Understanding Minimalist Syntax introduces the logic of the minimalist program by analyzing well-known descriptive generalizations about long-distance dependencies, and asks why they should be true of natural languages. This text proposes a new theory of how long-distance dependencies are formed, with implications for theories of locality, and the minimalist program as a whole. Experts working in the field will appreciate it's rich empirical coverage, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students will find it an accessible introduction to the minimalist program.