Good for when you want to work hard and be rewarded with a revelation (except not really that hard because Rebecca does all the big thinking but you've gotta stick with her through a long ride.) I took down a lot of quotes, some of them profound I think, and others very clever. 
I mean ultimately there's a reason people read this big ass book about Yugoslavia but you don't get to know the reason until you've read it for yourself!! sorry

I will say Rebecca West holds some views on Islam and on homosexuality that leave a bitter taste, and she is absolutely fearless when it comes to making broad characterizations about how groups of people behave and think. On the other hand: she's got the guts and the intelligence and the knowledge and the powers of observation to (a) make for a good traveling companion and (b) take a stab at describing the nature of Good and Evil