A former U.S. diplomat shows how significant a role Jordan, superficially a minor actor, has had and will have in inter-Arab affairs, in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and in Washington's policies in the region. He is especially good in dealing with the ever-present Palestinian factor, on which the future of Jordan may depend. The possibilities for negotiation or for violence keep changing, and Day, in presenting them as of the time of writing, is already dated, but his emphasis on the permanent factors should give readers a guide to understanding the future.