Homecoming

The Path to Prosperity in a Post-Global World

By: Rana Foroohar

Narrated by: Rachel Fulginiti

Length: 14 hrs

Publisher's summary

A sweeping case that a new age of economic localization will reunite place and prosperity, putting an end to the last half century of globalization—by one of the preeminent economic journalists writing today

“This invaluable book is as bold in its ambitions as it is readable.”—Ian Bremmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Crisis

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Kirkus Reviews

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, Thomas Friedman, in The World Is Flat, declared globalization the new economic order. But the reign of globalization as we’ve known it is over, argues Financial Times columnist and CNN analyst Rana Foroohar, and the rise of local, regional, and homegrown business is now at hand.

With bare supermarket shelves and the shortage of PPE, the pandemic brought the fragility of global trade and supply chains into stark relief. The tragic war in Ukraine and the political and economic chaos that followed have further underlined the vulnerabilities of globalization. The world, it turns out, isn’t flat—in fact, it’s quite bumpy.

This fragmentation has been coming for decades, observes Foroohar. Our neoliberal economic philosophy of prioritizing efficiency over resilience and profits over local prosperity has produced massive inequality, persistent economic insecurity, and distrust in our institutions. This philosophy, which underpinned the last half century of globalization, has run its course. Place-based economics and a wave of technological innovations now make it possible to keep operations, investment, and wealth closer to home, wherever that may be.

With the pendulum of history swinging back, Homecoming explores both the challenges and the possibilities of this new era, and how it can usher in a more equitable and prosperous future.

©2022 Rana Foroohar (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Fascinating . . . Powerful . . . [A] valuable [contribution] to the understanding of the trends toward regionalization.”—Foreign Affairs

“Foroohar’s work here is equal parts journalism and visioning, offering a host of case studies of how we might produce and consume differently while simultaneously painting a picture of a more resilient and rooted economy. . . . As [Homecoming] spells out in vivid detail, we have our work cut out for us to bring the economy home.”—The American Prospect

“In this deeply reported book, Foroohar offers a mix of lively on-the-ground tales and stimulating macroanalysis to explain how globalization and localization are changing business, finance, and our wider society. . . . A must-read.”—Gillian Tett, New York Times bestselling author of Anthro-Vision

Authors Politics ruins and an important book

There is a great amount of positive and negative socioeconomic analysis and positive light in this book but the author allows her personal partisan politics to ruin what would
Otherwise be a sober and rational treaties ont he future of manufacturing.

Thinly veiled cover/blame for recent administrations borders on laughably inaccurate at time.

Shame because there was a fantastic vision for our economy muddied by shallow presidential politics. She’s a smart woman she should know better than to be so focused on transient politics.

Insightful

This book is both insightful and provides hope for the future. Ms Foroohar provides a lot of supporting references.

Excellent, thought provoking

Makes you think about what it takes to produce and provide services to the end users who represent the health of regional and local communities.

Good read

For the most part a good read.

I especially enjoyed the value of place in human centered economic reform. Also the criticism of neo liberal economic theory and globalism has demonstrable failure. She made a good case. I am with her.

Lighthouse in the darkness

Overall a pretty optimistic view of where we could go as an economy. I see many of the bits of evidence that she states in this book and my own city.

It's wonderful to read even from across the aisle and politicians seem to agree that the neoliberalism needs to die. We all hope for return to stakeholder capitalism and an end to the absolute insanity that is shareholder capitalism.

My only complaint is that spends far too much air on telling us how bad certain Trump policies were or how poor of a leader he was. While that may play to the general audience I believe she is aiming for.
It silos the book something that she says that we should not do with information.

All that said I found the book a good read and it gives me a hope for the future.

A view of the coming future

This was a great read that gels with my observations of where things are (hopefully) heading as people reject Milton Friedman shareholder supremacy and Neo Liberalism which gutted American manufacturing. All this happened while helmet-haired pursued their “China Market Strategy” whereby China vacuumed their IP and stole their products in the long run, but allowed them to crank earnings and balloon their pay via greater (short term) earnings and stock buybacks. I feel we are in the equivalent of 1946 - 1955 where there are going to be massive economic shifts post CoVid that we will only recognize when we look back later this decade. Voters on both sides of the aisle are fed up.

Great presentation of current and future environment

The book could be SIGNIFICANTLY improved if the author would emphasize less her political preferences. The story and arguments are very strong without adding her political twist. In fact, it would make her case stronger. Her bias diminished the importance of her very valuable and important message.

Great ideas but too clear a political bias

Very important and prescient points throughout the book - unfortunately the authors bias is just too clear and takes away from the impact.

not worth finishing

Your basic "the worker is helpless, corporations are greedy and destroying the world, and the government should do something" saga. Some really good points, but expecting the government to fix what they helped create is laughable.

One-sided view of current events

Interesting topics but the author lets her own liberal politics color the discussion- it doesn’t seem balanced (or very insightful) given this unbalance.