today as then—and how it profoundly altered the course of modern American history.

"Important and engrossing work, offering updated history owing to recently declassified documents." -Library Journal (starred review)

"A balanced, engrossing account of the U.S-backed invasion of Fidel Castro's Cuba....succeeds admirably in offering a nuanced view of the entire botched operation." -Kirkus (starred review)

"What I love about Jim Rasenberger's richly detailed, startlingly revisionist account of the Bay of Pigs invasion is his sheer storytelling ability, the wonderful, steady march of plot and counterplot, of heroes and foils. His tale is chock full of larger-than-life characters--from JFK to Castro, mafia bossses, and the steely-eyed, hypersmart men of the New Frontier. The Brilliant Disaster is what history ought to be: sharply drawn and with a constant eye on the big picture." -S. C. Gwynne, author of Empire of the Summer Moon

"If you like Mad Men, spy novels, and brilliant writing, you'll love The Brilliant Disaster. I'f you're new to any of these, consider Jim Rasenberger your guide to one of the most fascinating and dramatic episodes of America, post-Korea, pre Vietnam and the Cold War. He has written an amazing account that speeds along, one dramatic cloak and dagger scene after another, all judiciously reported. The people in his book come to life, vividly-you hear them, see them, and understand them, although you may not agree with them. This is highly entertaining and engrossing history." -Doug Stanton, author of Horse Soldiers

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Print length

480 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Scribner
Publication date

April 5, 2011
Dimensions

1.5 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches
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252 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a detailed account of the Cold War and its complexities. They describe it as an interesting read with well-developed characters. Readers praise the author's storytelling style, calling it a thrilling version of an American tragedy.

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Detail Readability Story telling

45 customers mention "Detail"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's detail excellent. They praise the author's research and writing style. The book takes readers through the complexities of the times and provides a balanced account that places blame fairly. Readers appreciate the well-investigated and factual account that moves the story along.

"...enjoyed this book, it is a fascinating story and is very well written by the author. The arrogance of the people who worked for Kennedy is shocking...." Read more

"...Rasenberger excels at providing information and telling the story, explaining as well as the available history allows, how one sorry mistake was..." Read more

"...There is much more nuance to the story, and plenty of fault to go around . . . as well as some silver linings that emerged in the years thereafter...." Read more

"...preparatory research which Mr. Rasenberger performed, he wrote with a sense of fairness which pervades the book...." Read more

34 customers mention "Readability"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They describe it as an interesting read that is hard to put down, describing it as one of the finest non-fiction works on the Bay of Pigs invasion. The book is described as a thriller that reads like history, with in-depth research.

"Very good book for those interested in the USA and Cuba history." Read more

"...There is much more nuance to the story, and plenty of fault to go around . . . as well as some silver linings that emerged in the years thereafter...." Read more

"...Also, although it's history, the book reads like a thriller: it was hard to put down, even though I knew the ending and most of the story full..." Read more

"This is simply one of the finest non-fiction books I have ever read. How it did not get a Pulitzer baffles me...." Read more

5 customers mention "Story telling"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's storytelling. They find it engaging, with human characters and a thrilling narrative. The book provides an uncensored version of an American tragedy.

"...Rasenberger excels at providing information and telling the story, explaining as well as the available history allows, how one sorry mistake was..." Read more

"Mr. Rasenberger has told a good story here: full of characters, all human and none perfect. He defends no one, while sharing the blame around...." Read more

"Excellent and unedited version of an American tragedy. I was a kid when this happened watching news reports on black and white television...." Read more

"Great story and easy to read, does a lot of Kennedy bashing at the end, gives great background on the historical event, definitely recommend to..." Read more

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Peter Miller
Very well written book
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book, it is a fascinating story and is very well written by the author. The arrogance of the people who worked for Kennedy is shocking. For a bunch of people who were supposedly so smart, they did not turn out to be very smart. If you are a fan of America History you will really appreciate this book.

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Manuel Landa
For those interested in History of the USA & Cuba
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024
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Very good book for those interested in the USA and Cuba history.

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h,s (s h)
Through reporting- Analysis not quite as good
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
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Rasenberger does a good job of pulling together all the various info sources, including newly released "secret" documents. All of which embellishes the story that is reasonably well known, that the anti-Castro program created by Eisenhower was a clusterflub from the get go. Ike and the CIA has successfully brought down a few Latin leaders and they presumed they were good at that sort of thing. But, as Rasenberger shows, the American backed invasion was an unrealistic goal depending two unrealistic assumptions, haphazardly organized by bright, even brilliant men who together behaved pretty much like idiots. Rasenberger does a good job of showing how brilliant people could commit such folly and there appears to be plenty of blame to go around and no virtually no one involved failed to make very bad decisions and the more involved they were the more more then tended to lie about their bad judgement. For example, after the fiasco, Eisenhower denied ordering that the plan to remove Castor be instigated -- saying he only "ordered a program" "not a plan" is rather like saying I didn't spill the coffee I dropped it. It is not only dishonest but embarrassingly so.

Undoubtedly, many will find that one or another of the involved parties doesn't receive enough condemnation in Rasenberger's account. But his aim appears to be to show how wise men commit folly not to find which head can be mounted on the highest pike.

Despite the generally well written text, one line by the writer brought a laugh. Talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis, Rasenberger wrote: "For several days that October, Americans went to bed at night unsure that the world would still be there when they woke up." Either Rasenberger imagines Americans to be idiots, or this sentence slipped through the cracks in an otherwise well edited work. I note the error only for the humor; it does not appreciably detract from the book.

Rasenberger excels at providing information and telling the story, explaining as well as the available history allows, how one sorry mistake was made after another. His performance is less impressive when he does analysis at the end of the work (mainly the last chapter of the work) but by then you can pretty much draw your own conclusions. For example, his appealing to Nixon for a Kennedy assassination conspiracy theory seems desperate attempt for corroboration?

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g3 from the UP
Detailed Factual History of the Planning and Execution of Bay of Pigs Venture
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2018
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Excellent Book. What happened at the Bay of Pigs in 1961 had ramifications long after that year . . . for the CIA, for the presidency, for US foreign relations, and for DOD decision making. This work is written with the benefit of several decades of perspective, numerous memoirs, live interviews of survivors, and lots of now de-classified information, and provides a clear chronological account of the planning, preparation for, and execution of the plan for Cuban exiles to invade Castro's Cuba in an effort to overthrow his communist regime. The story is more complex than the oft repeated summaries that have JFK misled by the CIA and the CIA betrayed by JFK's refusal to authorize US air support for the invasion. There is much more nuance to the story, and plenty of fault to go around . . . as well as some silver linings that emerged in the years thereafter. I read this along with the CIA IG's report on the invasion, which is now de-classified (and out of print, but available second-hand), and together they made for excellent reading and a much greater grasp of the historical facts. For anyone interested in mid-20th century US history, this is a terrific read and resource.

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Random Acts of Mercy
Reads like a thriller, even when you know the plot and the ending
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2011
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I have read much of what has been written about the Bay of Pigs fiasco, but "The Brilliant Disaster" is likely as close as one could come to a definitive history of the subject. In addition to the extensive preparatory research which Mr. Rasenberger performed, he wrote with a sense of fairness which pervades the book. Surely he was aided by the wider perspective which is possible only after half a century has passed and by the additional information which has become declassified since, but the point is that he succeeded. Also, although it's history, the book reads like a thriller: it was hard to put down, even though I knew the ending and most of the story full well.

As it becomes clear in Mr. Rasenberger's exposition, the consequences of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion were extraordinary, but were - and are still - insufficiently appreciated. While the fighting lasted only a few days and was localized in a remote beach in southern Cuba, this was one of the most significant events of the second half of the 20th Century.

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Eddy del Rio
This is simply one of the finest non-fiction books I have ever read
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2016
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This is simply one of the finest non-fiction books I have ever read. How it did not get a Pulitzer baffles me. Every paragraph on every page simply drips with the extensive research done and mastery of subject attained by Mr. Rasenberger. The history is conveyed in spectacular detail and in the fashion of a high-tension drama that draws you in immediately and doesn't let you go. I have learned so much that I was too young at the time to appreciate. I highly recommend this book to all interested in the subject of Cuba in the 20th century, the Kennedy administration, the Cuban/Soviet Missile Crisis, but also for those interested in the roots of the US in Vietnam. This book should be required reading on the subject of Cuba. I am a Cuban American, and I highly endorse this book.

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Noe
Libro comido por las Ratas
Reviewed in Spain on November 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
Acabo de recibir el libro. No sé como pueden vender esto como nuevo. SIN COMENTARIOS.

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Noe

Libro comido por las Ratas
Reviewed in Spain on November 25, 2018
Acabo de recibir el libro. No sé como pueden vender esto como nuevo. SIN COMENTARIOS.

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Loban
Good Explanation
Reviewed in Canada on November 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
I'm very satisfied with this purchase. Finally, I now understand what happened at the Bay of Pigs and who let down who. I read a lot of books about JFK and his murder and now feel this was definitely part of the puzzle. A well written book.

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Pat R
Brilliant Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Bought as a present for my husband prior to our trip to Cuba. I have never known him to read a book so quickly nor with such great enjoyment. He particularly enjoys non-fiction books and frequently these are based on war/conflict themes. Next he is planning to read a book about the Cuban Missile Crisis to find out the next stage in the story. I can't wait to begin reading it myself.

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Frank Huebner
Super! Tiefe Einblicke in die Entscheidungsebenen
Reviewed in Germany on July 5, 2015
Verified Purchase
Ich habe nun so 20 Bücher zum Thema gelesen und habe dieses ohne große Erwartungen begonnen. Es ist so gut und spannend, dass ich es nicht mehr aus der Hand legen konnte!

Es werden die Anfänge der Kuba-USA-Differenzen betrachtet, der anfängliche US-Hype um den "guten" Fidel Castro (im Gegensatz zum CIA-gestztzten Diktator Batista) beschrieben und die panische Angst der US-Regierung, wem man da zujubelt. Unter Präsident Eisenhower begannen die Planungen, Castro zu beseitigen, aber erst, nachdem dieser diverse US Firmen auf Kuba enteignet hat. Und niemand legt sihc mit der US-Finanzwelt an! Die Planungen wurden durch den neuen Präsidenten John F. Kennedy fortgeführt, der schließlich 1961 das Okay für die Invasion einer CIA-Geführten und durch Exilkubaner gebildeten Brigade gibt.

Sehr anschaulich wird beschrieben, wie die CIA die Politik belogen hat und die ganzen Analysten gar keine Ahnung hatten vom Zustand innerhalb Kubas.

Es werden neben den Vorbereitungen der Landung auch die Ausbildung der Brigadisten geschildert, wie auch die Kämpfe. Auch sind die Nachwehen der Invasion beschrieben, vom Pokern um die Gefangenen und die politischen Ränkespielchen in den USA und vor der UNO.

Peter Wydens Buch über die Schweinebucht ist sicher die bessere militärische Beschreibung, aber dieses Buch sollte man auf jeden Fall auch gelesen haben! Ein Muss, wer sich für MIlitärgeschichte und für die CIA-Geschichte interessiert.

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John Family
Great
Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
A bit ordinary but easy to read

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