The title of the book sufficiently describes its subject. This is the book that has been described as "a model of how to do popular history".
Fluent, engaging and well-illustrated. Ferguson is indeed a scholar, but neither he nor this book is "stiff. It goes beyond widely-available data--providing sprinkles of micro-histories, hitherto little-known case studies and anecdotes, as well as insights based on facts.
Except to the rabidly anti-imperialist, his robust defence of the British Empire manages to preserve its credibility, even be convincing.
Very well written. A pleasant read.