The author himself is a phenomenon of our times: prodigiously prolific, he is at home in several countries, institutions and disciplines. This collection of articles, mostly from Commentary of the past few years, shows him in his best known role: the political essayist, Cassandra of the West, troubled (as who is not?) by signs of decadence, by a tendency toward European neutralism. Stimulating, clever, versatile, distinguished more by breadth than depth.