To embrace a solution, first you had better understand the problem. THE FISCAL CLIFF is a timely, no-nonsense account of our country's current financial predicament and the precipitous fall that may soon come. Using the most up-to-date government and private sector data, economists Ayse Imrohoroglu and Selahattin Imrohoroglu offer a nuts-and-bolts primer to those who want to better understand the real fiscal crisis behind today's headlines and rhetoric. Unafraid to mince words, these authors recount the good, the bad, and the ugly of America's economic past, present, and future. Invoking two key economic principles, the Imrohoroglus highlight a specific bipartisan budget proposal as one possible means for the United States to avert financial calamity. They make a quantitative, qualitative, and compelling case. By all means, check their work.