  I review the recent progress in computing inclusive B decay widths and
spectra and its implications on the interpretation of measurements from the B
factories. I discuss the inclusive charmless semileptonic decay, B -> X_u l nu,
which provides the most robust determination of the CKM parameter |V_{ub}|, and
the rare radiative decay, B -> X_s gamma, which constrains flavor violation
beyond the Standard Model. I demonstrate that precise predictions for the
experimentally-relevant branching fractions can be derived from resummed
perturbation theory and explain the way in which the resummation further
provides guidance in parametrizing non-perturbative Fermi-motion effects.
Finally I address the comparison between theory and data and discuss future
prospects.
