I have been mainlining information about the Troubles for about two months now and it's hard to say whether this book hit the right notes because I'm beginning to be semi-literate on the topic, or because it is just that well written and organized. I listened to the audiobook and even in that format the chronology was clear, as were the parenthetical profiles of key players. Perhaps this book felt especially helpful because it does not deal in anecdotes. In some cases, that might be what brings history to life, but for my part, I appreciated a no-frills approach that gives a clear bird's-eye view of those 5+ decades.