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 enlarge | Author: Fareed Zakaria
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $14.95
You Save: $11.00 (42%)
New (53) Used (15) Collectible (1) from $14.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  140 reviews
Sales Rank: 102
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 6.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 039306235X
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.49
EAN: 9780393062359
ASIN: 039306235X
Publication Date: May 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Critical reading for Americans June 17, 2008
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
This is the most insight-dense and clearly reasoned book I have read in quite some time. In it, Zakaria takes a step back and looks at where the world is today, how it got here and where it's going. Throughout that analysis, Zakaria makes one insightful and important comment after another. Americans who want a level-headed perspective on where globalization is taking the world and how the United States might fit into that scenario need look no further.
Zakaria starts with a historical overview of how some countries shut themselves off from the rest of the world and how some embraced it. Unsurprisingly, embracing the rest of the world was almost universally the more successful approach for countries, their societies and economies. From there, Zakaria explains that the United States has spent many, many years telling other countries to free up their political policies and their economies and now that it is happening, we're not always comfortable with the results.
Zakaria does a nice job providing perspective on the rise of China, India and the rest of the world and explains that even if the United States continues to grow its economy, it won't be as large as a percentage of the whole world as it has been. How positive or negative that turns out to be, Zakaria explains, is largely a matter of how we respond to the shifts taking place in the world.
Zakaria tackles some tough topics like how America handles its power on the world stage and debunks some common myths such as the one that states the United States is generating far fewer engineers and scientists than other countries. I found myself constantly re-reading passages to try to lock insights into my mind or stopping my reading to think about something I'd just read. That's the sign of a really good book.
Some reviews say the book is anti-American. I just don't agree. Zakaria takes an objective look at our country and points out plenty of good and not-so-good. For anyone or anything to improve, flaws need to be exposed, analyzed and improved. Zakaria comes across as a big fan of his adopted country who wants to see it excel in an environment that is bound to be very different from the one we've had for the last few decades. For Americans who want the same for themselves and their country, I really recommend reading this book.
Congratulations America, You Got What You Voted For June 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
We have created our own monster both in our political choices (dictators of our "American message", foreign policy, and judicial system) and in our journalistic choices (who we listen to). Mr Zakaria is a good reporter of the results of our missteps.....to date. The good news is that we are a country of consummate adapters (best demonstrated in the events of WW2 when, within a few years, we went from an isolationist mentality to a military/industrial powerhouse focused almost exclusively on winning the war).
The world is rising around us and we are rising too. We WILL change/adapt to the realities of the 21st century and it will be an exciting time! You only have to watch the current election process to see how much the country is finally becoming more engaged. And, this is just the start of an enormous "pendulum swing" that will envelop our country over the next 10 years. I count on the young people of our country to lead the charge that will reshape our vision of the new realities we will face and our responses to it. Zakaria should be starting this new story now!
 A unoriginal, overly-hyped book with too many factual mistakes June 17, 2008
11 out of 39 found this review helpful
I find Zakaria's book to be flat on historical substance, and heavy on pompous anti-American statements. While easy to read his ideas are unoriginal and often times disjointed.
As someone who does not read much about global economics, I hoped this book would be refreshing and perhaps a stepping stone to finding others I could read and learn more from. I was let down. His references are few and far between and his insight on China is far less impressive than on his home country of India.
I think Zakaria was just trying to come back from his popular first book, and capitalize on his already allegiant audience.
Probably would have served him better if he could at least get some of his facts straight. For instance it wasn't the Asian tsuanmi of 2005, it was the tsunami of 2004. And the whole world was not against the US invasion of Iraq, there were plenty of countries who supported it (UK, Turkey, and don't forget Poland).
But it seems Zakaria creates his own reality. His own facts. And for this
I would not recommend this book to anybody. Well, almost anybody. Perhaps if you are a member of al-qaeda you might appreciate his outlook. Or if you want to learn a little about China and India (emphasis on the word little).
America - Look over your shoulder..... June 16, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
A well written book that would be of interest to all Americans who are now looking into a future where the U.S's dominant global position is being threatened. Instead of calling it the decline of America, the author Fareed Zakaria calls it the `rise of the rest'. In this scenario, though the U.S will continue to be the largest economy and the sole superpower, the growth of countries like China and India will change the world order.
Fareed takes the reader through the rise of Western civilization from the 15th to 19th century and then the growth of the U.S in the 20th century. Britain's fall from a World super power position is analyzed very well and aptly compared with U.S's decline in the future. U.S's recent missteps in the global arena are scrutinized and shown to compare poorly with how Britain handled their diminishing power in the last century.
Fareed then goes on to assess the strengths of China (the challenger) and India (the ally) from the U.S perspective. Further he analyzes the current position of the United States in a pragmatic manner and prescribes a path for the United States in the new multi-polar world.
A Realistic Look At The Modern World June 16, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Fareed Zakaria's book offers a frank and honest look at the modern world. What has happened is not that America has fallen, but that in many ways its efforts to export itself have succeeded. Unfortuantely, as Zakaria notes, the American political system is ill-equipped to deal with the changing world and adopt to the new reality.
One place where Zakaria comes up short, surprisingly, is in his discussion of India. Although he discusses the differences between the Indian and Chinese political systems, assuring that India will not be able to replicate China's growth pattern, he fails to highlight some of India's other serious challenges. These are internal, such as the active maoist insurgency, and external, a fragile relationship with its nuclear neighbor, Pakistan.
Still, Zakaria's book is a great read on the current world and even offers some suggestions about how America can adapt.
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