The author had previously served as a journalist with
Time and become one of that magazine's editors as well as co-written, with
Evan Thomas, the
Cold War chronicle
The Wise Men. Isaacson started out writing the book with considerable personal access not only to Kissinger himself but to multiple associates of the public figure. The author additionally used a wide variety of political documents from Kissinger's many years of public service. Despite this close association, Isaacson insisted on maintaining his independence over the final work. One reviewer later noted that the book constituted the first "full-scale biography of the former secretary of state that examines not only his public life and policy but his origins and his activities since leaving office." In broad terms, the author states that Kissinger's promotion of particular foreign policies, including aggressive regime change efforts in different nations, contributed to a general victory for the
Western bloc during the
Cold War. However, Isaacson finds that Kissinger significantly moved away from previously held
ethical ideals and severely compromised America's world standing as well, with said foreign efforts undermining the cause of
democratic government and
human rights. The author views Kissinger as having achieved the
American dream and amassed considerable
power at the expense of not just intellectual
honesty but general
personal character. ==Reception==