An Insider's Guide to the UN [Hardcover]

Linda Fasulo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

The United Nations increasingly finds itself at the centre of world events in an age of rapid globalization. It is therefore imperative that we understand its structure and functions. In this volume, news correspondent Lina Fasulo at the UN provides an introduction to its activities and goals. She draws on her own observations as well as on the insights of other individuals who have been active in the UN, including US ambassadors Richard Holbrooke, Madeleine Albright and John Negroponte. She explains how the UN came into existence, what governing principles guide its operation and what it is like to be a participant. She describes the organization, responsibilities and often tense politics of the Security Council. Surveying the many humanitarian, crime-fighting and peacekeeping programmes of the UN, Fasulo concludes that there are important reasons for Americans to give the United Nations their support.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The United Nations is often viewed primarily as the world's premier peacekeeping force. But as Fasulo, U.N. correspondent for NBC News, MSNBC and NPR, asserts, the U.N. has an ever-increasing number of responsibilities and roles in our continually changing world. In light of this, she has written a comprehensive overview of this organization and has provided a detailed analysis of the U.N.'s myriad faces; she covers "Keeping Tabs on How Nations Vote," "Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Threats," and "Rule of Law and Human Rights." According to Fasulo, this guide is "for those who want to know more, who ask how the proceedings are conceived, prepared, and paid for, and about their chances for a lasting impact." Based on her own observations as well as those of other insiders, this book will be a useful source for those seeking in-depth information about one of the international community's most influential establishments at a time when its role and significance are very much in question.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–With fine journalistic clarity, the author leads readers through the complex organizational structure of the United Nations, shedding light on its mission, evolution, and controversies. The "insider" of the title is not just Fasulo, an experienced UN correspondent, but also a number of frequently quoted former UN diplomats and staffers, including David Malone, John Negroponte, and Mark Malloch Brown. Primary documents include the Preamble, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ("which remains as fresh and radical now as when it was adopted in 1948"), and key articles of the UN Charter. Fasulo shows that though it began as an organization to represent governments of countries, the UN is increasingly concerned with the welfare of individuals, whatever their nationality. She discusses influential leaders such as Secretary General Kofi Annan and topics such as globalization, drug trafficking, terrorism, and the biosphere. Sidebars, charts, and well-placed, black-and-white photographs break up the text, inviting browsing and providing detailed information on topics such as the UN response to the September 11 attacks. The chapter "Making a Career at the UN" is an interesting narrative from a career staffer about his early days, and "A Tour of UN Headquarters" would be useful to prospective visitors. This concise, highly readable volume is an invaluable and essential source of information for general readers, report writers, and Model UN delegates.–Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1st ptg. edition (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300101554
• ISBN-13: 978-0300101553
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,639,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive guide to today's UN, July 5, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: An Insider's Guide to the UN (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed "An Insider's Guide to the UN," which is a must-read for anyone trying to assess the role of the United Nations in today's world. This highly readable 2004 Yale University publication has quickly established itself as the definitive book for anyone wishing to understand the UN as well as US-UN relations. Longtime UN correspondent Linda Fasulo (NPR,NBC) has distilled insights gleaned from her years of covering the UN in this lively and concise volume, which is brimming with candid reflections by leading US and UN diplomats and officials on the key issues facing the international community. The book thus combines a comprehensive overview of the UN's basic role with a savvy analysis of pivotal issues on the UN's current agenda. The result is a wonderful book that is an ideal introduction for students and general readers while also offering much that would be of interest to experts as well. In short, this is a very user-friendly guide to the UN, peppered with keen insights,fascinating photos, charts and useful appendices.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really helpful!, April 1, 2004

By 

NYClights4 (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Insider's Guide to the UN (Hardcover)

Fasulo's book is clear and complete, making a terribly complex topic like the United Nations very accessible to a lay reader like me.

The book boasts a wealth of information, including everything from clear descriptions of the UN's various bodies, to revealing accounts of the UN's impact in international history, to the actual days and times you can visit the New York headquarters on a tour.

Unlike the previous reviewer, who seems to know everything about international affairs, I found An Insider's Guide eye-opening and, more importantly, a very enjoyable read!

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a no-nonsense guide!, February 9, 2005

By 

MSainJ2 (Williamsburg, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Insider's Guide to the UN (Hardcover)

A very good book. Fasulo's guide boasts all the important details about the UN, but it is also refreshingly lively. Sometimes the author is opinionated, but she is clear when she is speaking from personal experience. It's also appropriate for the high school reader: I recommend this to all my model UN students.