ballistic missiles. the problem is in of a crisis in order to protect u.s. deployed forces it might be tempting for american commanders and the american commander in chief to try to strike at those conventional capabilities to protect american people enforces from higher costs of operating in the region. that makes sense. the problem is the kinds of attacks particularly attacks on the chinese mainland by submarine ports or command and control facilities or mobile missile sites or command-and-control facilities that control those missiles we never launched such a thing against a nuclear power before and in the case of china there is dangerous overlap in the types of systems china uses for nuclear deterrence and what it uses for conventional coercion. if command-and-control systems and mobile missile sites were struck or command and control systems or submarines were struck and submarines were struck and submarine ports were struck the chinese leader might

think the united states was trying to use conventional means to take out the nuclear deterrent with exploratory implications and that is a dangerous situation we did not face during the cold war. >> you and watch this and other programs online at booktv.org. you are watching booktv on c-span2 with top nonfiction books and authors every weekend. booktv television for serious readers. >> here is a look at some programs to watch for this weekend on booktv. tomorrow we are live with medea benjamin, author and co-founder of code pink answering your questions from noon to 3:00. afterwards the katie quince 2 yes michael tanner talks about a growing national debt. this weekend glenn beck presents his thoughts on islamic extremism. discussion about a transformation of africa on the world stage. i history of the first african-americans in the space

program. and former israeli ambassador to the united states recalls his tenure. for complete television schedule visit booktv.org. booktv 48 hours of nonfiction books and authors television for serious readers. >> booktv recently visited capitol hill to ask members of congress what they are reading this summer. >> first dead weight. erik larsen. i read all of his works. this is a great book, almost the minute by minute description of what happened to the lusitania. it is very dramatic and goes back and forth between what is happening in europe and what is happening in washington and what is happening to the passengers on the ship. their stories. it is really a great read, well written and i think really brings that piece of history in

1915 back to life and makes it very cumin. it is not cold history, these are real human beings we can relate to who often lost their lives at the on the lusitania. great story. the illustrious dead, all about how typhus actually really was responsible for destroying napoleon's army in the invasion of russia. the russian army didn't help but the real deterrence, sanitary conditions of the day didn't allow them to protect themselves against this bacteria and it was devastating. really devastating. napoleon lost more than 90% of his army in the invasion of russia. a lesson by the way that obviously a century later, a century and half later adolf

hitler did not attempt to his regret. a historian at the university of virginia, she wrote agree book on appomattox and it is the revisionist history and in my view a correct one of the outcome of appomattox, how robert e. lee and the south used and misused the agreement at appomattox to foster segregation suppression of black americans after is a union won the civil war and slavery was supposed to be over. a essentially invoke the free spirits of appomattox as meaning none of them should be prosecuted for crimes. robert e. lee had been invited after the war and he invoked appomattox and insisted the u.s. invoke the agreement they had to

protect property. robert e. lee to his death remained actually very reprobate on the issue of race in the south. in some versions of history -- this is a pretty penetrating and compelling reassessment of how appomattox what the meaning of appomattox was determined by the south and ultimately by the north, really did damage for the next 90 years in terms of race in america. this book thomas cromwell by tracy bormann is reappraisal of a historic figure, during the reign of henry h.. those who are fans of thomas more under henry the eighth was ultimately be headed because he did not agree to the remarriage of henry viii to and bill in. thomas cromwell is the

instrument of both featuring the voice arguing for the separation of church of england from the church of rome and ultimately for thomas more's demise as well. ultimately ironically thomas cromwell lost his head as well. it is more sympathetic portrayal of a very skilled statesman very skilled manager who managed the kingdom of england for henry viii is also responsible for the destruction of the monasteries the breakup of church holdings and property and ultimately the severance of the relationship between england and the church of rome. some of the real depredations occurred under henry h.eight a great read this is the best biography of napoleon by andrew

roberts and one volume is a stupendous read and very accessible read about who napoleon was and his triumphs and failures. he won almost all of his battles but unfortunately the ones he lost he was a brilliant statesman, brilliant manager, brilliant general but who kind of toward the end i think maybe because of hubris lost sight of his own techniques, his own lessons learned and ultimately they returned against him but this is a great read and reappraisal land assessment of the importance of napoleon even down to modern history. scott bird wrote this biography of woodrow wilson. also reappraisal. wilson had this mix of

incredible progress of record in the white house especially in his first term statesman during world war i but also certainly at retrograde attitude toward race relations in america but it is agreed balanced read and one that appreciates that progressive moment that would grow wilson certainly took advantage of to the benefit of america, great single volume biography of woodrow wilson. this book 13 days in september by lawrence wright i love this book because it humanizes diplomacy. it talks about the camp david accord in the 13 days and jimmy carter, spent time together not always harmonious lee encamp david and how the process worked out, personally, history, fears, and anxiety stresses, distress the role of interlocutor by jimmy carter he

put a lot on the table including his own reputation. and it worked. camp david accord to this day remains the only lasting peace accord in the middle east. jimmy carter deserves a lot of the credit. if you want to see how a human level, diplomacy actual works, great great book ought to be read by every graduate school that studies international studies. another biography, walter isaacson on benjamin franklin and american life a wonderful biography. benjamin franklin comes through these pages as a very contemporary man. we would relate to him easily after the portrayal in this book. on balance this is a great man, great vision lived a long life, had many episodes to is this life, as a political figure in pennsylvania a political figure on behalf of the colonies in

europe. as a political figure with the declaration of independence. and the confederacy of america during the revolutionary war, as a key figure in the constitutional convention helping to save the day really for the constitutional convention and arguing in what was a close thing in the constitutional convention in 13 states. benjamin franklin bigger than life figure, homespun, shrewd, smart, entrepreneurial, so much of the american figure, wonderful biography. finally, die every day. this book, it is all about the roman poets seneca, in the

course of nero. the odd juxtaposition on this thoughtful man seneca and how he tried to survive in that time period while being on the other side of very senior adviser to nero and it was a tricky business. great piece of roman history about very controversial and not easy relationship. and. ec and great read if you like ancient roman history as i do. that is my summer reading for now and i hope to be back next year with an equal number of recommendations. >> booktv wants to know what you are reading. tweet as your answer at booktv war you composed on our facebook page

facebook.com/booktv. >> here are some books written by declared candidates for president.

>> garland tucker iii talking about 14 meters to shaped conservative thinking in america is next on booktv. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> good afternoon, everyone. good afternoon to you, welcome everyone. a special welcome to those watching us on c-span2 booktv