Fight for the right to have a good time and taking ease witheverything seems to be an utopia nowadays. Written in the 19thcentury, Lafargue's book, a Cuban socialist, and it's an splendid manifesto to protect this necessity so despised at the present time.

Paul Bracken the author and professor of management and political science at Yale University has written a quixotic book on Asia. He goes into the history, psyche and challenges of an Asia full of regional and world competition just starting to bud. It seems the author points out that Asian nations are no longer content in simply trading and developing markets. Apparently, they are following the folly of western nations by building up their military and nuclear power as if that will lead to unfeigned independence. This is happening exactly at the time when the world is growing ever more interdependent. Consequently, unless Asian powers change they are set on a course that can actually disrupt the glorious economic miracles they have been creating just as Europe did in 1914 and 1939 with two World Wars. It seems David Gruen, (better known as David Ben Gurion), Israel's first Prime Minster quote in 1965 has more significance today when he said, "Our Future Lies In Asia, Even If Our Way of Life Is Modeled On Europe...Israel Stands At The Gateway To Asia". What David Ben Gurion knew is what the world is finding out, Asia is coming onto the world scene and the world is going to change too! The author outlines these observation in his book with documentation from yesterday and today. I highly recommend this superb book by this distinguished visionary and author.

This book by Paul Bracken is a timely piece of scholarship that points to the changing face of international politics. The emergence of the "second nuclear age" points to the end of Western dominance in East Asia. The power configuration in international politics will require a greater understanding of the cultural differences and values of the Eastern nations if the world is to have a chance of escaping some future nuclear war. Paul Bracken does a fine job helping the reader to understand the fundamental differences in the experience of the West and the Soviet Union with nuclear weapons and the problems face by the emerging nuclear powers. This is a must read.

If Bill Gates ever decides to influence foreign policy, inundating Washington politicians and advisors with this book would be a smart way to accomplish the goal. Dr. Bracken looks at the 21st century with a global perspective. He points out cumulative changes which have unbalanced the power structures between the developed, western world and the "East", which includes the Middle East, Central Asia, China and South Asia. In particular, Dr. Bracken emphasizes how economic improvements in these countries will definitely not bias opinion towards western ideas. In fact, he makes a frighteningly convincing case against US ability to influence or control much of what will happen throughout these regions. Dr. Bracken shows just how limited the mighty US military machine will be when faced with geographic difficulties, or the volatility of emerging nation states, some of whom now include nuclear and biochemical arsenals.

"Fire in the East" provides an clear summary of the subtle diplomacy which will be required. Fascinating read.