The Crisis in Ukraine series (4 titles) is a timely addition to collections serving students interested in politics and current events. The bulk of this book is devoted to the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949 and the shifting identities and priorities it has embraced over the years. Important historical events, such as the Cold War and Warsaw Pact, are covered, as is key background information about Western and Eastern governing philosophies (democracy versus communism) and Russia’s aggressive anti-NATO stance. Ukraine’s desire to become a NATO member played a pivotal role in Russia’s 2021 decision to invade Ukraine and in the help NATO—now largely concerned with peacekeeping—has offered (or withheld) from them. Essential reading for developing a fuller understanding of Russia’s war with Ukraine.