The Secretary General, in a book that is quite defensive about his own role and that of the United Nations, gives us first a brief autobiographical sketch, then an account of his activity in dealing with some of the major disputes, such as Cyprus, Southern Africa, and the Middle East. No startling revelations, as Dr. Waldheim tells us at the start that "much of interest must for the time being remain unsaid." This is a revised edition of a work that first appeared in French in 1977.