World Order

Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History

By: Henry Kissinger

Narrated by: Nicholas Hormann

Length: 14 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of World Order by Henry Kissinger, read by Nicholas Hormann.

World Order is the summation of Henry Kissinger's thinking about history, strategy and statecraft. As if taking a perspective from far above the globe, it examines the great tectonic plates of history and the motivations of nations, explaining the attitudes that states and empires have taken to the rest of the world from the formation of Europe to our own times.

Kissinger identifies four great 'world orders' in history - the European, Islamic, Chinese and American. Islamic states have looked to their destined expansion over regions populated by unbelievers, a position exemplified today by Iran under the ayatollahs. For over 2,000 years, the Chinese have seen 'all under heaven' as being tributary to the Chinese Emperor. America views itself as a 'city on a hill', a beacon to the world, whose values have universal validity.

How have these attitudes evolved, and how have they shaped the histories of their nations, their regions, and the rest of the world? What has happened when they have come into contact with each other? How have they balanced legitimacy and power at different times? What is the condition of each in our contemporary world, and how are they shaping relations between states now?

To answer these questions, Henry Kissinger draws upon a lifetime's historical study and unmatched experience as a world statesman. His account is shot through with observations about how historical change takes place, how some leaders shape their times and others fail to do so, and how far states can stray from the ideas which define them.

World Order is a masterpiece of narrative, analysis and portraits of great historical actors that only Henry Kissinger could have written.

©2016 Henry Kissinger (P)2016 Penguin Audio

One hell of a book

This book is excellent and extremely well written and informative. The narration is very good as well.

Dr. Kissinger is amazing

Dr. Kissinger is a truly unique thinker and, coupled with Mr. Hormann's performance, it makes this audio book a pleasure to be enjoyed again and again.

Highly recommend

People those who are interested in world politics can learn a lot from this book.

It’s like Kissinger could see Trump coming...

And he wrote the definitive guide to foreign policy for the populist president completely oblivious to historical precedent. Essential reading for us all!

Clear, efficient and interesting

Would you listen to World Order again? Why?

Absolutely, there is a lot to learn & gain from this novel.

What did you like best about this story?

The history is very comprehensive, incredibly detailed and provided a good narrative for connecting ideas

Which scene was your favorite?

I particularly enjoyed the segment focusing on China

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

I learnt a lot about the beginnings of Arabic politics & systems, which I wasn't expecting

Amazingly staged actual escenarios

It gives you an idea about how the actual world is formed viewing its story in the different developed orders. And it helps you to understand how can the future be achieved to obtain equilibrium

Full of lies and a propeganda for the USA

Shameful book! I am amazed of how can someone with this extensive experience and high profile state lies and in accurate information that many in a single book. Complete waste of time to read.

In depth analysis of European political history, but further chapters did not live up to the same standard

The first chapters about the political history of European states presented a very insightful view of how political order evolved in this region and how this later went on to influence related regions outside of the continent.
However, the following chapters about political history in other regions of the world were not as in depth and did not offer the same standard of analysis.
The book then continued to comment on issues of modern history and current times, but sadly it did not offer much more insight than already widely known facts and opinions.