Reagan and Gorbachev

Library Journal

hort, lucid volume offers a good overview of American policy toward the Soviet Union between 1981 and the 1986 Reykjavik Summit. Given the frequent changes in Soviet leadership and the authors' interest in President Reagan, Gorbachev emerges here the less developed figure. The result is a narrative somewhat short on analysis: for example, portraying the two leaders as caught up in a make-or-break atmosphere at Reykjavik is not especially revealing. However, the book describes the evolution of administration policy well and is probably the most concise treatment of current Soviet-American relations available. Recommended for most libraries. Zachary T. Irwin, Social & Behavioral Sciences Div., Behrend Coll., Pennsylvania State Univ., Erie