The Accidental Superpower

Ten Years On

By: Peter Zeihan

Narrated by: Peter Zeihan

With a new "10 years later" epilogue for every chapter, comes an eye-opening assessment of American power and deglobalization in the bestselling tradition of The World is Flat and The Next 100 Years. Near the end of the Second World War, the United States made a bold strategic gambit that rewired the international system. Empires were abolished and replaced by a global arrangement enforced by the U.S. Navy. With all the world's oceans safe for the first time in history, markets and resources were made available for everyone. Enemies became partners. We think of this system as normal - it is not. We live in an artificial world on borrowed time. In The Accidental Superpower, international strategist Peter Zeihan examines how the hard rules of geography are eroding the American commitment to free trade; how much of the planet is aging into a mass retirement that will enervate markets and capital supplies; and how, against all odds, it is the ever-ravenous American economy that - alone among the developed nations - is rapidly approaching energy independence. Combined, these factors are doing nothing less than overturning the global system and ushering in a new (dis)order. For most, that is a disaster-in-waiting, but not for the Americans. The shale revolution allows Americans to sidestep an increasingly dangerous energy market. Only the United States boasts a youth population large enough to escape the sucking maw of global aging. Most important, geography will matter more than ever in a de-globalizing world, and America's geography is simply sublime.

Critic reviews

"[A] lively, readable thesis on how the success or failure of nations may rest on the very ground beneath their feet...Anyone seeking a cogent, and provocative, take on where the world is heading should start here. Even if you don't fall in love with maps, you'll never look at them the same way again."— The Wall Street Journal

"In THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER, Peter Zeihan has explored a contemporary version of Napoleon's dictum that the power of countries derives from their geography. He brings a refreshingly novel and thought-provoking approach to understanding the rise of a U.S.-led global order, current threats, and why the U.S. will probably ride out the future better than others."—George Magnus, former Chief Economist and current Senior Advisor, UBS, and author of The Age of Ageing and Uprising

"An adventurous anatomy of how geography, demographics, and resources will sway the American future."—Laurence C. Smith, Professor and Chair of Geography at UCLA, and author of The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization's Northern Future

"In THE ACCIDENTAL SUPERPOWER, Peter Zeihan deftly deploys his knowledge of demography and geography to show why America's growing energy independence will nurture its global dominance for the next quarter century. His contrarian thrust is a smart parry to forecasts of Washington's dwindling relevance in international affairs."—Stephen Glain, author of State vs. Defense

"[An] ingenious, optimistic overview of America's superpower status...readers will find it difficult to put down this fascinating addition to the 'rise and fall of nations' genre."—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

incredible amount of details

worth the read. History and geopolitics combined make for interesting perspectives. I don't agree with some of the predictions, which is why it is a challenge to uncover my own data to are or not.

The continued dominance of America.

The comprehensive review of the future based on natural resources and geography. Demographics will play significantly in the next 15 years.

Great

Very informative information regarding the global world order and the future of where we are all heading

Best predictions

Not an oracle but has as sound logic as you can get in a messy field of global politics.

Must listen

elExcellent analysis and predictions of the future world based on geography, politics, and demography. I'm really looking forward to reading his other books.

Accurate long term vision of the world

Accurate forecast based on geographical, population growth and economic factors. The dramatic tone and sometimes disrespectful covering of non-American is uncomfortable.

Great audio Book

Great audio book ! Have a lot of History! An an interesting approach to modern USA!

Data based analysis

I liked the steady references to geography, age-demographics, energy, and transportation. Good hard data based evaluation is refreshing and must be taken seriously. It does not account for several other likely determinative elements; but most or all of those are murkier to evaluate and base any predictions on. I hope he’s wrong on much of the predicted desolations for much of the peoples of the world. Glad I read it.

Zeihan - Prophet

Do you feel like things are crazy and the news isn't telling you anything? Read / Listen to this book.

Fantastic

So comprehensive, I’m going directly to the next book. I recommend to anyone living on our planet right now.