Well, as I was looking for a concise and accurate account of the Yalta Conference, I stumbled upon this. And I consider it a very lucky find as it is both well-written and informative. The prspective of some thirty years the author (a journalist) has to the described facts gives the work a necessary gravity and (relative) objectivity. There are no assumptions, only hard facts from Sulzberger's own experience (he was in Crimea at the time) and interviews with the Conferences' main and not-so-main participants. What rises it in my opinion even more is the lack of the unfortunately popular national prejudice. A best book on Yalta I've seen (and believe me, I browsed through a couple).

This book is one of the finest simple book about WW II. Everything is neatly packed and introduced. The author divides this book into several chapter, indeed, a very smart division that makes easier to read and understand. This book is definitely for the beginners, as an introduction for they who do not know about WW II. For readers who claim themselves as WW II experts or intermediates, buying this book means wasting money for the they must have known all the information in it. That this book is lack of details is acceptable, for we can not envelope the whole war in 300 pages, can we ?

This book is more like a manual to keep handy when reading about, or watching any film concerning World War II. It serves as refresher for those more familiar with details and the intricacies of the war. I find it is a very fast read and conveys with skillful simplicity the overall picture, timeframe, and key events of the war. For instance, I found this book lying around undisturbed for the past five or so years, since I graduated with a degree in History. It was the perfect book to swallow just before going to see the latest Hollywood take on th war in "Saving Private Ryan". Although, I will agree, if details on any particular subject of the war is what you are seeking you are bound to be disappointed. I would reccommend this book as a satisfying appeteizer before digesting any monumental interest in World War II. A perfect refresher!