One of the major discoveries of the last two decades of the twentieth century in algebraic geometry is the realization that the theory of minimal models of surfaces can be generalized to higher dimensional varieties. This generalization, called the minimal model program or Mori's program, has developed into a powerful tool with applications to diverse questions in algebraic geometry and beyond. This book provides the a comprehensive introduction to the circle of ideas developed around the program, the prerequisites being only a basic knowledge of algebraic geometry. It will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers working in algebraic geometry and related fields.

Review of the hardback:‘… the book is very crisply written, unusually easy to read for a book covering advanced material, and is moreover very concise for the book for reference, but is also an ideal book on which to base a series of seminars for research students, or indeed for research students to read by themselves.’

P. M. H. Wilson Source: Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society

Review of the hardback:‘… a very good survey of present research.’

Source: European Mathematical Society

Review of the hardback:‘I can recommend it to anyone wanting to get a deeper knowledge than just getting a survey of some facts on the classification theory.’

M. Coppens Source: Niew Archief voor Wiskunde

Review of the hardback:‘… a very good survey of present research … a very clear presentation of the subject.’

Source: EMS