Book excerpt: Vexillology, or the study of flags is a fascinating and ever-changing subject. TheComplete Flags of the World presents a detailed and compelling overview of the history behind the development of world flags. Each national flag is fully described with text and annotations that describe its history, the developmentof its design, the significance of colors, symbols, and crests. Even the smallest countries are given a full page, and the story of each flag is analyzed consistently to make comparisons simple. The attractive format and handy pocket size will make this an ideal gift or reference for anyone who is interested in flags.