Acheson's book is a completely different genre. If the merit of Kennan's book lies in its profundity and its classic prose; that of Acheson's lies in its sensitivity. Sketches from Life is a series of delicate personality sketches of Bevin, Schuman, Churchill, Molotov, Vyshinsky, Salazar, Vanderberg, Marshall and Adenauer.

The book is of interest on three levels. Considered simply as a series of anecdotes and epigrams, it is highly amusing, though a bit slow in places. Its character sketches help the reader to understand many important figures of the postwar world. But perhaps its greatest value lies in what it reveals about Acheson himself.

Acheson is obviously at his best in the company of follow diplomats. He is a sensitive man himself, and is quickly moved to boredom or anger when surrounded by lesser breeds.

The humorless Senator Taft, for instance, does not come in for very sympathetic treatment. At a Yale Corporation meeting with "Mr. Republican," Acheson recounts, the group was discussing Yale a science program. Taft interrupted a speaker to announce "Mr. President, I went through Yale without taking a single course in science."

While the Corporation was recovering in complete silence from this remarkable revolution," says Acheson. "I was tempted and fell into sin Addressing the President of the University, I said, 'Your Honor, the prosecution reals.' The silence was broken, but the Schator was not amused."

One sympathizes with Acheson's scorn, but one understands why it was that this "striped-pants diplomat" did not get along very well with Congress