In How the West Was Lost, the New York Times bestselling author Dambisa Moyo offers a bold account of the decline of the economic supremacy of the West. She examines how the West's flawed financial decisions and blinkered political and military choices have resulted in an economic and geopolitical seesaw that is now poised to tip in favor of the emerging world. As Western economies hover on the brink of recession, emerging economies post double-digit growth rates. And whereas in the past, emerging economies lived and died by America's economic performance, now they look to other emerging countries to buy their goods and fuel their success.
Formerly a consultant for the World Bank and an investment banker specializing in emerging markets at Goldman Sachs, Moyo daringly claims that the West can no longer afford to simply regard the up-and-comers as menacing gate-crashers. How the West Was Lost reveals not only the economic myopia of the West but also the radical solutions that it needs to adopt in order to assert itself as a global economic power once again.
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"I really enjoyed this book but mainly because it backed up my own opinions of the disastrous economic direction we have going in the West for much of my life. I enjoyed the economic statistics that were supplied and was most impressed by her conclusions as to the choices left to us to avoid bankruptcy (or embrace it as the case may be). On the con side I thought she got onto very shaky ground when she ventured outside of the economic narrative. Citing Wikipedia as one of her historical sources would not improve her credibility! I was pleased to see that her economic references were more scholarly. Preaching to the converted in my case but a reassuring read nonetheless."
— Kerry (4 out of 5 stars)
[Flosnik] applies her signature posh British accent to Moyo's work [with] her competent, mostly straight delivery.
— AudioFile“We [in the West] have alienated trading partners and are colluding in the decline of our own prosperity, says Moyo, who sets out strategies for weighting the political seesaw back to our advantage.”
— Times (London)“Moyo’s diagnosis of the recent disasters in financial markets is succinct and sophisticated…I applaud her brave alarm against our economic and social complacency: her core concerns are sufficiently close to painful truths to warrant our attention.”
— Observer (London)“The sad saga of the recession gives legs to Dambisa Moyo’s provocatively-entitled book, for it goes to the heart of the great economic issue of our times: how swiftly will power shift over this century?”
— Independent (London)" This book is a fascinating read that realistically portrays how the world's most advanced countries have thrown away their powerful positions through poor economic policies that have created boom and bust cycles. "
— Paul, 2/20/2014" The book was a great disappointment after the excellent Dead Aid by Moyo. Moyo spends practically the whole first half of the book explaining elementary mathematics again and again in a very tedious manner. The latter half is more interesting, but it still provides fairly little new insight. It's basically just yet another book on the housing crisis. "
— Vesa, 2/15/2014" This book has a lot of problems, especially in the second half. I don't recommend it. "
— Sandra, 11/29/2013" I was somewhat disappointed. While she challenged our policy regime's framework, she still operated in the context of mainstream economic thinking, which is part of the problem. So her solutions seemed problematic. Still, a useful read for some of her criticisms. "
— Ross, 11/28/2013" Disappointment - very difficult to read, repeating arguments, in the end not bringing that much - even at 224 pages this felt too long. "
— Roman, 11/27/2013" A dense read that draws on the history of American economics to explain and predict the future of the global economy. "
— Ellen, 11/23/2013" Huge disappointment. Heard the author before I read this, and had great expectations for reasonable analysis and practical solutions. Instead, there is a lot of dramatic language, self-paraphrasing and very few real ideas. Really not worth the time. "
— Mila, 11/22/2013" A bit too much economics for me - not enough humanity... "
— David, 11/16/2013" Best macroeconomics book I have read. Not a text book but an understandable explanation of the current economic situation. I wish a book about solutions for my personal finances was as clear as this book. "
— doug, 11/13/2013" An intelligent and insightful explanation of the West's decline and the East's increase. A book that will help us understand the current and future economic panorama. A good policy outline, for both the 'West" and "Rest" "
— Straton, 7/13/2013" Excellent insight into the current state of world economic affairs and political systems. "
— Fred, 7/13/2013" Interesting ideas as the U.S. ponders its place in world economics. "
— Leah, 6/8/2013" Moyo's meticulous research was well ironed out and her points well grounded. I'd give it 2.9 stars if it were possible simply bc I wasn't energized by new information. It is worth the read, however. "
— Logan, 4/28/2013" Many interesting, scary, revolutionary, utopian or maybe not so utopian ideas on what the world has come to and how my worst nightmare of China taking over the world might just come true. "
— Madli, 4/8/2013" Very good on the diagnosis of the problems but a little disappointing on the solutions. It does however confirm what most of us already knew and that is the politicians have an awful lot to answer for . "
— Anthony, 6/18/2012" A book with a very interesting premise, but which never really goes into enough depth. "
— Nick, 2/20/2012" Moyo's meticulous research was well ironed out and her points well grounded. I'd give it 2.9 stars if it were possible simply bc I wasn't energized by new information. It is worth the read, however. "
— Logan, 5/28/2011" I thought some of the conclusions were spot on, others needed to be a bit more prescriptive. Her final conclusions were a bit sobering in my mind, albeit probably correct - that America lacks the political imperative to make the necessary fiscal changes. <br/> <br/>A very interesting read. "
— Clay, 5/10/2011" A dense read that draws on the history of American economics to explain and predict the future of the global economy. "
— Ellen, 4/9/2011" This is a remarkable book. It helps clarify America's global position--economically, culturally. It provides a solid framework to view America's strengths, weaknesses, and follies. <br/><br/>This is an important work "
— Wrdwrrior, 3/7/2011" I was somewhat disappointed. While she challenged our policy regime's framework, she still operated in the context of mainstream economic thinking, which is part of the problem. So her solutions seemed problematic. Still, a useful read for some of her criticisms. "
— Ross, 1/9/2011Dambisa Moyo is a prize-winning economist and author of the New York Times bestsellers Winner Take All, How the West Was Lost, and Edge of Chaos. She was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine. She is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. She earned a PhD in economics from Oxford University and master’s degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Anne Flosnik, a seasoned audiobook narrator, has over four hundred titles to her credit and several awards and distinctions, including AudioFile Earphones Awards, a USA Today Recommended Listening selection, an AudioFile “Best Narration of the Year” selection in 2009, and the American Library Association’s Special Services to Children Award. She has also been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She is an award-winning British actress with lead credits on stage, on television, and in commercials and voice-overs.