This short volume on a very large subject might best be thought of as the Pacific Pivot Primer. Readers without extensive practical military planning or academic experience in this subject would do well to start their regional familiarization with this book. One of the editors claims in the preface that this work examines "whether, and to what extent, strategic studies remain valid for Asia of the twenty-first century" If that was the goal, the individual chapters do not-in general-seem to be oriented in that direction. Indeed, the editors admit in the concluding chapter that the best this book could do was raise as many questions as could be answered in this vein. The book should best be considered an initial effort to marry strategic and Asian studies. Despite falling short of their idealized goal, the editors render good service in compiling a worthwhile series of essays outlining the challenges to American strategy in the Pacific.
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