Freedom's Laboratory: The Cold War Struggle for the Soul of Science Paperback – 4 Aug. 2020

The book delves into a part of the cold war between the West and Russia which has been overlooked. Issues are covered in too much detail which can make the reader loose the thread of the argument being made.

During the Cold War, the US government decided that it would be of benefit to contrast two approaches to scientific research. One was through central planning as exemplified by the Soviet Union and the second was the absence of planning and dependence upon individual investigators in Europe and the United States. As characterized by U.S. scientists, investigator-initiated science was superior to that resulting from central planning. A central figure at the beginning of the book is T.D. Lysenko, a plant scientist who reached the highest levels of Soviet science and is blamed, in part, for the death's and disappearance of geneticists in the Soviet Union. "Freedom's Laboratory" presents a balanced and information-filled review of that manifestation of the Cold War. The author's style makes for easy reading, in spite of the large number of facts and observations. For individuals with interest in the scientific side of the Cold War this book is must-reading.

The author provided an extensive 'deep dive' and absolutely splendid job of chronicling the government exploitation of the scientific community over several decades. The epilogue rant was a bit of a paradox however. Blaming DRT for weather change, polio, the My Lai Massacre possibly, but this? More evidence needed please.

Fantastic reference for those interested in the relationship between science and power, the power of science as a vehicle for diplomacy, and U.S. psychological warfare during the Cold War. Beautifully written, with a perspective on present-day politics that draws tangible lessons from the historical subject matter.