Most Dangerous

Steve Sheinkin's "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" presents a compelling narrative that transforms a complex chapter of American history into an accessible and gripping account suitable for young adult readers. Published in 2015, this work earned widespread recognition, including a National Book Award finalist designation, demonstrating Sheinkin's skill at crafting historical nonfiction that engages without sacrificing accuracy.

The book centers on Daniel Ellsberg, a brilliant analyst who worked for both the RAND Corporation and the Pentagon during the height of the Vietnam War. Sheinkin traces Ellsberg's transformation from a committed Cold Warrior who supported American military involvement in Southeast Asia to a disillusioned whistleblower who risked everything to expose government deception. This character arc provides the narrative backbone for a broader examination of how the United States became entangled in Vietnam and why successive administrations concealed the true nature of the conflict from the American public.

Sheinkin excels at making dense political and military history digestible. Rather than overwhelming readers with policy details or strategic minutiae, he focuses on the human elements of the story. The narrative follows Ellsberg's journey from his early days as a Marine officer through his work as a defense analyst, his tours in Vietnam observing the war firsthand, and ultimately his decision to photocopy and leak the Pentagon Papers, a classified government study that revealed decades of systematic deception about the war's progress and prospects.

The Pentagon Papers themselves receive thorough treatment in the book. Commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, this 7,000-page study documented the history of American involvement in Vietnam from World War II through 1968. The study revealed that multiple presidents had misled the public about the war, that military leaders privately expressed doubt about the possibility of victory even as they publicly projected confidence, and that the conflict had been escalated despite internal assessments suggesting it was unwinnable. Ellsberg's decision to copy and distribute these documents to newspapers set off a constitutional crisis that tested the boundaries of press freedom and executive power.

The author effectively contextualizes Ellsberg's actions within the broader climate of the early 1970s. The narrative captures the tension of an era when American society was deeply divided over the war, when trust in government institutions was eroding, and when questions about patriotism and dissent were being fiercely debated. Sheinkin presents the various perspectives surrounding Ellsberg's leak without reducing the story to simple heroes and villains, allowing readers to grapple with the ethical complexities involved.

Particularly strong is Sheinkin's treatment of the legal and political fallout from the leak. The Nixon administration's response, including the famous Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. United States, receives detailed attention. The book explains how the government sought to prevent publication of the Pentagon Papers on national security grounds, and how the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the newspapers, establishing important precedents for press freedom. The connection between the Pentagon Papers case and the subsequent Watergate scandal is also explored, as the same operatives involved in the break-in at Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office later participated in the Watergate break-in.

Sheinkin's research is evident throughout the work. The narrative draws on interviews, declassified documents, memoirs, and historical records to construct a detailed account. The author maintains scholarly rigor while writing in a style that propels the story forward, using techniques more common in thriller writing than in traditional historical accounts. This approach makes the material engaging without compromising factual accuracy.

The book serves multiple audiences effectively. Young adults encounter a vivid introduction to a pivotal moment in American history, complete with themes of moral courage, governmental accountability, and the cost of speaking truth to power. Adult readers interested in Vietnam War history, whistleblowing, or press freedom will find a well-researched narrative that synthesizes complex events into a coherent story. Educators have embraced the book as a teaching tool for units on the Vietnam War, constitutional law, and ethics.

One of the work's significant achievements is making clear why the Pentagon Papers mattered and continue to matter. Sheinkin demonstrates how Ellsberg's leak fundamentally changed public understanding of the war and contributed to broader questioning of government credibility. The book illustrates how classified information, government secrecy, and the public's right to know remain contentious issues in American democracy, giving the historical narrative contemporary relevance.

"Most Dangerous" stands as a model of how to write engaging historical nonfiction for younger readers while maintaining the substance and complexity that adult readers appreciate. Sheinkin has crafted a work that illuminates a crucial period in American history through the lens of one man's extraordinary decision to risk his freedom for what he believed was right.