The Post-American World

The most telling passage in this highly readable book is that over the last 60 years America has succeeded only too well in its historic and laudable mission of globalizing the world. But if we don't act with a sense of urgency now, the author is afraid that future historians may be forced into writing that, in the process of globalizing the world America forgot to globalize itself.

As others have pointed out, the world is flat, and has gone from being a stable pedestal breakfast table to an unbalanced banquet table with atleast four legs. In this new world, America is faced with sharing the stage with the other partners at the table and must continue to provide leadership as we head into the 21st century. Perhaps Audrey Hepburn said it best when she quipped that the best way to remain thin is to share your food with those who need it more. It applies as much to the other, major emerging powers as it does to America with their respective core competencies.

But the time to act is now and the book has many constructive suggestions which the new framework can draw upon to help the country compete more effectively in this new global economy.

A good optimistic read for anyone who was beginning to doubt that the future would not be what it used to be.

So the world is changing and all nations and non-governmental organizations will have new roles to play in the future. Don't we already know that? Isn't that why we take gambles every week in picking up books like this one that, outwardly, appear to offer some enrichment in our understanding? Zakaria, the master of assertions, outdoes himself in this work. He commonly asserts as facts statements of HIS opinion that are questionable. No need to itemize them. Open the book to any page and there'll be 1 or 2. When Zakaria has taken the time to "document" some of his opinions, he uses sources that, when researched, certainly seem unqualified to this reader. Example given: Steven Pinker, a psychologist whose work has been in the area of speech and language, is cited as a reference for the history of world peace. (??) And the list goes on.

Zakaria, never one to sell himself short, tells us in the book's "Acknowledgments" that it is the outgrowth of "...much travel, reading and reflection...". What a worldly guy! I personally think Mr. Zakaria would have better served his prospective readers by taking a few trips to his local library before trying to approach his subject. I, for one, don't frankly care what his personal experiences have been. Given his "Newsweek" mindset, there is no way his experiences are likely to mean the same thing to me as they did to him.

When I want to learn about a topic as important as the world's future, I'd like to get a broad spectrum of perspectives and then let the author, if he/she chooses to do so, take me down whatever narrow path he wants me to follow.

I understand that my comments are mine only. Potential readers of this book likewise need to understand that, given the lack of scholarly work applied to this book, it is also the opinion of only one person also--the author's.

Interesting perspectives on America and its place in the world. I was particularly struck by Fareed's perspective on China and India and how each country's religious background - Confucianism/Buddhism in China, and Hinduism in India - will likely affect each country's respective foreign policy as they play an increasingly significant role in the world. The last chapter is powerfully written, and I couldn't agree more - how ironic it is that the most powerful country on earth has such a fear-laden society. And Fareed is blunt about America's political shortcomings: we get a lot of things right, but our political system (Washington) is ailing if not broken. His final personal note regarding the power and pertinence of having a welcoming and pluralistic society is something all American's need to take to heart.

I recently read Fareed Zakaria's"The Post-American World", and found the book to be most interesting and informative. I have been recommending it in my blogs and through e-mail as one of several books people should read before voting in this most interesting election year. The chapters on China, India, and Great Britain are excellent, and his thoughts on the role of America are valuable. As someone who was born just before FDR was elected, and who has seen the evolution of American politics and governance, I find that "The Post-American World" is an important book for our times.

This book is excellent. One of the best I've ever read. It describes in detail why the United States is slipping in the world economy. I believe that 50 years from now, people who have read this book will say, "I knew this was coming". If your interested in what America's role will be in the next 50 years on the world stage, you HAVE to read this book. It's worth every penny.