A Prophetic Assessment of America's Changing Place in an Increasingly Global Age
For Fareed Zakaria, the great story of our times is not the decline of America but rather the rise of everyone else -- the growth of countries such as China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Kenya, and many, many more. This economic growth is generating a new global landscape where power is shifting and wealth and innovation are bubbling up in unexpected places. It's also producing political confidence and national pride. As these trends continue, the push of globalization will increasingly be joined by the pull of nationalism -- a tension that is likely to define the next decades.
With his customary lucidity, insight, and imagination, Zakaria draws on lessons from the two great power shifts of the past five hundred years -- the rise of the Western world and the rise of the United States -- to tell us what we can expect from the third shift, the "rise of the rest." Washington must begin a serious transformation of global strategy and seek to share power, create coalitions, build legitimacy, and define the global agenda. None of this will be easy for the greatest power the world has ever known -- the only power that for so long has really mattered. But all that is changing now. The future we face is the post-American world.
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"I finished reading this almost four years after its release, but it is as relevant and as interesting today as it must have been when first published. Whether you agree with his views or not, Zakaria is an excellent, accessible writer and his views are well formulated. He is also a very interesting historian. As someone from a Muslim Indian background, he provides fresh and unexpected perspectives on several historical narratives. It was a captivating book from end to end which does not predict the end of American dominance and influence over the globe but shows how we have created our own competition by exporting our values and know-how. This is an optimistic book in many ways as well as a cautionary one. If you neglected to read it, like I did, I encourage you to pick it up. People of all political viewpoints would find it very engaging and very instructive. This book has extended my education. Fascinating!"
— Clark (5 out of 5 stars)
A definitive handbook for political and business leaders who want to succeed in a global era.
— Walter Isaacson author of Einstein: His Life and Universe“Compelling.”
— New York Times“This is a relentlessly intelligent book that eschews simple-minded projections from crisis to collapse.”
— New York Times Book Review“A far-reaching analysis…Zakaria’s strength lies…in offering a lens through which to understand America’s role in a globalized world.”
— Slate“Even if we Americans already know that our country has lost some of its game over the past, say, eight years, Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria delivers this message in an altogether new, almost buoyant context.”
— Seattle Times“With characteristic elegance and insight, Zakaria offers a striking picture of the rapid growth of the non-West.”
— Foreign Affairs“Fareed Zakaria is one of the most thoughtful foreign policy analysts of our day and his new book…is a must read for anyone interested in globalization—or the Presidential election.”
— BusinessWeek.com" I didn't love this book. It got pretty bland in the middle, and I couldn't even finish it. "
— Darrell, 2/15/2014" Very interesting analysis of America from a foreign perspective. Very good read. "
— Sheetal, 1/29/2014" Interesting read, but maybe more in the mold of a reaaally loooong Newsweek writeup(but that makes it easy to read). A more balanced and realistic assesment of portents of the coming world than most other works on the subject... "
— Saurabh, 1/24/2014" Sadly, but not surprisingly, this book already seems a bit outdated, given everything happening in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East. Still, this is a well-written and sobering book about the trend of the world away from U.S. hegemony. We'd better get used to it! "
— Alison, 1/8/2014" Takes a separate view, and one that is likely to happen should America continue its current trend "
— Aaron, 1/4/2014" Zakaria definitely has a great perspective. He know's his history and geography and does a great job connecting dots and showing a perspective of the future (mainly economically) and how it wold affect America. In a way this book can be aimed at an average american wanting to know his place and better knowledge on the policies he votes for, but beyond that I learnt a lot into the idea of culture and key aspect in innovation which in a macroeconomic sense will weave the path how we will interact amongst different parts of the world. Zakaria definitely pours his research and experiences with prominent people into this book. "
— Sid, 1/2/2014" zakaria is an amazing thinker, and both this book and The Future of Freedom Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad really impressed me. "
— Doug, 12/22/2013" I *really* liked this book; very well-written and topical... "
— Ben, 12/10/2013" I hate to admit it, but it took me so long to finish this book that I cannot even comment on it. I do think it deserves to be re-read in a year or two. A close, careful read, not what i have been doing. "
— Debra, 11/9/2013" A MUST read for all "
— Pat, 11/8/2013" Moderate, honest, realistic. You don't find those in many international political books. "
— Damien, 10/11/2013" Touched upon a lot of topics that I personally finding interesting. "
— Sona, 12/7/2012" I heart Fareed ... he plainly diagnoses the most urgent challenges facing America today and then sketches out a pragmatic approach to how the country can adapt to a globalized future. His writing is at once insightful (particularly the portraits of China and India) and inspiring. "
— Jenny, 9/10/2012" Interesting point of view but couldn't really get into it. "
— Mary, 5/14/2012" Excellent, especially the last chapter. I read version 2.0, the 2010 update. "
— Helen, 8/16/2011" A reality check on America's position in the global world of the 21st century! "
— Athman, 5/12/2011" if you want to prepare your children for the future this book (or listen to the audio CD on a long trip)is a must. "
— Marla, 4/12/2011" Nothing too surprising if you pay attention to the news and ask "so what?" a whole lot.<br/><br/>That said, he has some very interesting views, and for people who don't absorb media all day, may of his stories will be shocking. "
— William, 4/7/2011" Brilliant writing and analysis of the global economy from a brilliant but down to earth author. "
— Jon, 3/31/2011" The beginning was interesting enough but it became repetitive and boring after a while. I couldn't finish the book... and that's never a good sign (for the book) "
— Pratap, 3/8/2011" Zakaria lays out the current international reality as clearly as any other analyst I have read. If you want to understand the world as it is and as it will be, this is the book to read. "
— John, 2/12/2011" Sadly, but not surprisingly, this book already seems a bit outdated, given everything happening in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East. Still, this is a well-written and sobering book about the trend of the world away from U.S. hegemony. We'd better get used to it! "
— Alison, 2/8/2011Fareed Zakaria is editor-at-large of Time, a Washington Post columnist, a New York Times bestselling author, and host of CNN’s flagship international affairs program, Fareed Zakaria GPS. He received a BA from Yale and a PhD from Harvard. He lives in New York City.