Though an epilogue examines tactical what-ifs, no effort is made to say what it all meant, and the whole story reads rather like an inside view of a tight World Series baseball championship.

ECONOMIST: There is still much to learn from the dead heat of 2000

If you are looking out for someone whose income is being wiped out by medical expenses, it is worth the effort to get a tax return in, even though no tax will be due.

FORBES: 5 Neglected Tax Developments of 2011

It is no use professing to want zero problems with the neighbours without making a much broader effort to resolve such ancient quarrels as those with Armenia or over Cyprus.

ECONOMIST: Turkish foreign policy

The effort to ram the treaty through before Christmas is no more justified than it is precedented.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Obama's contempt of Congress

No Republican has ever won the presidency without it, and McCain is working hard in an effort to wake up the once-dominant party machine.

NPR: Palin Moved The Electoral Map, But For How Long?

They are now fully aware of how easy it is to connect with anyone in the world and share information, with almost no cost or effort.

FORBES: Rethinking the Customer Journey in a Social World