. >> pulitzer prize-winning author neil sheehan has a new book out, "a feehery peace in a cold war." what is an icbm? >> it's a rocket with a hydrogen bomb in its warhead. it's fired up into space, it travels through space at 16,000 miles an hour for 6-7,000 miles and then it would come down on its target. it crosses -- there's no way to stop it. they've never been used. the whole point of -- you and i would probably not be having this conversation if it wasn't for these people. they built this weapon not to make war with it, but as bernard sh reeve would say over and over again, this is the first weapon in the history of human kind which is being built not to use in war, but to deter war. >> i wanted to start with what an icbm was because i think that tells the story of these scientists who helped create it. do you want to tell me about bernard? >> he was 6 years old when he came here in germany during world war i two months before we declared war on germany. he grew up down in texas, got into the army air corps and was a protege of general arnold who was the founder of the modern,

. >> the authors neil sheehan. the book is "a fiery peace in a cold war."thank you very much. >> thank you. >> several news organizations have put out their best of 2009 booklist. these lists are available online at otb.org in the news about oak section. any of the programs featured on these lists are available to watch online. simply use the search function at the top of our home page to find such titles as portly i-india. lords of finance, columbine, pulitzer prize winner, the good soldiers. and winner of the american book award, the first tycoon. find books of the year at otb.board. >> economics professor argues that the 2008 economic collapse was not unique and solutions can be found from the past. politics and prose bookstore in washington d.c. hosted hour-long event. >> good evening, everyone. my name is conor moran. on behalf of the owners of politics and prose bookstore, welcome tonight. thank you offer company. we have a few housekeeping things. the first is that everyone at ease silence or turn off their cell phones. i don't want carmen to be inte