I loved this book for its thorough look at the man Dean Acheson, & even more thorough discussion of the times he lived in, & his effect on the great decisions of the day. But then why the 3 rating ? Simply because this author seems to me to be unable to bring the Dean Acheson character alive in his book, Acheson remains dead through out the book, & inevitably I lost interest because it became boring. I didn't finish the book as a result !