VICTORY

Schweizer's subtitle succinctly presents his thesis: The Soviet Union did not just implode; on the contrary, the Reagan administration played a critical role in its demise. Schweizer's description of the role of the CIA, under William Casey, a central figure in this drama--as well as the roles of the National Security Council, Defense Department and State Department-- often reads like a Tom Clancy novel, complete with secret meetings, descriptions of weapons and tales of espionage. While the reader sometimes lacks the passion and partisanship of the author, overall Esmo's reading is quite good as he reads clearly and smoothly pronounces difficult names and places. M.L.C. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 99]