I am astounded this book is not more popular given the timing of its publication. Torrance, as he did with his biography of Alex Salmond, presents a balanced account which is no less enthralling for its lack of partisanship. His writing style allows space for detailed analysis of decisions and trends while not being too dense for 'commute reading'. The presentation of 'alternative scenarios' in the event of both 'Yes' and 'No' votes are a pleasant touch to round off the book. It is here where I have my main gripe with Torrance though as his treatment of the consequences of a 'Yes' result struck me as more wishful thinking than the more prosaic treatment he gave to a 'No' vote. That might be due to the results of a 'Yes' vote, ten years from now, are harder to predict than those of a 'No' vote. The chapter covering a 'Yes' vote is the exception that proves the rule though: this is a superb book (and an enjoyable read to boot). ( )