This is an amazing book- I definitely see how it won the Bancroft Prize. Unlike some other reviewers I found the author's writing to be engaging (to the extent of being humourous at times) and easy to follow. The best parts of the book, for me, are those which explore the decision making process of the Soviet policy makers- the quotes from Khrushchev and Stalin are sublime. As a European I also found the insight into the Americans' mentality to be of considerable interest.