This is a narrative nonfiction account of Indonesia’s complex, conflicted, and inspiring path to freedom. It’s a comprehensive and detailed book that reiterates and deciphers a critical chapter in Asian and global history. Despite being the fourth most populous country in the world, Indonesia often seems to float on the periphery, unknown and ignored. Before the Dutch arrived with imperial dreams in the 19th century, Indonesia was a sprawling archipelago of disparate kingdoms and sultanates. The Japanese took over during World War II but their rule was worse than Dutch colonialism. Sukarno emerged as a populist leader who unified the communists, nationalists, and Islamists, although once the colonists had been expelled, the coalition fell into disarray, leading to a cycle of violence and retribution. Sukamo was displaced by an American-sponsored coup, and another round of bloody strife followed. This historical account is punctuated by interviews with contemporary political figures. These interviews enliven and ground the historical account. Those who want to understand Asian political development and the process of decolonization will find this book a useful, important text.