There are many reasons why it is such a well written about subject. One of these is that nobody really knows how sociality and especially eusociality as experienced in some of the Aculeates and the Isoptera in particular came about. The Phantom of altruistic behaviour troubled Darwin and still haunts many and evolutionary biologists mind. Personally I think this thinking is indicative of a pendulum swing that will eventually rest with the saner acceptance that the 'replicator' and 'non-replicator' aspects of our and other lives are in partnership in the maintenance of life. The big problem with altruistic behaviour is not how it is maintained, that is fairly well understood, but how it gets started.
All mutations are singular in their origins.
Unfortunately this work like others before it fails to offer a convincing scenario to explain how the very first occurrences of a new gene for altruistic behaviour survive. Bourke and Franks are ardent supporters of Kin Selection Theory and either dismiss too quickly opposing ideas such as the work of Mary West-Eberhard or else dilute and expand Kin Selection Theory to swallow other ideas whole. One is reminded of the history of China during the first 4 chapters, everything eventually becomes Kin Selection Theory. Most of the book though is a comprehensive and well written text drawing together a large body of modern thought and research into coherent discussion of the many complexities involved in the evolution of sociality particularly eusociality in ants. The first 4 chapters set the pace bringing in the main concepts which need to be understood before the finer arguments can be followed.