The article reviews recent books on balancing and the balance of power, showing that balance of power equilibria are not the norm in international relations. There is disagreement among realists on how to define and apply the concept of balancing. The analysis suggests a distinction between balance of power theory, power balances theories, and balancing theories. Expanding the concept of balancing to include nontraditional forms is valid, but describing them as hard or soft balancing is not accurate. Even with a broader view of balancing, balance of power theory is facing increasing evidence against it. Realists may need to adopt a more nuanced approach to power-political competition. It is suggested that balancing and the balance of power should be studied separately rather than solely within realist theory.