The Future is Asian

Commerce, Conflict and Culture in the 21st Century

By: Parag Khanna

Narrated by: Nezar Alderazi

In the 19th century, the world was Europeanized. In the 20th century, it was Americanized. Now, in the 21st century, the world is being Asianized.

The “Asian Century” is even bigger than you think. Far greater than just China, the new Asian system taking shape is a multi-civilizational order spanning Saudi Arabia to Japan, Russia to Australia, Turkey to Indonesia—linking five billion people through trade, finance, infrastructure, and diplomatic networks that together represent 40 percent of global GDP. China has taken a lead in building the new Silk Roads across Asia, but it will not lead it alone. Rather, Asia is rapidly returning to the centuries-old patterns of commerce, conflict, and cultural exchange that thrived long before European colonialism and American dominance. Asians will determine their own future—and as they collectively assert their interests around the world, they will determine ours as well.

There is no more important region of the world for us to better understand than Asia – and thus we cannot afford to keep getting Asia so wrong. Asia’s complexity has led to common misdiagnoses: Western thinking on Asia conflates the entire region with China, predicts imminent World War III around every corner, and regularly forecasts debt-driven collapse for the region’s major economies. But in reality, the region is experiencing a confident new wave of growth led by younger societies from India to the Philippines, nationalist leaders have put aside territorial disputes in favor of integration, and today’s infrastructure investments are the platform for the next generation of digital innovation.

If the nineteenth century featured the Europeanization of the world, and the twentieth century its Americanization, then the twenty-first century is the time of Asianization. From investment portfolios and trade wars to Hollywood movies and university admissions, no aspect of life is immune from Asianization. With America’s tech sector dependent on Asian talent and politicians praising Asia’s glittering cities and efficient governments, Asia is permanently in our nation’s consciousness. We know this will be the Asian century. Now we finally have an accurate picture of what it will look like.

such a great book...

wonderful book and very informative as well as clearly able to highlight both the past and present issues of our multi polar world

Very good, comprehensive and sweeping

Narration was surprisingly awful towards the first few chapters. Narrator got “ISIS” wrong several times, as one example.

Focussed on India and China

I agree with the overall theme of the book that Asia is on the rise. However, I think the author spends a lot of time talking about the influence of his native India and China while fails to mention many other Asian countries and cultures which have and continue to influence the world.

Mr. Khanna talks about the movie Eat, Pray and Love, Beatles and Steve Jobs meditating India but does not mention Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, winner of Nobel Peace Prize, who introduced the concept of micro lending to the world. He founded Grameen Bank which is now all emulated all over the world including US, Africc and South America to uplift the lives of the poor.

He mentions Saudi Arabia and UAE because of their economic strengths which is very recent. However, he fails to mention monumental influences of the Arab scientists, astronomers, philosopher, physicians and mathematicians; The following are just a few examples.

Al-Biruni- ( 973 AD-1050 AD ) He calculated the circumference of the earth and predicted that there is a big land mass between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans ( the Americas )

Ibn Sina or Avicena ( 980 AD ) - His books ( The Book of Healing and Cannon of Medicine ) were taught in medical schools all over the world including Europe and USA up until 17th century. Was printed in the USA as recently as 1973.

Al-Haytham - Produced a fully functioning camera ( 1231-1288 )

A Different Lens

It was a good thing for me to read this book and move my lens of understanding. I have no clue as to the veracity of the predictions, that is how unfamiliar I am with thinking about these issues.

The narration errors made it difficult for me not to focus on my irritation; that surprised me. If a person is sensitive to mispronunciation, be aware, going in.

Good book, bad narrator

Khanna provides a welcome perspective and analysis of the Asianizing world. The narrator, however, mispronounced words in English as well as most of the Asian languages.