The book is an interesting effort at cultural analysis, regional comparisons, differences in development among populations, and many other aspects of life that are not melding nearly so fast as was predicted with globalization... this is a treasure trove of fascinating nuggets about such diverse topics as happiness, homicide rates, traffic fatalities, gender equality, and the rule of law. Summing up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. D. B. Heath, Brown University. (CHOICE, March 2012)