Mathiason served as a member of the United Nations Secretariat from 1971 to 1996, and describes his life as one of the new international civil service mandarins over the period in which the Secretariat became a major player in world affairs. He and his colleagues tried to remain invisible as they levied influence, he explains, because the national governments who make up the United Nations are justly jealous of their sovereignty and need to take credit for successful programs. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)