This book was an awesome account of what the title calls the unraveling of western counterterrorism as evidenced by the rise of ISIS. David Kilcullen does not have any bias except toward the truth. He leaves no party or politician unaccountable for what has happened that gave rise to the violence and terror caused by the so called Islamic State. Kilcullen has both brilliant insight and sharp analysis as he draws on a wide range of knowledge and experience to highlight his points. He also has a robust knowledge of history and can put history in the context of current events to discuss the merits of our current strategy while also suggesting other strategic approaches to solve this conflict. I can’t recommend this book more highly. One could explore the resources and notes referenced in this book and spend months trying to read all of the material that David Kilcullen consolidated into one thoughtful and at times provocative book.