Is it possible to quantitatively estimate the effects of interventions, such as in Afghanistan? Yes, say the authors of this collection of chapters, who broadly apply intervention to both governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Though this is a developing research area, anyone involved in modeling or planning will want this excellent introduction.

Current best practices prior to intervention include planning guides, historical analogy, and expert judgment. The early computational models follow either a war-gaming approach (with or without human players), or a dynamics approach that weighs variables.

Readers may jump about in the book based upon their interests. The book also includes a variety of case studies and examples. The editors provide several tables so that the reader may locate an example related to a mechanism of intervention, an effect of intervention, or a modeling technique. The references at the end of each chapter, as well as the index, are well done.

An overview of chapter topics illustrates the breadth of subjects the book covers: emerging techniques and tools, politics and power, economics and markets, media and influence, governance and society, groups and violence, insurgency and security, crime and corruption, visualization and comprehension, verification and validation, and anticipation and action. Numerous figures create an easy reading experience.

The authors of the visualization chapter indicate that, nearly universally, the Achilles’ heel of societal models is their inability to convey their computational results to the human user. “The models’ inner logic should be transparent and comprehensible to a non-specialist user.”

Furthermore, the verification authors quote George Box: “All models are wrong; but some are useful.”

There are limitations in the current state of the art, and much work still needs to be done.

Throughout the book, the authors continually uncover subtle linkages between seemingly unrelated developments; examples include social media, youth, education, unemployment, and triggering events, as we have recently observed in Middle East protests. Though all of the authors discuss limitations and necessary refinements, it might be helpful to indicate the directions of future research in a special chapter that goes beyond verification and validation. This is simply a minor suggestion for a future work.

This book is an excellent introduction to the current field of modeling interventions, and will be useful and worthwhile to readers.