Books by David Kaiser

The life and work of Freeman Dyson—renowned scientist, visionary, and iconoclast—and his particular way of thinking about deep questions.Freeman Dyson (1923–2020)—renowned scientist, visionary, and iconoclast—helped invent modern physics. Not bound by disciplinary divisions, he went on to explore foundational topics in mathematics, astrophysics, and the origin of life. General readers were introduced to Dyson’s roving mind and heterodox approach in his 1979 book Disturbing the Universe, a poignant autobiographical reflection on life and science. “Well, Doc, You’re In” (the title quotes Richard Feynman’s remark to Dyson at a physics conference) offers a fresh examination of Dyson’s life and work, exploring his particular way of thinking about deep questions that range from the nature of matter to the ultimate fate of the universe. The chapters—written by leading scientists, historians, and science journalists, including some of Dyson’s colleagues—trace Dyson’s formative years, his budding interests and curiosities, and his wide-ranging work across the natural sciences, technology, and public policy. They describe Dyson’s innovations at the intersection of quantum theory and relativity, his novel nuclear reactor design (and his never-realized idea of a spacecraft powered by nuclear weapons), his years at the Institute for Advanced Study, and his foray into cosmology. In the coda, Dyson’s daughter Esther reflects on growing up in the Dyson household. “Well, Doc, You’re In” assesses Dyson’s successes, blind spots, and influence, assembling a portrait of a scientist’s outsized legacy. ContributorsJeremy Bernstein, Robbert Dijkgraaf, Esther Dyson, George Dyson, Ann Finkbeiner, Amanda Gefter, Ashutosh Jogalekar, David Kaiser, Caleb Scharf, William Thomas

"His sober and totally candid memoir is absorbing reading that clearly and personally illuminates the ever more tragic collapse of authentic higher education in America." Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations, The University of Pennsylvania "A Life in History, captures a rare quality these days-the ability to stand for what you believe and base those beliefs on facts, not trendy opinions." Morley Winograd, Senior Fellow, Annenberg USC Center for Communications & Leadership Policy ". . . a probing, sometimes searing, look at the professional life of an intellectual during the past half century. . . . In these reflections, Kaiser offers a personal answer to how to sustain the life of the mind and to ensure a public presence for bold thinking." Anne Rose, Distinguished Professor of History and Religious Studies, Penn State University "insightful and entertaining, and it forces readers to think." Jeremi Suri, Professor, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs "This absorbing tale is a window into the inner workings of academia at our nation's premier institutions" James Goldgeier, Professor of International Relations, American University David Kaiser David Kaiser taught history at Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, the Naval War College and Williams College from 1976 through 2012. His nine books include American Tragedy: Kennedy, Johnson, and the Origins of the Vietnam War, and Politics and War: European Conflict from Philip II to Hitler. He lives in Watertown, Massachusetts, and writes the blog historyunfolding.com.

Using the simple metric Wins Above Average, David Kaiser leads us on a fascinating tour through the history of major league baseball from 1901 to 2016, analysing all the greatest players and teams of the past and showing exactly why they enjoyed the success that they did. Along the way, he identifies the 15 or 20 greatest players of every generation.

Kaiser looks at 400 years of modern European history to find the political causes of war in four distinct periods, and shows how war became a natural function of politics. In a new preface and chapter, he shows which aspects of four past areas of conflict do-and do not-seem relevant to the near future, and sketches out new possibilities for Europe.

The assassination of President Kennedy was an appalling and grisly conspiracy. Kaiser shows that the events of November 22, 1963, cannot be understood without fully grasping the two larger stories of which they were a part: the U.S. government's campaign against organized crime; and the furtive quest of two administrations to eliminate Castro.