Rating: 
Summary: Big Topic, Good Effort
Review: This book may have been a bit misleading in its dust jacket description, it is a step by step history of the SDI project. It does not offer a detailed description of the politics around the end of the cold war, just an overview. To be fair to the author, there is just too much information involved to cover both the SDI project and the fall of the USSR so the author might have bitten off a bit much. She does a wonderful job in explaining the SDI process; the book is well written and is easy to read - a challenge when taking on complex international politics and weapons development. The author does go through some of Reagan's history, a bit of republican history, and some history on the Carter presidency in relation to SDI. She really relied on memoirs, interviews and articles from the people involved in the projects or policies within the Reagan Administration so it seams as though most of the info is straight from the horses mouth. It is not possible to completely tell the SDI story without also talking about the American foreign policy through the 80's and the author does a good job with the limited space. Her only mistake may have been to include the few anti Reagan items in the book. I say this not in that her comments were overly harsh or out of line, just that it turns some of the focus to the book to the negative statements and the strong Reagan supporters have come out to denounce the book. I thought she was fair in her treatment of many of the players in Reagan administration, I have read a number of the books that she sites as sources and I could not find any misstatements. The fact that all of the issues she does raise about Reagan come from people whom worked in the Reagan White House or on his campaigns, adds more weight to the overall thesis that Reagan did not have a good understanding of the SDI project. Overall the book is a fascinating look at the SDI process and Reagan's relationships to his staff in regard to this program. I would have liked a bit more detail on how the 1st Bush administration handled the hand over from Reagan, but overall the book is very informative and well written. As SDI seams to be back in the headlines it is worth reading it if only to understand what has brought us to the current point.
Rating:
Summary: A SOLID PRESENTATION ON SDI
Review: This is actually one of the few concise books on SDI that is not written by people working with ballistic missile projects. The book is well written, and is a pleasure to read. The book is primarily about president Reagan, and shows that he was a very competent and skilled leader. The SDI is presented, and shows the reader a more "behind the scenes" perspectives of the events leading up to the SDI. The author also identifies some of the leading characters of the cold war. I believe that the author of this book is capable of writing even more about politics in general. Different explanatory theories of international and national politics could be welcomed. But understandably, that would lead to a higher ticket fare, for reading and understanding the content. I have checked the sources the author used for the book, and they are all top notch. And so is this book! My only criticism of this book is the lack of using scientific philosophy in context with the events leading up to SDI. The observant reader, however, will be able to identify the different explanatory directions without having them spelled out for them. And the author does not have to take a philosophical stand. The book is as much about Reagan, as it is about SDI. For those interested in cold war history, I will recommend this book.
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