Phoenix Press, 2000, $19.95, ISBN 1-84212-047-6, 185 pgs., trade paperback

Milovan Djilas was Tito's good buddy before WWII, a trusted comrade during the partisan attacks during the war, and ultimately the number two guy in power in Yugoslavia after the war. In 1954, he bolted from the Communist party but remained in Yugoslavia (sometimes in jail) and wrote books about market economics and other such Communist heresies. You'd think he'd be in a good position to write a Tito Biography. Nope.

This disjointed, disorganized disaster of a bio offers precious little information about Tito, or what made him tick, or much of anything. Miserably written, often repetitive, and lacking even the most basic information about Yugoslavia, this "inside story" staggers all over the place like a drunken sailor--and is about as coherent as one, too.

It's obvious Djilas idolizes his former boss, much like an innocent puppy continues to follow a master who kicks dogs. Yet he also tries to put distance between Tito's actions and his own. Post-war "re-education camp" at Goli Otok? Gee, the number two guy knows nothing about it. Hmmm. Sounds like a bunch of Nazi generals after WWII.

This book was originally printed in 1981--one year after Tito's death. This pathetic little book has all the symptoms of a rush job. Save your $19.95 and ignore this alleged book. Use your money and time for far better works.