While Flynn's authors look at American images of Soviet doctrine, Mandelbaum's review American assessments of Soviet arms control practice. They do so in careful case studies, ranging from the test ban in the 1950s to intermediate nuclear forces in the 1980s, each case having been discussed with actual participants. Their conclusions also contain intriguing pointers for the future; some reinforce conventional wisdom (political considerations loom larger in Soviet calculations than in American), some cut across it (Soviet negotiators have tended to make more concessions in pursuit of agreement).