A Book Review: The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria

Coming from a background of Kinesiology and Nutrition, I had not studied much politics before entering this graduate program. I was never interested in history until I read Jared Diamond’s book Guns, Germs and Steel in an anthropology class a few years ago. It was such a unique and logical perspective, and gave me the foundation to understand why global power distributed itself in the pattern it did. That foundation helped me to understand some of what Zakaria referred to, but to someone with a little global history, the book was fairly dense. Regardless of experience studying history, the book seemed appropriate for everyone.

Overview:

Fareed Zakaria, Editor of Newsweek International since 2000, author, editor, teacher and regular on CNN, has amazing experience and credentials. I’m tempted to believe every word he says. He was born in Mumbai, India and attended Yale and Harvard studying Government. In his latest book, The Post American World, he is pointing out the global shift in power that has already taken place. He talks about why the shift in power is taking place and offers advice to America as to how to handle it. He repeatedly states that this is not a fall in U.S. power, but rather the “rise of the rest.” China and India are becoming superpowers, whether they are ready or not.

The Relevance of The Post American World:

This book was written for anyone listening or willing to listen. By that I mean our country is struggling and people are looking for a reason why. This book helps to answer the why and what to do now. It is applicable for every person in every country. Those interested in international dynamics, politics or economics (MBA students) will find extra pleasure in reading this book. A transformational leader says what you have at the tip of your tongue but cannot yet verbalize. I see Fareed Zakaria as this leader… he gives people the knowledge they seek and helps to make sense of this unique reality. Since awareness of global warming has recently increased, a peaked interest in understanding global dynamics may be soon to come. My hope is that The Post American World and others like it will be new threads for unity on planet earth. The more we can understand about the world and why these global dynamics exist, the better we can help our planet as a whole. Americans may feel a little ego shock at first when reading this book, but I hope it can help build the foundation to a globe equally understanding of each of its inhabitants.

Since global business is growing, it is becoming more important to have an understanding of other countries. This book helps to achieve that goal; it helps each reader to be more informed about the world we live in.

What Zakaria Did Well:

Fareed Zakaria had much strength within the pages of The Post American World. I have identified three strengths that I feel have added immensely to the quality of his book. First, Zakaria is thorough and provides great insight after giving readers a clear and in depth understanding of the material. He takes time to lay out enough history so a reader from any background can understand the concept being delivered. Zakaria understands that every person has different knowledge. I consider myself as a political and economical novice. His explanations were extensive enough so that I could understand the concepts he presented, but written in a way such that individuals with the extensive background knowledge would still read what he had to say.

Secondly, he takes time to address the opinions of readers, or what he assumes they may be. Each reader has a different worldview, and an easy way for an author to lose credibility is to insult his readers or fail to recognize pre-conceived opinions or individual worldviews. He makes sure that if he has something negative or shocking to reveal, he does so in a non-offensive and sensitive way. He substantiates his opinions and allows readers to draw their own conclusions. Particularly in this book—a book involving many countries, it is important to consider who your readers are. When writing The Post American World, Fareed Zakaria made an effort to understand his audience.

Lastly, this book was eloquently written. He can be viewed as a bearer of bad news. Because his delivery was so smooth, it’s an easier pill to swallow pill. I have read many excellent books written terribly… I have also read many terrible books written well. The presentation is everything, and Zakaria writes beautifully. Immediately I could tell he was passionate and meticulous about the material presented in this book.

What Zakaria Could Have Done Better:

At the end of The Post American World, Zakaria paints a picture of hope for the American people. America is a resilient country—let’s hope. This book came to market in early 2008, as our presidential campaigns were rolling strong. He could not foresee the outcome, and nominees probably were not chosen at the time he wrote this book, but the missing link in this book seems to be considering the lead change of America.

The last eight years have been plagued by President George Bush, whose cabinet is responsible for much of the struggle the U.S. currently faces internally and internationally. Before the Bush years, Clinton’s foreign interactions were criticized as well. “…But all these complaints were polite chatter compared with the hostility aroused by George W. Bush” (page 222). Point being—as we know, the President greatly influences global affairs. Barack Obama is starting his presidency during a recession; America is struggling, but the missing link for me is the validity of some of Zakaria’s points considering the change in presidency. Obama has proposed drastic changes in two trade agreements, both of which Zakaria references in this book—the WTO and NAFTA. Also considering that Obama was seen reading The Post American World during his campaign, will he follow Fareed Zakaria’s advice? Zakaria endorsed Obama in his Newsweek article The Case for Barack Obama—Obama is pushing to change the parameters of the country's comfort zone. That's leadership.

My criticism of Fareed Zakaria is minimal… he could not have met the expectations I laid out in the previous paragraph—the events had not yet happened.

In Closing:

America has hit a wall. “America remains the global superpower today, but it is an enfeebled one. Its economy has trouble, its currency is sliding, and it faces long-term problems with its soaring entitlements and low savings. Anti-American sentiment is at an all-time high everywhere from Great Britain to Malaysia” (page 217). Fareed Zakaria has helped me to understand why.
I learned a great lesson about the ego of the United States. Having lived in California my entire life, I lacked outside perspective, especially in the context of history. We are taught from American made books with American made information. “In many countries outside the Western world, there is pent up frustration with having had to accept an entirely Western or American narrative of world history—one in which they are either miscast or remain bit players.” Zakaria goes on to explain that in World War II, the common story known to Westerners is “…Britain and the U.S. heroically defeat the forces of fascist Germany and Japan” (page 34). Come to find out, Russia was responsible for the battle that killed 70% of the Germans. We push our language and culture onto other countries but do not learn theirs. We point fingers and blame everyone but ourselves. China and India are used to support U.S. companies, why are we surprised they have become rising superpowers?
This book helped me to take what has been happening globally and simplify it. China is producing goods, India is producing services, and the U.S. is using both, as our own economy fails. We are stimulating the economies of other countries, we have helped the “rise of the rest” to happen… we have given the formula away. There will be a shift… with the focus and intention of Barack Obama, who has read this book, there will be a shift.

I loved this book. Fareed Zakaria provides background information, explains current and past happenings in an understandable and non-offensive way, then gives us a plan and hope. I will read anything Zakaria writes and listen to what he says, not with a blind eye, but knowing that I have established trust what he has to say.

Zakaria, Fareed. The Post-American World. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008.