I knew this would be an important book, because Robert and I went to grad school together and he was always the smartest person in the room. The first 2/3 of the book represent a comprehensive review of global history since WWI (which we certainly need in the age of Trump) and which sets the stage for the policy analysis and prescriptions of the final 1/3. To Kagan’s credit he avoids the obvious name-calling that the current state of foreign policy deserves, with its Know-Nothingness, broken treaties, tariff wars, and jingoism. Instead he contextualizes the current president’s antics and Pres. Obama’s distaste for foreign policy in the current decline of respect for the liberal world order. He and I might disagree about the roots of that, but it’s a useful way to think about this administration and how to combat his wild swings of pique when dealing with the world. Kagan is clear-eyed about the threat of fascism—at home and abroad—and he concludes with a reminder of our responsibility to defend what we believe in. Bravo, Robert—the world is better for your book.