"A marvelous read, full of interesting lore and powerful ideas. . . . Levi has pushed the historical study of resources mobilization to a new height."--Aaron Wildavsky, University of California, Berkeley"A magnificent book, one of the best blends of rational choice theory and historical analysis I've seen. . . . [Levi's] resolute focus throughout on rulers' efforts to balance extraction of revenues against the compliance of their polities organizes this vast collection of material into a tight, compelling account."--Russell Hardin, University of Chicago"Margaret Levi convincingly integrates institutional analysis and rational choice theory to provide powerful accounts of what state rulers do. This is an important book, certain to generate broad interest and debate."--Theda Skocpol, Harvard University"I think the book will have a major impact. It positions itself in the macro-level literature and looks at states and the evolution of political forms. But it does so while championing the use of micro-level tools of reasoning and models derived from rational choice."--Robert H. Bates, Duke University