This book presents a cogent but comprehensive review of Taiwan's socio-economic transformation from a Japanese colony to a thriving East Asian mini-state. Since the 1980's, Taiwan has primarily been viewed as a thriving economic model. Though certainly true, this assessment belies the amazing social and political success story for 23 million people on a small New Hampshire-sized island just off the China coast. Metzler highlights the engaging political narrative of democratization as well as Taiwan's noteworthy accomplishments despite the proximity and opposition of communist China. Further,...