This book will make you an expert – with minimum effort – on what happens when Pope Francis' successor has to be elected. It is book about the next conclave & election – post Pope Francis. What sets this book apart is that it is meant to be a 'Goldilocks' book, i.e., in terms of content it tries to get it just right, not too much, nor too little. Hence, the 'expert – with minimum of effort'. Just enough to make you a true expert without all of the history, precedents, laws & minutia. If you seek that level of information check out the author's 518-page 'The Conclave' (published in 2020). In a way you can think of this book as a concise version of that encyclopedic missile – for those that do not have the time or patience to master the topic, 'chapter & verse'.
Though 'Goldilocks' this book contains everything you need to know – and will want to know. Furthermore, it is richly illuminated with full-color photographs, charts & tables. The author is noted for his graphical annotations and this being an eBook he can indulge in his fondness for color. Check the 'Table of Contents'. It covers: the current pope, the end of a papacy, the electors (i.e., the cardinals), the conclave & the election process within the Sistine Chapel. Use the online Preview. You will see that it, in terms of topics & content, is comprehensive. The author has just made a very conscious effort to keep the level of detail 'Goldilocks'.
Maybe it might help that the author toyed with the title: "A Barstool Expert's Guide to Papal Elections". The goal was impart all the necessary data sans the 'baggage of traditions & history'.
This is the author's 12th book to do with popes. He is also the author of: "Popes and the Tale of Their Names", "The Conclave", "Popes: 101 Facts & Trivia", "Pope John XXIII: 101 Facts & Trivia" & "The Next Pope 2011". That last book, published in 2011, correctly named 'Francis' as the Next Pope – 2-years ahead of his election! It is the only book that correctly identified the Next Pope.
This, however, is NOT a 'Next Pope' book. It does NOT identify any papabile, i.e., contenders to be the next pope. That is an altogether different topic.