The No-Nonsense Guide to the United Nations

The first book to distill the entire history of the United Nations into one accessible volume.

In the first book to distill the entire history of the United Nations into one accessible volume, Maggie Black explains how this complex organization works and explores its successes, failings and current limitations. It includes the UN creation and early history; how it is structured and whether it is well constituted in its functions. She considers possibilities for reform to make it more democratic, effective and fit for purpose.

Maggie Black is a writer and editor who worked in the UN system for 11 years and has since undertaken assignments for many UN organizations. She is the author of several books including the No-Nonsense Guide to International Development and two biographies of UNICEF.

"Well-informed, acutely insightful, sharply opinionated and highly readable a must for anyone interested in the UN." Shashi Tharoor, UN Under Secretary-General, 2002-2007