“Padraig O’Malley’s new book is a profoundly important exploration of the complexities and conundrums of untying the Gordian knot of Irish partition. I have not seen this depth of non-partisan understanding and explanation from any other analyst or advocate. That is why anyone who wants – or needs – to understand the possible endgame of Irish partition has to get this well-written book and read it carefully.” Professor, the Lord Alderdice, First Speaker, Northern Ireland Assembly (1998-2004), Executive Chairman, The Changing Character of War Centre, Pembroke College, Senior Research Fellow, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford. "Few subjects are as vexing and uncertain as the long-term consequences of Brexit and the possibility of a united Ireland, yet Padraig O'Malley has drawn on his decades studying divided societies to produce a clear-eyed, wide-ranging, nonpartisan, elegantly written, up-to-the-minute analysis. Perils and Prospects is an important book – and an urgent one." Patrick Radden Keefe "It’s incredibly hard to write about Northern Ireland fairly. It’s even harder to write about something like Irish unity fairly and accurately, and still be interesting and still ask the questions that are significant — and questions that I hadn’t thought about — and questions that are new and fresh and look at that critically, skeptically, but not cynically, and take it seriously in a way that sometimes both the proponents of Irish unity don’t do and the opponents of Irish unity don’t do. This book treats its subject with the seriousness that it requires." Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Independent "A substantial and comprehensive analysis of the progress and potential of the Northern Ireland peace process."  Ray Burke, Irish Times ‘In a nuanced, even-handed and rather brilliant way, Padraig O’Malley has devoted his world-class intellect to analysing that Northern, divided province of ours. This is a remarkable book … a superb book. It’s a triumph of insightful analysis and even-handedness. He has insights into a Northern Unionist and Loyalist psyche, which is very rare in this country … An excellent and important read.’  Andy Pollak   'A wise, insightful examination of the perils and possibilities of Irish Unity. If readers [...] are looking for a book a read on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, I strongly recommend Perils and Prospects of a United Ireland, by my friend Padraig O'Malley, the distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation at the University of Massachusetts.' Andy Pollak ‘Couldn’t be more urgent or more significant … O’Malley’s beautifully written and accessible book will certainly be thought provoking for anyone interested in what a united Ireland means to us today on the island of Ireland, and in how it might come about and what shape it might take.’ 
The Mayo News ‘As a major voice on the topic of divided societies, from Northern Ireland to South Africa and the Middle East over the past half century, Padraig O'Malley's latest book is a welcome addition to the literature, especially now, when the prospect of a united Ireland seems closer than it has been in the last century … [he is] a foremost authority on Northern Ireland, while also playing an important role as a convenor of opposing parties to work out their differences.’  Boston Irish Tourism Association ‘A serious book from a serious and eminent scholar and peacemaker and so represents a high profile and important intervention on possible political futures for the whole island. … The book is not just about the architecture of political change, but also about the engineering works that would have to accompany constitutional reform. … The prose has panache and the wide range of primary sources add colour and texture to his own analysis.’ Feargal Cochrane, Fortnight ‘What I love about this book is that it treats Irish unity with the seriousness it deserves … This book brings together eclectic interviews with everyone from Peter Robinson to Colin Harvey, Mervyn Gibson, and Séanna Walsh, but analyses and contextualises their words rather than simply taking them at face value. It ultimately shows that Irish unity could work – and O’Malley believes it will happen – but it will only be successful if accompanied by enormous care, planning, and painful compromise.’ Belfast Telegraph