Depressing, but informative, this book focuses more on the context and broader environment that produced Erdogan than on biography, and is better for it. The chapters are loosely thematic/loosely chronological, and at times it is easy to get confused about what is happening when as Bechev does loop around a bit. There is an excellent timeline in the beginning, which does help for those, like me, with less detailed memory of the last 20 years of Eurasian politics. Bechev pays attention to the rapidly changing environment, broader politics (it is surprising to remember how much was different before 9/11 in the way politics was drawn) and the changing political nature of Islamism. I don't really know enough to critique Bechev's analysis, but it made a lot of sense, and explained some of the rapid turn about in relations with the AKP. Published in 2022, nothing since has contradicted his prediction that Erdogan will continue to balance a relationship with Putin with other strategic allies.