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Showing reviews 21-25 of 152
 Should be required reading for all US voters September 22, 2008
Queen_Anne_Drizzle (Seattle, WA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
A very valuable read for all Americans. In this country, we generally understand less about the world than most other countries. Part of it is due to our sole "superpower" status. Most Americans speak only English. "Why should we learn about cultures - we're the top dog" goes the argument. Unfortunately this lack of understanding can hurt us economically which can ultimately lead to the decline of the our Empire (lets face it - there is a US Empire). Zakaria does readers a great service by teaching them about the forces and changes in the world. Through this understanding, we, through our government will be able to react to future world events (terrorism, economic disasters, etc...) in a more thoughtful and effective manner. If the citizens of the world's only superpower do not understand what is going on then fear will take over (as it has over the past 7 years thanks to the encouragement of the Bush administration). Fear will lead us to make poor decisions that will ultimately harm us more than the original insult. Whether we are liberal or conservative, therefore we owe it to ourselves to better understand the world around us.
Zakaria's 8 year old boy asked his Dad, " Why do you want to write a book about the future? If you're wrong, people won't buy the book anymore." A funny quote but it does not accurately describe Zakaria's book. He does not predict what will happen in the future. I don't believe anybody can predict the future. What he does do is make policy suggestions so that we can better control our destiny. In addition his insights and historical points are invaluable to readers. Highly recommended.
 All US politicians should read this before making wild guesses about us vs. them. September 22, 2008
Reg Nordman (Vancouver, BC Canada)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This could be a very important book, if the current crop of pres idential candidates ever read it. The author is a senior writer at Newsweekand the editor of Newsweek International. For those of us who watch the international stage this book is a telling indictment of how much GW bush has squandered what little remained of US good will internationally. Theauthor presents some hopeful ideas however of how this could be turned around, so that the the US, unlike Britain and its empire, does not undermine its own leadership position worldwide. His chapters on China and India are very insightful. It strikes me as a balanced, optimistic and well researched book, full of worldly details. He does ask that there be a sea change in US culture , to resist hunkering down and unilaterally forcing all other countries to the US position. Above all to be curious about the World, to listen to others, not pander to temporary political winds, resist fear, get its confidence back. Fort an academic style of book this was an easy almost to the point of engrossing read. You cannot help but learn a lot about the World, to counter Fox and CNN views.
A Soothing Wake-Up Call September 22, 2008
Rj Mugve (Florida)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The most telling passage in this highly readable book is that over the last 60 years America has succeeded only too well in its historic and laudable mission of globalizing the world. But if we don't act with a sense of urgency now, the author is afraid that future historians may be forced into writing that, in the process of globalizing the world America forgot to globalize itself.
As others have pointed out, the world is flat, and has gone from being a stable pedestal breakfast table to an unbalanced banquet table with atleast four legs. In this new world, America is faced with sharing the stage with the other partners at the table and must continue to provide leadership as we head into the 21st century. Perhaps Audrey Hepburn said it best when she quipped that the best way to remain thin is to share your food with those who need it more. It applies as much to the other, major emerging powers as it does to America with their respective core competencies.
But the time to act is now and the book has many constructive suggestions which the new framework can draw upon to help the country compete more effectively in this new global economy.
A good optimistic read for anyone who was beginning to doubt that the future would not be what it used to be.
 Certainly not scholarly... September 20, 2008
another_perspective (Atlanta, GA)
39 out of 52 found this review helpful
So the world is changing and all nations and non-governmental organizations will have new roles to play in the future. Don't we already know that? Isn't that why we take gambles every week in picking up books like this one that, outwardly, appear to offer some enrichment in our understanding? Zakaria, the master of assertions, outdoes himself in this work. He commonly asserts as facts statements of HIS opinion that are questionable. No need to itemize them. Open the book to any page and there'll be 1 or 2. When Zakaria has taken the time to "document" some of his opinions, he uses sources that, when researched, certainly seem unqualified to this reader. Example given: Steven Pinker, a psychologist whose work has been in the area of speech and language, is cited as a reference for the history of world peace. (??) And the list goes on.
Zakaria, never one to sell himself short, tells us in the book's "Acknowledgments" that it is the outgrowth of "...much travel, reading and reflection...". What a worldly guy! I personally think Mr. Zakaria would have better served his prospective readers by taking a few trips to his local library before trying to approach his subject. I, for one, don't frankly care what his personal experiences have been. Given his "Newsweek" mindset, there is no way his experiences are likely to mean the same thing to me as they did to him.
When I want to learn about a topic as important as the world's future, I'd like to get a broad spectrum of perspectives and then let the author, if he/she chooses to do so, take me down whatever narrow path he wants me to follow.
I understand that my comments are mine only. Potential readers of this book likewise need to understand that, given the lack of scholarly work applied to this book, it is also the opinion of only one person also--the author's.
Thorough Balanced Perspective on America and The World September 20, 2008
Paul W. Sauer (Fremont, California)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Interesting perspectives on America and its place in the world. I was particularly struck by Fareed's perspective on China and India and how each country's religious background - Confucianism/Buddhism in China, and Hinduism in India - will likely affect each country's respective foreign policy as they play an increasingly significant role in the world. The last chapter is powerfully written, and I couldn't agree more - how ironic it is that the most powerful country on earth has such a fear-laden society. And Fareed is blunt about America's political shortcomings: we get a lot of things right, but our political system (Washington) is ailing if not broken. His final personal note regarding the power and pertinence of having a welcoming and pluralistic society is something all American's need to take to heart.
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