T. R. Reid's analysis of the U.S. and Europe is a generally fascinating book, introducing the average reader to some of the inner workings of European organisations that might otherwise seem incomprehensible.
It suffers, however, by being full of mistakes, at least in one section: the chapter in which Reid discusses the Eurovision Song Contest as a force that unifies his so-called "Generation E" contains at least six glaring errors in as many pages, including such wonders as a 1997 British "girl group" that ripped off their skirts and won (the actual year of Katrina & the Waves' vitory), an Austrian winner in 1977 (it was France), and yet another supposed victory by a German group called the Orthopedic Stockings (who participated in 1998 and came seventh). He also mentions Ireland's five victories in six years (it was four in five), and amusingly suggests Eurovision was once held in Manchester (presumably mistaking it for Birmingham).
I recognise that this is a small part of the book, and not one that really 'matters', as such, but it makes me wonder - if it's full of mistakes in this section, how can I be sure the rest of the material hasn't been as poorly researched?
In short, I was disappointed that something so well written could prove to be so unreliable. A little fact-checking would have gone a long way and saved Reid from the potential embarrassment of his European readers picking up on these minor glitches that nonetheless undermine the value of the whole.