"In eloquent and effective language Newton Bowles has written a people's history of the United Nations, totally aware of its weaknesses, but a witness also to its extraordinary success in a turbulent world."--William J. Vanden Heuvel, former U.S. Ambassador with the UN

"This is a valuable account of the contemporary United Nations, from an unusual angle and with an emphasis not often apparent in books on international organization."--Sir Brian Urquhart, former Undersecretary General of the United Nations

"Newton Bowles has written an eminently readable survey of the United Nations as it operates today. The book is filled with the knowledge and insight of a man of good will who knows the United Nations from the inside...It is realistic in its assessment of problems that have plagued and often weakened the United Nations in pursuing the goals defined in its Charter."--Professor James Sutterlin, Yale University

"An excellent book, written with style and humanity. Bowles never allows himself to despair at the bast gap between what should and what is being done in the world."--Colin Archer, Secretary-GEneral of the International Peace Bureau

"Newton Bowles has drawn on his long and personal affiliation with the United Nations to bring to readers and objective and critical examination of the world body's strengths and weaknesses across the range of its many functions and activities. One gets the sense from this work that the UN is still very relevant today and will continue to be so for a long time in the future. Every student of politics should read this book and so should all lay persons who observe the UN from afar."--W. Andy Knight, Professor of International Relations, University of Alberta