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The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World
Written by Ian Bremmer
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New York Times Bestseller
Renowned political scientist Ian Bremmer draws lessons from global challenges of the past 100 years—including the pandemic—to show how we can respond to three great crises unfolding over the next decade.
In this revelatory, unnerving, and ultimately hopeful book, Bremmer details how domestic and international conflicts leave us unprepared for a trio of looming crises—
- global health emergencies,
- transformative climate change, and
- the AI revolution.
Today, Americans cannot reach consensus on any significant political issue, and US and Chinese leaders behave as if they’re locked in a new Cold War. We are squandering opportunities to meet the challenges that will soon confront us all.
In coming years, humanity will face viruses deadlier and more infectious than Covid. Intensifying climate change will put tens of millions of refugees in flight and require us to reimagine how we live our daily lives.
In coming years, humanity will face viruses deadlier and more infectious than Covid. Intensifying climate change will put tens of millions of refugees in flight and require us to reimagine how we live our daily lives.
Most dangerous of all, new technologies will reshape the geopolitical order, disrupting our livelihoods and destabilizing our societies faster than we can grasp and address their implications.
The good news? Some farsighted political leaders, business decision-makers, and individual citizens are already collaborating to tackle all these crises. The question that should keep us awake is whether they will work well and quickly enough to limit the fallout—and,
The good news? Some farsighted political leaders, business decision-makers, and individual citizens are already collaborating to tackle all these crises. The question that should keep us awake is whether they will work well and quickly enough to limit the fallout—and,
most importantly, whether we can use these crises to innovate our way toward a better world.
Drawing on strategies both time-honored and cutting-edge,
Drawing on strategies both time-honored and cutting-edge,
from the Marshall Plan to the Green New Deal,
The Power of Crisis provides a roadmap for surviving—even thriving in—the 21st century. Bremmer shows governments, corporations, and every concerned citizen how we can use these coming crises to create the worldwide prosperity and opportunity that 20th-century globalism promised but failed to deliver.
Politics
American GovernmentAll categories
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The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World Hardcover – May 17, 2022
by Ian Bremmer (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 125 ratings
Editors' pick
Best Books of 2022 So Far
Renowned political scientist Ian Bremmer draws lessons from global challenges of the past 100 years—including the pandemic—to show how we can respond to three great crises unfolding over the next decade.
In this revelatory, unnerving, and ultimately hopeful book, Bremmer details how domestic and international conflicts leave us unprepared for a trio of looming crises—global health emergencies, transformative climate change, and the AI revolution. Today, Americans cannot reach consensus on any significant political issue, and US and Chinese leaders behave as if they’re locked in a new Cold War. We are squandering opportunities to meet the challenges that will soon confront us all.
In coming years, humanity will face viruses deadlier and more infectious than Covid. Intensifying climate change will put tens of millions of refugees in flight and require us to reimagine how we live our daily lives. Most dangerous of all, new technologies will reshape the geopolitical order, disrupting our livelihoods and destabilizing our societies faster than we can grasp and address their implications.
The good news? Some farsighted political leaders, business decision-makers, and individual citizens are already collaborating to tackle all these crises. The question that should keep us awake is whether they will work well and quickly enough to limit the fallout—and, most importantly, whether we can use these crises to innovate our way toward a better world.
Drawing on strategies both time-honored and cutting-edge, from the Marshall Plan to the Green New Deal, The Power of Crisisprovides a roadmap for surviving—even thriving in—the 21st century. Bremmer shows governments, corporations, and every concerned citizen how we can use these coming crises to create the worldwide prosperity and opportunity that 20th-century globalism promised but failed to deliver.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Bremmer’s account is notable for its clear prose and concision…The author’s entirely reasonable solutions involve government action, self-sacrifice, and tolerance of opposing opinions, all of which are in short supply at the moment. An expert analysis.”—Kirkus
“Ian Bremmer’s great talent is in helping us understand, in the most human terms, what must be done to protect the only world we have, and how we might do it. He takes on tomorrow’s questions from unexpected angles and provides us with food for thought to nourish us for many years to come. Essential reading for an anxious planet.” —Van Jones, CNN Host and Dream Corps Founder
“If you waver between perplexed and panicked about the state of the world, my go-to guru on geopolitics is here with a dose of insight and a dash of hope. Ian Bremmer always challenges me to think deeper and broader, and in this eye-opening read he illuminates the possible paths forward on public health, politics, climate, and technology.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife
“We live in an era of cascading international crises. The Power of Crisis, Ian Bremmer’s provocative and hopeful new book, reveals how and why these global emergencies have opened windows of opportunity that we dare not waste.”—Jane Fraser, CEO, Citi
“As always Ian Bremmer gives us a lucid and courageous analysis of the dramatic challenges our world is facing. He presents a set of proposals that world leaders should seriously consider.” —António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations
“We are living in revolutionary times. Politics, geopolitics, technology, globalization are upending the established order. If you are wondering how to make sense of it all, read this excellent book. Ian Bremmer is always intelligent and perceptive and once again, he delivers!” —Fareed Zakaria, Author of Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World
About the Author
Ian Bremmer is president and founder of Eurasia Group, the world’s leading global research and consulting firm, and GZERO Media, a company dedicated to providing intelligent and engaging coverage of international affairs. Ian is also a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, the BBC, Bloomberg, and many other television stations around the world. Ian has published ten books, including the New York Times bestseller Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism which examines the rise of populism across the world. He also serves as the foreign affairs columnist and editor at large for Time magazine. He currently teaches at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and previously was a professor at New York University.
Product details
Publisher : Simon & Schuster (May 17, 2022)
Language : English
Hardcover : 272 pages
Ian Bremmer
Ian Bremmer is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, the leading global political risk research and consulting firm.
In 1998, Bremmer established Eurasia Group with just $25,000. At present, the company is the leading global political risk research and consulting firm, with offices in New York, Washington, and London, as well as a network of experts and resources in 90 countries. Eurasia Group provides analysis and expertise about how political developments and national security dynamics move markets and shape investment environments across the globe.
Bremmer created Wall Street's first global political risk index (GPRI). He is the founding chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Geopolitical Risk and is an active public speaker. He has authored several books including the national bestsellers Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World and The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations? Bremmer is a contributor to the Financial Times A-List and Reuters.com. He has written hundreds of articles for publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, Harvard Business Review, and Foreign Affairs. He appears regularly on CNBC, Fox News Channel, Bloomberg Television, National Public Radio, the BBC, and other networks.
Bremmer earned a PhD in political science from Stanford University in 1994 and was the youngest-ever national fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is a global research professor at New York University and has held faculty positions at Columbia University, the EastWest Institute, and the World Policy Institute. In 2007, Bremmer was named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. His analysis focuses on global macro political trends and emerging markets, which he defines as "those countries where politics matter at least as much as economics for market outcomes."
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Amazon Customer reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Top reviews from the United States
C
TOP 50 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three (really four) major issues that we need to prepare for now
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022
This book is divided into four main chapters, followed by a Conclusion and an Addendum, for a total of about 207 pages, not including Acknowledgments.
In the Introduction, Bremmer uses a story about a 1985 conversation betweeen Reagan and Gorbachev to illustrate a point: that when facing a potential global crisis, the world CAN work together to create a better future. In this particular example Reagan had asked Gorbachev if the USSR would assist America in fighting an alien invasion if it ever happened(really); but Bremmer contends that the general idea can still be relevant today. He sees multiple potential crises in the future, that could potentially require global cooperation to survive.
The first issue(s) Bremmer addresses is the American political divide, and a potential new Cold War between the US and China.
These are really two separate issues, but he addresses both of them in Chapter 1. He warns that the dysfunctional American political system will cause major problems in the future, and he gives a few suggestions for bridging the political divide in America; because crises will arise that require bipartisan solutions. He also urges cooperation with China, to avoid another Cold War, for the same reasons.
In Chapter 2 Bremmer focuses on the potential problem of future pandemics. He points out lessons that we should have learned from Covid-19, and a few changes that will have to be made to be better prepared for an even more deadly pandemic in the future.
Chapter 3 deals with climate change issues. Bremmer discusses potential mass migration issues, as rising temperatures cause disruptive weather patterns like flooding in some areas and droughts/famine in others.
In Chapter 4 Bremmer explores some of the possible ramifications of new disruptive technologies. He identifies some potential risks of unchecked AI, biased or inaccurate data, automation affecting the workforce, dehumanization, increasing financial inequality, cyberwarfare, and more.
Overall I found this book to be interesting, thought-provoking, and somewhat alarming. Bremmer does raise some good points, and although he doesn't have excellent solutions for all of the issues he discusses, he does a good job of identifying some potential problems that world leaders need to be thinking about right now.
In Chapter 2 Bremmer focuses on the potential problem of future pandemics. He points out lessons that we should have learned from Covid-19, and a few changes that will have to be made to be better prepared for an even more deadly pandemic in the future.
Chapter 3 deals with climate change issues. Bremmer discusses potential mass migration issues, as rising temperatures cause disruptive weather patterns like flooding in some areas and droughts/famine in others.
In Chapter 4 Bremmer explores some of the possible ramifications of new disruptive technologies. He identifies some potential risks of unchecked AI, biased or inaccurate data, automation affecting the workforce, dehumanization, increasing financial inequality, cyberwarfare, and more.
Overall I found this book to be interesting, thought-provoking, and somewhat alarming. Bremmer does raise some good points, and although he doesn't have excellent solutions for all of the issues he discusses, he does a good job of identifying some potential problems that world leaders need to be thinking about right now.
I also appreciated that he MOSTLY stays politically neutral, not really placing the blame on one party or the other, but focusing more on large scale cooperative solutions. It can be difficult nowadays to write a book about any global issues without upsetting half of the American public, but I think this is about as close as it gets.
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34 people found this helpful
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RTM
TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE
4.0 out of 5 stars The Need for Global Cooperation to Survive
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
The review by C gives a good summary of this book, so I will discuss my personal reactions to the author's analysis and opinions:
1) Two of the three "Crises" (future global pandemics and climate change) are certainly important, and represent existential threats to survival of our human species. I think that the author (Bremmer) should have made these topics the primary focus of his book. Bremmer makes excellent points about how governments can cooperate to meet these enormous challenges.
2) Bremmer's lengthy discussion about the threats posed by a "Cold War" between China and the USA is less persuasive to me. Bremmer interweaves his analysis about disruptive technologies (his third "Crisis") with thoughts about the competition with China. Bremmer obviously fears the rise of authoritarianism in the US and other democracies as a result of China's influence. The real threat, in my opinion, is the use of military force by China (and of course Russia) to achieve political objectives. We can hope that China's leaders have learned from Russia's disastrous invasion of Ukraine.
3) Bremmer accurately points out the serious problem with US democracy early in the book, when he discusses how politics in the US is "broken" because of growing polarization, due to income inequality, and other factors.
This subject deserves a book of its own, which would examine (among other things) the alarming "culture wars" between various factions in US society. However, Bremmer does not return to this topic until the book's conclusion, when he states that Americans will overcome their differences to defend democracy as needed. This optimism seems too idealistic to me because of the danger of the US moving toward a more authoritarian form of government.
Overall, I applaud Bremmer for attempting this book, despite my criticisms. His discussions about the need for global cooperation to meet the challenges of the 21st century represent an important message for all of us.
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24 people found this helpful
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Kevin
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
I have been following Dr Bremmer on Twitter for years! His thoughtful an witty analysis of geopolitics and the pandemic are a breath of fresh air! I really enjoyed this new book! Challenges seem daunting but are presented in an intelligent way that shows room for hope! Very well done!
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
Thomas Casey. Discussion Partners
5.0 out of 5 stars Confronted Crisis Translates To Optimism
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
When looking at the challenges before global citizens we have 3 options-ignore, pontificate, or confront. Ian Bremmer’s book is a persuasive template that disaggregates the most critical challenges facing us inclusive of the road map to address the top 3 in a principled compelling way. It was refreshing to close a book feeling optimistic
vs. wondering if it was late enough in the day for a Single Malt.
4 people found this helpful
Howard B. Vanderwood
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Relevant
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
Mr. Bremmer examined the turmoil and degradation that the world is in now and explains how only a major crisis (e.g. like that of the 1930s-1940s) will force nations to cooperate in their own self-interest to resolve the issues that are behind our divisions and degradation. He has identified what the most significant world problems are, and why only the nations w can solve them.
RAM
5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect book for our times as no one knows the world like Ian Bremmer.
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
The world is entering a period of great crisis and great upheaval. The future is uncertain across the globe, at best. Ian Bremmer breaks these crises down and explains them in great detail for everyone to get a clear understanding of what we all face. There is a positive path forward and Mr. Bremmer lays it all out. The roadmap is achievable if the world’s leaders and the population in nearly every country are ready to do what is necessary. Can we do this? Can we survive these crises? This book puts us on the path forward.
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Emma
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Italy on June 13, 2022
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Ian Bremmer lays out all the issues with accessible prose and clear argumentation. A stellar analysis of the major challenges facing the global community and what we can do to make things better.
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The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World
3.88 · Rating details · 170 ratings · 22 reviews
Renowned political scientist Ian Bremmer draws lessons from global challenges of the past 100 years—including the pandemic—to show how we can respond to three great crises unfolding over the next decade.
In this revelatory, unnerving, and ultimately hopeful book, Bremmer details how domestic and international conflicts leave us unprepared for a trio of looming crises—global ...more
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Em
Jun 16, 2022Em rated it liked it
The content is good, the analysis is profound and makes an interesting read.
The only issue is that... if you follow Ian Bremmer on Twitter and the sites he's most involved with, there's not much new you'll discover in the book. Which brings up another issue.
It's a good content -very good- but it's not as new. There's a latency between what's tweeted and all the steps that lead to publishing a book.
If it were possible, I'd split the score somehow: 5 stars for the quality of the content and Mr. Bremmer's work. And the overall 3 is for being just a synthesis of the same things published elsewhere earlier.
If you're not interested in social media, it'd be an easy 5 for the book. And a solid 5 for you, as well, for managing to keep away from social media. (less)
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Joseph
May 11, 2022Joseph rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction
An extended Economist or weekly newsmagazine amalgamation of current challenges facing the US and the world as it pertains to contagions, climate change and artificial intelligence. There is not anything particularly novel in Bremmer's insights but the book does serve as well-written synopsis of the problems we face as a society over the next several years. (less)
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Timothy Shea
May 22, 2022Timothy Shea rated it really liked it
This book gave me an existential crisis and then talked me down from it.
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Gary
Jul 04, 2022Gary rated it really liked it
Books about where we are and where we possibly could be headed to have been written for decades. This one is no different. Some are full of language that stifles one's interest. Ian's book actually is an easy read and very relatable to what is taking place in the world today. The three threats he identifies, discusses and offers options of possible solutions make for an engrossing read. Generally non fiction books dry up and take time as they labor on, sometimes in monotony. When one really looks ahead in this world as to what is driving civilization and all its issues, these three themes do stick out as being critically important and worthy of global initiatives - global health threats - climate change threats and AI development and threats. Wrapping one self around these issues are paramount for our survival as a species with each having its own upside and downside. Collaboration on the part of nations are vital even with the fact that we are dealing with two distinct ideologies - one being a democratic way and the other the authoritarian way. Worth sinking your teeth into. (less)
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Tom Walsh
Jun 07, 2022Tom Walsh rated it it was amazing
Excellent Synthesis of the Current State of the World.
I very much enjoyed hearing Ian Bremmer’s take on the intersection of current events, economics, and politics. This book is yet another exercise that provides perspective on the Status Quo, speculation on the near and distant future, and hypotheses for possible solutions to the challenges facing us and our children.
While some may dismiss his more optimistic scenarios, he makes a solid case for the crises we face and their consequences if they are not faced seriously and rationally. What I most appreciate is the global perspective he brings even though he admits to a Western bias, he is not an Ultra-Nationalist America Firster. All his solutions are based in hoped-for intelligent analysis and compromise.
Global Health, Climate Change, and AI and related, ever-evolving Technologies are our future and if we don’t take steps to address these crises, our future may be “poorer, more nasty, brutish, and short” than we have hoped. (less)
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David
Jun 02, 2022David rated it really liked it
Shelves: non-fiction, foreign-policy
Bremmer is an internationalist who views cooperation with regimes such as Communist China whose values we do not share and whose actions we disapprove of as necessary to overcome global health, climate, and technological threats to all humankind. I largely agree with him, but I would have liked to see a more in-depth discussion of the ethics of cooperating with an unethical foreign government.
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Robert D
May 28, 2022Robert D rated it it was amazing
Ian Bremerton is always remarkable for his insight and analysis of the goings on in the world. This book touches on many of the most important things we must concentrate on, or pay tremendous prices/crisis. It should be read by everyone that shares my concern with the short and long term future!
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Andrew
May 28, 2022Andrew rated it liked it
Shelves: geopolitics
Global unity is on the downturn, and the two greatest challenges to collective action today are the brokenness of the US partisan political system, and increasing US-China rivalry.
This book opens with an ice breaker question that Reagan asked Gorbechev: would Russia help is the US was attacked by aliens? It nicely introduces the premise of the book: that a good crisis is what the world needs to bring it together.
The first crisis the book looks at is COVID, and unfortunately this did not bring the world together. In fact, most countries guarded their own interests and this made the crisis worse, as new variants emerged from the developing world that had been denied vaccines and assistance.
The second crisis is climate change, which may be at a threshold now as most of the world has finally accepted that it is a problem that needs to be addressed. Not every country is equally committed, and some like Brazil still want to exploit their forests, but momentum is growing gradually.
So the book introduces the concept of a "goldilocks crisis", one that is just the right amount of difficulty, where everyone has enough stake to be willing to contribute to the solution. Just days before the book went to print, Russia invaded Ukraine, and in his subsequent writings, the author has labeled this as one such crisis that managed to bring NATO, at least, together, and most of the EU as well.
Overall, quite an interesting book, though I found it a little draggy, and much of the insights could be gotten by watching the authors YouTube channel or reading his LinkedIn articles. But here is neatly structured for optimal consumption. (less)
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Brad
Jul 15, 2022Brad rated it really liked it
Shelves: current-events, politics
Bremmer clearly and convincingly outlines three crises facing mankind - pandemics similar of course to Covid; the climate crisis; and uncontrolled and unregulated technology - and makes the strong case that any of these threats could (and should) lead to a new understanding and cooperation amongst the world's nations (particularly the United States and China). He also describes what common actions could be taken without really upsetting the balance of power in the world - that is, China would not have to become a democracy nor should the United States turn a blind eye to China's human rights violations for them and other countries to cooperate more for everyone's interests.
Unfortunately, he uses the words "must," "should," "need to" etc which doesn't help much in telling us HOW the world is to be convinced to work together. Still, a very intelligent and well thought-out survey of threats facing the world and what the needed cooperation could look like. An important first step. (less)
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Kevin O'Meara
Jun 18, 2022Kevin O'Meara rated it it was amazing
As always, Ian Bremmer has another incredibly well thought out book discussing the need for cooperation to address the world's biggest issues. He does not ignore, however, why people can be so disenchanted with globalism and he explains it well. He discusses the issues of climate change, US / China relations and the speed of technology changes as the key challenges for our future.
Because the book came out right as Russia was invading Ukraine he did write an "afterword" which covered his initial thoughts on that. My guess is there will be future editions once he has his full thoughts together and it develops more. Just an incredible read. (less)
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Stacy Bearse
Jul 03, 2022Stacy Bearse rated it liked it
Shelves: fiction
Sometimes it takes a crisis to unite adversaries and motivate change. The author identifies three looming challenges that will require global solutions: Pandemics, transformative climate change, and the artificial-intelligence (AI) revolution. I was particularly interested in why Bremmer views AI as a challenge rather than a solution. He describes AI as perhaps the most onerous of the three crises because of its potential to reshape the geopolitical order, disrupt livelihoods and destabilize societies at a speed that is quicker than humankind can understand and react. The arguments laid out by the author will stay in your mind long after you read the final page. (less)
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Jim
Jun 01, 2022Jim rated it liked it
Shelves: 2022
This text highlights many of the issues we as individuals and nations have faced in recent history. The main point of the text is if we do not lead as America and learned to come together across all boundaries we are doomed. While no new ground breaking information is presented here how to deal with it is and implementing these steps require action not arguments. Worth the time investment to read.
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Alan McGowan
Jul 08, 2022Alan McGowan rated it it was amazing
A very interesting and compelling book; I would recommend it. His three crises are Global Health, Global Climate Change, and Disrupting technologies.
He also recommends a much softer tone towards China, which he thinks we need in order to establish cooperative ventures with China on the three crises he thinks are important.
He does not spend much time on the threat of nuclear war, which I think should be added to the list of crises we face.
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Nobleman Lu
Jun 27, 2022Nobleman Lu rated it liked it
Power of Crisis - How three threats and our response will change the world, by Ian Bremmer, is an interesting read on the effect of three looming crises, the global health emergencies, the climate change and the AI revolution. Worth reading.
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Leigh Stringer
Jul 17, 2022Leigh Stringer rated it liked it
Couldn’t finish it. First 2/3 of book are about problems facing society and our planet. Found them so upsetting I couldn’t read any further. More positives and solutions upfront please :)
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Arup
Jun 26, 2022Arup rated it it was ok
Shelves: economics, politics
The threats are 1) world political order re USA vs China 2) climate crisis/migration and 3) technology/automation. Nothing new in the discussion.
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Vita Bychenkova
May 23, 2022Vita Bychenkova rated it did not like it
sickening hypocritical populist
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Laurel Reinoehl
Jun 08, 2022Laurel Reinoehl added it
Read? Kinda. More like a collection of very long op-ed pieces, very short on facts and long on statements.
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霏昀
May 31, 2022霏昀 rated it liked it
2 highlights
Below expectation. Something we know without deep insights.
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Ivan
May 23, 2022Ivan rated it liked it
It is surprising how a man who produces excellent analysis on a daily basis has written such an unoriginal book
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Arunabh Singh
Jun 20, 2022Arunabh Singh rated it really liked it
A bit simplistic, but I appreciate the focus and the relevance in the current times!
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International Affairs
May 30, 2022International Affairs rated it it was amazing
Excellent unbiased tour of today’s global environment with practical solutions. Reminds me of Peter Zeihan but less US centric. Must read.
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Kirkus
THE POWER OF CRISIS
BOOKSHELF
An expert analysis of several critical problems with sensible, if not likely, solutions.
THE POWER OF CRISIS
HOW THREE THREATS—AND OUR RESPONSE—WILL CHANGE THE WORLD
BY IAN BREMMER ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 17, 2022
Another plea for the world to get its act together.
Eurasia Group founder Bremmer sets the stage early on: “Faced with dysfunction at the heart of American politics, poisoned relations between America and China, a broken global system, and with vitally important questions to answer, where is the way forward?” The solution? “We need crises scary enough to make us forge a new international system that promotes effective cooperation on a few crucial questions.” The author finds three that qualify: pandemics, climate change, and the ubiquity of digital technology. Numerous books examine (and deplore) all three, but Bremmer’s account is notable for its clear prose and concision. No one doubts that better planning and global cooperation would have lessened the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Readers unfamiliar with climate change will encounter an excellent introduction to the science and tactics to combat it, which, except for in parts of Europe, remain largely in the realm of rhetoric. Digital technology is revolutionizing our lives, sometimes for the better, but its disruptive effects seem out of control. Data is routinely mishandled or ignored, and the cheerful prediction that automation will create jobs as well as eliminate them remains unfulfilled. That the internet revolution would empower individuals at the expense of the government and spread democracy was widely proclaimed—20 years ago. One rarely hears the same message today, when social media has become a source of disruption, fake news, and conspiracy theories as well as a tool of oppression and violence. Bremmer, the author of Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism and other relevant books, offers a vivid description of how the world is dealing with these crises—so far ineffectually. The author’s entirely reasonable solutions involve government action, self-sacrifice, and tolerance of opposing opinions, all of which are in short supply at the moment.
An expert analysis of several critical problems with sensible, if not likely, solutions.
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
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