[3] Nephew argues about interpreting targets' responses to sanctions based on two critical factors: pain and resolve.

[clarification needed][4] The author believes that sanctions have achieved maximum effectiveness resulted Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

[clarification needed][5] Richard Nephew is an adjunct professor and senior research scholar and program director at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy since 1 February 2015.

[6] Governments, international organizations and nations are increasingly turning to sanctions as a foreign policy tool.

"[2][6] Robert Einhorn, a former senior adviser of the U.S. State Department's Nonproliferation Bureau and a member of the Brookings Institution, wrote; "Nephew has written an interesting book according his experiences as an American negotiator and sanction's plan creator.

Sanctions have become a critical tool for U.S. foreign policy system and this book must be read by governors and experts who work on North Korea, Iran and Russia.

"[2][6] Dennis Ross, an adviser to Barack Obama, said Nephew's "viewpoints and conclusions are highly valuable, and can help many policy makers, too".