I found it to be a very interesting book about the Cuban Missile Crisis, even for people who aren't interested in that period in American history. Well researched and written. The stories in the book that show how much the USA and the USSR misunderstood each other were very enlightening...you can't help but wonder if that is still the case today with international relations. ( )

This book came highly recommended, and it delivered a well written perspective on the Cuban crisis.

I felt a little disconnected from the book - being separated from the situation by gaps in geography, nationality and generation.

Born in the 70's - is it wrong to say "I wish this book had more pictures in it?"

...yeah. I know. ( )

Never read in detail about the Cuba Crisis. So after reading Dobbs book I actually was a bit shaken.

So many things could have gone wrong, so many things beyond control from JFK or Khrusjtjov, so many close calls, so many series of events having their own life and momentum. The way USAF planes with atomic weapons was dispersed throughout USA on airfields utterly unsuitable for the task. Atomic weapons that could be launched by individuals, not needing a second person or code to confirm. From both sides.

Fortunately common sense prevailed. And, according to Dobbs, both JFK and Khrusjtjov should be credited.

I know, a story has many facets and this is my first and - so far – only book on the subject. And one book may not be enough to get the true picture, if there is a true picture. But still a can’t help thinking: I was born in August 1962 and I could have lived my life in an atomic winther, if my family had survived.

Read the book and draw your own conclusions. Mr. Dobbs writes in a very readable manner and the book is highly recommendable.
( )

Review posted on BookLikes:
http://brokentune.booklikes.com/post/765632/one-minute-to-midnight ( )

One Minute to Midnight is an hour by hour reconstruction of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dobbs has done original archival research and brings to the page new facts never before published. His main thesis is that there was no "eyeball to eyeball and the Soviets blinked", that was propaganda by the Kennedy team. Rather he shows that both sides came closer to war than they realized, were in less control of events then they thought. It's a great lesson of history and instructive about the complexity of events. It leads to the pessimistic conclusion that an accidental nuclear detonation or war was (and still is) very possible. ( )