Can we say there is such a thing as good or bad decision making? Indeed we can, to the extent that certain decision-making techniques and practices limit the ability of policymakers to achieve their goals and advance the national interest. The success of policy often turns on the quality of the decision-making process that goes into it.Mark Schafer and Scott Crichlow identify the factors that contribute to good and bad policymaking, such as the personalities of political leaders, the structure of decision-making groups, and the nature of the exchange between participating individuals. Analyzing thirty-nine foreign-policy cases across nine administrations, and through both statistical analyses and case studies including a detailed examination of the decision to invade Iraq in 2003-the authors pinpoint factors likely to lead to either successful or failed decision making, and they suggest prescriptive measures to improve the process. Schafer and Crichlow show how the staffing of key offices and the structure of central decision-making bodies determine the path of an administration even before specific topics are introduced. Additionally, they link psychological characteristics of leaders to the quality of their decisions. This work is essential for better understanding and improving decision making.