The Kissinger Transcripts

The Top Secret Talks with Beijing and Moscow

By: William Burr - editor

Narrated by: Theodore Bikel, Richard Gilliland

Henry Kissinger is one of the most controversial Secretaries of State in U.S. history—serving under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, never-before-seen transcripts of Kissinger's conversations, including top-secret talks with Beijing and Moscow, provide an unvarnished record of his brand of high-stakes diplomacy during the Nixon years. From the great triumphs—the opening of China and the success of the Nixon-Brezhnev Moscow summit—to the most dramatic defeats—Watergate and the decline of détente—these transcripts provide an unparalleled view of historical events that shaped the world and rocked the way diplomacy is conducted in the United States.

©1999 William Burr (P)1999 Phoenix Books, Inc.

Insightful and memorable

Superb audible recording. Majestic reproduction of some of the most secretive and high stakes diplomacy of recent times. Fascinating and controversial if you know your recent modern history and some of the main protagonists. The real gem is the theatrical reproduction of the voices of Kissinger and others. Doesn't distract only adds to the power of this unique set of transcripts. Form of time travel leaving you with the feeling you're part of Kissinger's entourage. A must listen for young and old.

An excellent look into the past.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would for the history.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Kissinger Transcripts?

Kissinger's first meeting with Mao himself.

What about Theodore Bikel and Richard Gilliland ’s performance did you like?

The excellent accents. Makes things feel more real.

If you could give The Kissinger Transcripts a new subtitle, what would it be?

The Beijing and Moscow conferences.

Any additional comments?

None.

One more time

My second time listening. So many details and nuances to enjoy. Truly one of my favorite books to listen to.

I loved listening to the details of Kissinger’s interactions with heads of Heads of states.

Totally met my expectations and advanced my understanding of what happened during his government position.

distracting fake accent

After reading transcripts of Kissinger's 1971 conversations with Zhou En Lai, I was very much looking forward to listening to more extensive excerpts. I found the reader's affected german accent so distracting, however, that I stopped listening to the recording, and returned to reading hardcopy.

The material, however, I found to be an invaluable source of insight into the foreign policy of the cold war. I would advise anyone with an interest to listen to the audiobook, especially if they are not inclined to read hardcopy, and don't at all mind listening to annoying fake accents.