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The Post-American World Hardcover – 23 May 2008

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Fareed Zakaria (Author)
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Fareed Zakaria (Author)
2.7 out of 5 stars 3 customer reviews
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The Post-American World
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition, Eighth Printing edition (23 May 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 039306235X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0393062359
  • Product Dimensions: 16.3 x 2.8 x 24.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 628,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

A far-reaching analysis.

Compelling.--Thomas Friedman

Compelling.--Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat

A far-reaching analysis. "

Compelling. --Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat"

Starred Review. Zakaria updates his best-selling earlier vision of world economics and politics, which foresaw the decline of American dominance but reassured us that with that decline came the rise of the rest of the world.

This is a relentlessly intelligent book that eschews simple-minded projections from crisis to collapse.--Joseph Joffe

Zakaria . . . may have more intellectual range and insights than any other public thinker in the West.

A provocative and often shrewd take that opens a big picture window on the closing of the first American century and the advent of a new world.--Michiko Kakutani

Fareed Zakaria is one of the most thoughtful foreign policy analysts of our day and his new book . . . is a must read for anyone interested in globalization or the Presidential election.--Bruce Nussbaum" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

An essential update of the bestselling global phenomenon --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars"...in the long run, the battle of ideas is close to EVERYTHING."
By John P. Jones III TOP 500 REVIEWER on 7 Jan. 2011
Format: Hardcover
The above quote (with emphasis in the original) is part of the concluding arguments from Fareed Zakaria's book which focuses on the dynamic shifts in the distribution of power on a global basis. It is an essential statement, and he supports his contentions with the pitiful sums that are devoted to America's efforts to promote its ideals as opposed to the truly mind-boggling sums that are thrown at military hardware. If the ratio of those expenditures was reduced, the "post" part of the title might be a bit longer in coming.

Zakaria is an immigrant to America from India, and as such, has a broader global perspective than most Americans. He understands the American outlook of the proverbial "Joe Six-Pack", and also understands the outlook of many citizens in other countries. Early in the book he emphasizes that much of the economic progress made in the last two decades is due to the state of peace reigning in the world --at some level this is counterintuitive since, as he says, "A cottage industry of scaremongers has flourished in the West--especially in the United States--since 9/11."(p14) Based upon this peace, and wiser leadership in other countries, Zakaria states that numerous other countries are becoming much more prosperous, and although the book focuses on China and India, he also cites Russia, Brazil and South Africa. China is now the "workshop of the world," making most of what Wal-Mart sells. India is specializing in providing the "services" part of the equation. (yes, the dreaded tele-marketers, as well as the software programmers.)

Zakaria provides numerous anecdotes and examples of a global perspective, and how America is often out of step with other countries.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starssadly flawed
By Mr. Stephen Parkin on 19 Dec. 2009
Format: Hardcover
Zakaria's book is quite readable but contains several factual errors.
For someone born and raised in Mumbai ,he appears woefully ignorant about India.
He writes in Chapter 5 "Buddha was Indian...there are virtually no Buddhists in the country today...to find Buddhists you must go thousands of miles from where it was founded."
Buddha was born and raised in Nepal.
The Indian census lists a Buddhist population of some 8 million.
Apart from the Dalai Lama and over 100,000 exiled followers who live in northern India,one needs to travel only 40 miles across the Palk Strait to Sri Lanka (14 million)or bordering countries such as Myanmar (43 million),Bhutan (1.5 million),not to mention 6 million Tibetans in neighbouring China.
He displays similar ignorance of the U.K's Beveridge Report.His claim that the 20 fastest-growing cities in the world are Chinese is ludicrous.

Given these lapses,I am at a loss as to Joseph Josse's New York Times Book Review
calling it "relentlessly intelligent". I can charitably assume that he had not read the book.
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1.0 out of 5 starsAn Extended Newsweek Article
By Jas. Murphy on 19 Jun. 2008
Format: Hardcover
One should be suspicious of a book on global affairs sold in airport bookshops. This is a lightweight, extended Newsweek article in which Zakaria quotes his friends a lot and makes no penetrating or original observations. The chapter on India is better than the rest of the book. As Foreign Policy Lite for the next US president it will probably secure Zakaria a place in the pantheon of policy advisors. Fair enough, Zakaria seems like a nice fellow, and is probably capable of better analysis than this volume represents.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

Amazon.com: 4.2 out of 5 stars 559 reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Insightful 28 Nov. 2016
By Scott Farkus - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This book is very Insightful especially in light of the recent elections. Will we isolate ourselves or remain the country that has been the envy of the world? How is it that we have lost confidence and become afraid of a boogie man hiding in every shadow. Things will only get better when we start working together again. Right now we are a deeply divided country with each side pulling as hard as they can in the opposite direction. Our politicians are playing to our fears instead of our best. This book provides solutions. It may not have the answers to everything especially since some things have changed since it was written. But it does provide direction and most of the ideas and solutions would still apply. We just have to have the courage to step up.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, easy to read 7 April 2014
By Laura - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I very much enjoyed Fareed Zakaria's updated version of The Post American World. He discusses the shifting balance of power with the rise of developing nations and America’s role in a globalized world. He argues that the United States is not declining; instead, third world countries are experiencing periods of enormous growth, challenging America’s status as the political and economic superpower. The United States cannot merely attempt to maintain the status quo. It must adapt its international role to maintain cultural dominance.

Economically, growth is good for everyone. The metaphorical pie is larger, increasing everyone’s share. The US has taken advantage of opportunities to outsource manufacturing, driving down the price for many consumer goods, which has manifested in an increasing of invention and entrepreneurship. US companies are able to expand into new markets, exponentially increasing their bottom line. But there are also significant challenges arising. Oil, food, and other commodity prices are increasing with growing demand. There is a significant strain on natural resources and the environment, particularly in countries with rapidly rising populations. The United States has lost certain key industries as jobs are outsourced to other countries. Perhaps most concerning the United States, with economic growth has come a huge surge in nationalism, frustration with the Western world, and little desire to work through the traditionally established mechanisms of the international community.

These economic changes also mark a shift in the balance of power throughout the world. The US must recognize the changes throughout the world by allowing countries to expand and grow, repair the bully image of America in the eyes of many in the world, and promote a more inclusive international system. It cannot try to prevent the rise of these powers, instead, it must adapt to a new world.

I thought Zakaria did a really good job outlining the problem in an easy to read, but still academic, writing style. My one main criticism is that he spends way to much time focusing on China and India. He states throughout the book how calling these changes the rise of Asia is too limited, yet these are the only two countries he explore in depth. I would have thought he would have gone into Brazil, the Asian tigers, and maybe even Africa a little more. Still, a great book and highly recommended!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fareed Zakaria - A Fine Writer, Pundant, American! 28 Aug. 2013
By Don Richardson - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The book is an extremely interesting account of a changing world containing many nations as they make their way onto a more equal financial/economic footing with other nations of the world including the US. Particularly strong are his discussions of Asian nations, particularly India and China, as they compete with the west.
Mr. Zakaria is a fine American citizen whose articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines since, I believe, the 1980's. He has authored a number of books in addition to this one. His TV program, GPS [Global Public Square], is excellent. He was born in India of Muslim parents. He says he is not very religious.
Because of his parentage and appearance, he has been the subject of some of the factitious and destructive writings, Emails, that are passed from one to another within groups of anti Muslim extremists.
The book is absolutely not about the demise of America but about the coming of age of many other nations.
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish every American would read and understand this book! 13 April 2013
By Joan C. Scott - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Mr. Zakaria has a very perceptive view of the future of the world and America's range of possible roles within that future. If you study history with a view to how the human race has developed, one of the themes within that view is that, for our protection, we continually learn to form larger and more inclusive groups within which to function. From that viewpoint, globalization and world unity are inevitable, so the question becomes "How can we best get there and best function, once there?" Though Zakaria did not say this in those words, he really outlined the general concept thoroughly and well. His multicultural background has given him opportunity to develop valid perceptions -- and in addition he has developed formidable powers of analysis.

I loved his powerful but realistic optimism. I think all of us function best when we can embrace optimism. In some ways, his concluding point that the present United States is engulfed in a fear that is entirely inappropriate for a world leader is the most important of the many important points in his book. We CAN control our emotions -- and none of us wants to be hag-ridden by fear -- and the ideas and perceptions outlined in his book can help us to emerge from that atmosphere of fear that motivates too many USA actions at present.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book on world relations 18 July 2011
By M. Hyman - Published on Amazon.com
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
a fascinating book about international relations and the strengths and weaknesses of the USA in interacting with the evolving world. Fundamentally, is American on a decline? Should we be afraid? How do our actions compare to those of previous great empires such as England? What motivates China and India? How will the world economy shift?

These and many other questions are posed and discussed in the book. It is an excellent, well thought, well presented read that gives much perspective on the role of America and how that is changing with the collapse of the American economy, the post-Bush era foreign policy, and the growing strength of emerging markets such as China, Brazil and Russia.

I won't share with you the book's conclusions, but if you are interested in politics, policies, or are a business leader of some sort, this book is a highly valuable read.
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