Although I ran into this tome at the tail end of my journey through Rene Girard, it should easily be the only one that one needs to read in order to gain a proper understanding of this specific man's thought. The book alternates between the authors' explanations and Girard's quotes.
Idea the first: Mimetic desire and imitation. Desire is a strange thing born into us, and although one would not be too far amiss if one were to ascribe desire to our physical desires, it goes a bit deeper than that. If you and I fight over a girl, it's a matter of dominance, not the girl.
Idea the second: Sacrifice. Because similarity in desire leads to assertion of dominance and to conflict, there arises a need for something different to be around. The different is generated and sacrificed, with peace temporarily restored. Girard argues Christianity can break this cycle.
Idea the third: The Sacred. Three legs make up The Sacred - rituals, myths, and taboo. Ritualised violence, myths confirming it, and taboos on questioning it are quite clear.
I think this book best explains Girard's ideas, and that is no mean feat - I've scarcely seen a lecture online or elsewhere that achieves what this book has. For that, I commend it with the title of BANGER OF THE WEEK.
10/10