Oe(tm)Malley has produced yet another remarkable text and places us all in his debt. To take on such a monumental task as compiling a single-volume historical account of the 266 generally accepted church leaders who have followed in the footsteps of Peter is a truly daunting task.This volume is a gem that will inform, entertain, amuse, and inspire countless readers from widely differing backgrounds. Oe(tm)M has deliberately written this book for a wider audience, and its prose, as ever, is wonderfully lucid and stylish, peppered with fascinating anecdotes and lesser-known aspects of history that grip the readere(tm)s attention throughoutOe(tm)M is not afraid to get embroiled in the most contentious historical questions alone the way, including some of the most significant of all in this field of studyHis observations on some of the most critical questions pertaining to the papacy and the church in general are consistently thoughtful and measuredThroughout, with characteristic succinctness, wit, and historiographical elegance, Oe(tm)M. explores the personal and social origins and backgrounds of his subjects and tries to discern their personalities throughout. This book will make a wonderful textbook at various levels, as well as a discussion text for parish groups and perhaps especially for ecumenical discussion groups. It will also be a cherished companion for readers seeking a less dense but nonetheless stimulating immersion into nearly 2000 years of history, regardless of their level of theological and historical training. Above all else, time and again Oe(tm)M stirs the reader to think about individual popes, historical periods, and ecclesiological questions in a different waye"no mean feat, given the multitude of similar textbooks that have passed under the bridge.