The point of view of the former Italian Foreign Minister is, of course, that of a sincere democrat and idealist. It is refreshing to have it restated today, and there are useful lessons to be drawn from the personal experiences and observations which form the basis for Count Sforza's analysis of the historical psychology of the various European peoples. As a trained diplomat, his interpretations tend to be mainly political, though the chapters on postwar Germany show a grasp of the social bases of political events.