Most people don't think much about acquisitions or "takings" of private property by the government--until they receive a letter that their land is about to be taken! This complex subject is made easy to understand in this volume. The author uses zany humor and bizarre examples to describe the history of acquisitions in Australia and the USA, and how they have come to be what they are today. While the book is written from an Australian perspective, it also provides significant insights into American takings and how they operate.