The Post-American World

By: Fareed Zakaria

Narrated by: Fareed Zakaria

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

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 500 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.

©2008 Fareed Zakaria (P)2008 Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"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)

terrific

Clear, concise engrossing discussion about the shift in power that is affecting all of us.

Outstanding

Outstanding analysis from a true patriot and realist, Fareed Zaharia. I highly recommend this book. Enlightenment doesn’t begin to describe this work. I’m going to find another by this author immediately.

interesting read

Any additional comments?

this was a thoughtful and relatively objective book. the title can be a bit misleading. the book is not at all about the downfall of america, but instead about the cultural and economic elements that have contributed to successful societies over the years, the extent to which these elements exist in different modern societies. he talks about the merits of the free market and globalization and their positive impacts on societies throughout history, and perhaps most interestingly, compares the evolution of india, china, the uk, and the united states. this is all an overly simplistic summary, but in the end i'd say that zakaria gives a good overview of the past and relates it to current developments in the state of international affairs. perhaps most importantly, it was fairly non-partisan, except for zakaria's obvious preference for free-market-based western economies and political systems. there will always be room for disagreement, but zakaria maintained a calm and respectful tone throughout.

A new view

Despite the title that makes this seem like it will be a doom and gloom book, it offers a great deal of hope and guidance for the future. Zakaria focuses on China and India as some of the main player in the "Rise of the Rest". He reminds us of how Britain lost its role as super power but points out the ways it kept its influence even up to current times. He outlines a route we as a country can take as the US becomes less of the only super power but a leader and guide in a diverse world where more countries will be rising. He offers statistics to refute the fear-mongered view that we are in desperate times, and offers concrete ways we can move to insure a leadership role while keeping the best interests of other countries in mind.

Best of the year

This is a clear and insightful exploration of world politics and economics now, in historical perspective, and well into the future. Several friends thought that this was a US bashing book written by an Islamic sympathizer... which goes to show that you can't judge a book by it's cover! If anything, it is a celebration of the American dream, while offering an understanding of what the future holds for us. A realistic observation by a talented and knowledgeable author. A compelling read (listen)!

A Great Read aka Listen

This is probably the most stimulating and interesting book I have listened to in the last year. Great way to see the United States and how it can continue to be an effective leader as a country in an ever changing world. The United States hegemony will probably decline but our importance is the world will continue if we understand and respect the desires and aspirations of other nations. Our image as a nation is equally important, if not more so, than our brute power in helping to shape an abundant, dynamic, safe, democratic and healthy world for all its inhabitants.
A perfect book to read for anyone who plans to vote in the upcoming 2008 Presidential Elections.

One of the best resourses of Info on Audible

At first I thought it was a bad idea to have the author read the book, but he settles into it quickly. I think he should have re-read the first chapter, after he finished, he sounds much more comfortable after chapter one.
This is what Political books should be like.

There is no real bias. He states observations, and looks at past and present cultures to give you an idea of where we may be going.
I lot to think about.

I have listened to it twice, and will keep it on my iPod. I found a lot more on the second listen.

if you like this book, get America Alone (it's a good balance to this book. these two books are Like listening to two people debate.). And get The Tower of Babble.

So that's why they hate us?????

It really is more than that. Informative and enlightening to the western ear. In a news man's voice... This is an interesting historical trip thru the middle east as well as a current snapshot of what it may devolve to. Good Work kiddo... (my highest complement)

Getting to Hear Fareed

Marvelous "story" ... better than anything one could make up. Just how it is in the world, just how everyone strives.

I learned a great deal and got to hear Fareed at the same time! THANKS for the book and the communication.

Seems well reasoned and gives hope for America

I thought this would be a book that slammed America (not what I want to read), but it pointed out what made America great and I feel some hope for America if we can address some of the problems described in the book. I will be listening to the follow up book.