Reading this book will bring a song to your heart. I'm not entirely convinced by Sharansky's argument that democracy is the royal road to peace and freedom - I'm still letting the book sink in (it stays with you - which is why I think that its a good, no great, book!) - but I can hardly disagree with the example of his own life and experience. Whether or not he is right I found him inspiring. I think others might too and thus my recommendation.

Much credit for the prose belongs to his co-author Rod Dermer. I have heard Sharansky speak and while he is both eloquent and inspiring English is not his first language. Mr. Dermer deserves our thanks in bringing out the essence of the man.

Anyway, skim through a few more reviews and then say yes to getting a copy of this book. If you belong to a book club then add it to your discussion list. Hand it to your children when they have to write an essay on civics or the fall of the Soviet Union. You will understand the value of freedom and democracy that much better when you see it through the eyes of someone who kept his principles and had these things denied.

Sharansky is a saint. But unfortunately, he is dead wrong about the power of Democracy. That is, Democracy by itself is not sufficient to free a people. Take for example the Palestinians. They had a shot at Democracy and voted in HAMAS! So also in Iraq. The US spent Trillions and thousands of casualties to create an Iraqui Democracy and the result is that they voted in Sharia - or at least a Sharia based constitution.

Democracy in these situations - where **fish for brains Muslims** are concerned - is just a legitimization of their bizarre tyranny.

BUSH was likewise deceived. He felt that if the Iraquis were FREE then they would get SMART. Not so. Free Iraquis jump into Islam's prison like lemmings.

DEMOCRACY IS WASTED ON MUSLIMS. And Sharansky, idealist that he is, presumptive of Western values as he is... misses this fact: Democracy is just mob rule when the people involved are dick-heads.

For all other peoples, Sharansky is right on.

This book should be read by everyone who believes that we have no reason to want to see the spread of democracy. How we have lost the ideal that once was the driving force behind this nation can be seen in this book. Not until we no longer have true freedom will we appreciate such words of wisdom. Then it will be too late to really recover it.

I just read the editorial review by Jack Snyder. Don't listen to Jack Snyder. He's so full of nuances he can't see the simple picture. Read the book for yourself and see the proof unfolding itself in the news every day.

Sharansky has it right in it's basic form. His book is a concise review of the battle between governments based on FEAR and governments based on FREEDOM. You can match his review on how FEAR based societies manipulate their own people, their neighbors, and the UN to the recent tactics used by Iran in taking British sailors hostage. The Iranian staged "confessions," TV broadcasts, and foot stomping insistance that the "arrogant" Western powers apologize. The Iranians have been so predictable after you've read Sharansky's text on how FEAR based governments behave.

I recommend this book to anyone, young and old, who wants a basic framework through which to view current events. Sharansky's experience far outweighs those in the society of pundits and journalists who don't seem to see the forest from the trees.

Mr. Sharansky writes a book that has many cogent and relevent points that are applicable to the world today. However, one can't help but consider how he abides by the oppression of the Palestinians that his country has been committing for decades. He gives short shrift to this topic in his book, amazingly demanding that the Palestinians prove they are committed to democracy before Israel gives them their freedom. After reading his book, one comes away with the feeling that he supports freedom and democracy for all people, as long as it doesn't get in the way of Israel and it's decades long occupation of Palestine.

The ideas herein underlie the second inaugural address of President Bush and the foreign policy that flows from that. For that reason alone this is an important read.