Post American World

Since I read the books The World is Flat and Confessionals of An Economic Hitman, I have been suggested by many to read Post American World by Fareed Zakaria. Finally I got a chance to finish it, I took long because I did not like the start of the book. The book starts with “Rise of the Rest” which is a series of facts, which were related but did not make much sense. There was coherency in the facts, but I found lack on analysis. May be because it was an Audiobook and was read by Fareed Zakaria himself and he could not deliver the same depth as many of the artists provide.

Once he moves out of those initial series of facts, he starts connecting the dots between India, China and United States. The way each of the country has grown in past few centuries and what differences makes them behave in certain ways. His analysis of how each of the cultures grew, fell and grouped again is mesmerizing. Many scholars like to show a snapshot of society, but Zakaria was able to give a proper perspective from different areas.

His analysis of Great Britain and US and an effort to draw a parallel between these two superpowers (of different times) is excellent. He has chooses the facts wisely, not getting overwhelmed by different theories and kept the book simple. That’s the beauty of the book, it keeps the flow, and guides the reader in direction of his thinking.

The book ends with his suggestions towards US and how it can cope with rise of the rest. He has a set of suggestions, which he has concluded from the facts provided in the book. It’s a very good book for people who likes to understand modern growth, differences between east and west, and how each culture has risen and fallen because of its strengths and weaknesses which again are relative to time.

If someone is interested in questions like why a country like India who was rich enough to build great wonders like Taj Mahal, but could not rise with west, then this is the book you should be looking at.