Previous reviewers aside, Ambassador Thomas Graham's book, Common Sense on Weapons of Mass Destruction, provides the reader with a knowledgeable look at a very serious problem which continues to plague today's global community: the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's). The strengths of this book are threefold: it is brief, it is easy to understand, and it provides a basic understanding of the problem.
Understandably, WMD's and the underlying issues surrounding them, is a complex and not very well understood subject in today's society. Written on the premise that citizens should be informed on this critical issue and that information on "arms control, nonproliferation, and international law" should be accessible to the general public, Ambassador Graham's book addresses this need for information and provides a brief overview (194 pages), in an easy to read and understand format. True, this book is not an in-depth, all-encompassing and comprehensive monolith on Weapons of Mass Destruction, nor is it intended to be. It merely strives to provide the common reader, the common citizen, with a basic foundation of information about WMD's. In this it is successful. Surprisingly however, Common Sense, goes well beyond its stated purpose and also provides a good deal of background information about the various negotiations and weapon treaties as well. Equally informational, are the appendices, which provide some startling revelations regarding the extent of WMD proliferation.
This book will not provide all the answers on WMD's but it is a good place to start - especially in light of recent developments in North Korea and Iran. Leave the politics behind and get informed!
Suitable for younger readers as well - junior high / high school to college level.
JPW
