The fact that the author takes over 600 pages to describe the "non-policy" at least raises a question about the conclusion implied by his title. One might also ask why anyone should write another book on the origins of the cold war, but this one, by the very thoroughness of its coverage country by country and across the board, was well worth the effort. Ponderous, occasionally off base in its interpretation, it is nevertheless a balanced book, neither traditionalist nor revisionist, and very valuable for reference.