This is a work of history, yet very much up to date; and packed with great stories. Theodore Friend chronicles postcolonial Indonesia in a narrative relying on myriad personal contacts. The fall of Suharto is described in gripping detail, then Indonesia’s struggles as a democracy. It is an insider’s account, but with ample context provided. And perhaps more controversial than it seems: political Islam is given short shrift, as the author thinks Javanese culture is the more crucial determinant of Indonesia’s future.