Bob Woodward interviewed dozens of high-ranking government officials to compile this record of the discussions and thought processes behind President Obama's decision to increase the American presence in Afghanistan by 30,000 military in early 2010 and begin phase-out of American involvement in mid-2011.

The author used his access well in documenting secret discussions and public pronouncements. This glimpse behind the curtain of a Commander in Chief at war allows us to understand some of the many inputs a president is expected to process before making a decision. It is an interesting study of personalities and interests at high levels of governmental service.

Spicing up the account are the career-busting comments of General Stanley McChrystal and how they led to the appointment of General David Petraeus to command in Afghanistan. This is the book, of course, where President Obama mentioned that America could absorb several attacks by terrorists and come out stronger for it.