If you have an academic or casual interest in the Newly Independent states, this book is a gem. I purchased it for my own reading and enjoyment, and found it a pleasurable read. It covers economic and political issues with brevity and clarity, and provides an excellent quick look at these states. I recommend it to anyone, as the reading level is not as pedantic as some political science books tend to be and could as easily be enjoyed by a casual reader as a student of political science.