The European Charter for Small Enterprises recognises that small firms are the backbone of the European economy. Yet books on the topic are few. An author requires courage to cover such a large set of different views, perceptions and realities about entrepreneurship, even within the limited area of the Euro-zone. L?o-Paul Dana, with a track record in researching and writing about entrepreneurship, puts together an ambitious comparison of 12 European countries: an introduction with geographic, demographic, and historical overviews, a focus on the economy, entrepreneurship and small business sector and a view on the future. It serves as a valuable overview of self-employment in the Euro-zone, as well as a guide to entrepreneurship.