Schneer shows the inner workings of Winston Churchill's cabinet during World War II when Britain was guided by a group of talented, ambitious rivals who put aside their differences to defeat their common enemy.

Part I.Making a war cabinet. -- Challenging the prime minister ; -- Finding a war prime minister -- Part II. Churchill and his ministers at war. -- Testing the war cabinet ; -- The months of greatest crisis ; -- Shaping the war cabinet ; -- The war cabinet at work ; -- Spearhead of the left ; -- Coping with Mr. Cripps ; -- The cat that walked alone ; -- The impact of Professor Beveridge ; -- The "cocky Cockney" and the debate over postwar Britain -- Part III. Sundering the war cabinet. -- Churchill on the downslope ; -- Aftershock ; -- Coda.