I have found this book quite helpful, and even pretty interesting. Not only are topics covered that explain the "principle organs" (Security Council, General Assembly, etc.), but different issues are covered, such as the International Criminal Court and why the US does not ratify the document that created this body.

My one critique is the organization of the chapters. Since this organization is huge, with many branches and over 52,000 employees, it is difficulty to conceptualize the organization (though I frequently turned to the organizational chart on pp. 6-7) and why some of the bodies located "under" the principle organs are located there. Some chapters are after their coordinating organ, but others seem placed at random. Given the huge nature of the UN, perhaps the author had a difficult time finding a truly logical chapter system.

Overall, I have a much better understanding of the UN, what they do, how they work, how they are funded, than I had before!

The book offers a clear explanation of the United Nations' structure. it's a great book for the beginners, people who are just starting to learn about the Organization. A must-read for the Model UN delegates and for those young idealists considering to apply for a UN job.

At the same time, the book is touching on the important issues in the debates about the UN as a whole; for instance, Fasulo defends the UN being slow and inefficient during the 1990s genocides. Touch questions of UN finances and sponsorship are raised. The book reminds of the role of individuals in the system; the chapters on the Secretary-General are especially interesting.

The only downside of the book is its bias towards the US. Fasulo is overstating the role of the United States in the work of the UN, without considering the role of other nations as profoundly. The book is aimed at the American reader and may leave a foreigner questioning many Fasulo's points.

"An Insider's Guide to the UN" is an excellent, basic overview of the UN and the many agencies within. Should be required for anyone aspiring to or expressing interest in today's international world.

An excellent introduction to Navigating the United Nations. Not soo much an inside view.

Though initially overjoyed at finding a book which I thought would give me a balanced account of the UN with which to supplemant my knowledge, after reading the first thrity pages my joy changed to regret for buying this book. With chapter labels such as "The American Ambassadors" and with phrases such as "The UN cannot succed if the US does not support it","A strong coherant US lead at the UN is nearly always followed by UN member states","Yet, can we ignore it?" ("It" being the UN, and "we" being Americans, with Mrs. Fasulo ungraciously asumming that the readers of her books with inevitably be Americans), and "I'm struck by how relevant the work that i've had to do at the UN has ben to the US national security and foreing policy agenda"(quoting John Negroponte), this book generally ignores anything non-American. Try another book if you'd prefer a more international and balanced account of the UN.