The next 100 years as it applies to the USA

This book reminded me of those American war films where no other allies were involved in WW2 or mattered much. The writer presents statistics to forecast how the world during next 100 years will be dominating by the US even more than in the second half of the 20th century. Only two years after publication (2009) we see that as an unlikely scenario, due in part to the colossal US debts that threaten to engulf it. I was amazed the writer also seems to dismiss China as some kind of 'passing phase'........ Mmmmm I don't think so. In summary: written by an American purely for Americans presumably to cheer them up.

5 people found this helpful

American-centric but interesting

In this book Friedman lays out an interpretation of world history (mainly modern history), adds in some currently known facts and statistics and then extrapolates this model forward to describe the drivers for world events in the near future.

As Friedman admits, this is shamelessly, uncompromisingly and sometimes almost offensively pro-US -but (if you can) set this aside this there are a number of interesting conclusions drawn about the driving causes for key events in world history. These conclusions are then joined and scenarios for the future are constructed and presented in a concise and flowing manner.

I liked this book. While I might like to question his interpretation of some historical events and even though many individual facts, forecasts and conclusions were not new to me, Friedman finds patterns and extends them into the future in a logical and consistent manner which I have not seen elsewhere and I found thought provoking. I shall be looking for other similar books to add to my library.

Definately worth listening to.

5 people found this helpful

Geopolitics may be accurate

What would have made The Next 100 Years better?

Perspectives from other people. Once the listener starts to disagree with the perspective offered it becomes more challenging to listen to.

Would you ever listen to anything by George Friedman again?

Possibly.

Which character – as performed by William Hughes – was your favourite?

Not applicable.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Some food for thought in there.

Any additional comments?

While undeniably US-centric the core assumption is that the next 100 years will follow patterns established in previous centuries, failing to consider the continued rise and importance of technology, dominance of corporations, dwindling resources and ecological shifting. Relationships between governments, the central thought in the book, feels less influential in the 21st century than it was in the 20th already.

This would have been better written as a work of fiction as there are some nice geopolitical ideas presented.

2 people found this helpful

Entertaining and imagination provoking

As almost10 years elapsed since this book has been published it is interesting to compare it with real events that had shaped world history (for last decade) and assess the trajectory of events in comparison to the book. What strikes is utter (imo) underestimation of global warming (/climate change) and dealing with this issue in the epilogue only seems to confirm it questioning all other reasoning.
As a Pole I was captivated by vision presented.

1 person found this helpful

Intriguing and entertaining.

Viable scenario predicted. The precise details of which matter less than than the major themes and geopolitical dynamics including EU structural weaknesses, space based warfare, automation, demographics, new energy sources etc. Interestingly he also expects the current war on terror to be relatively short lived.

1 person found this helpful

Pretty good

pretty good, but the title of the book gives high hopes. it isn't a bad book however.

interesting, well presented analysis

This was a compelling read whose main idea was well founded and whose expectations are realistic. The book goes a long way towards making world politics understandable.

Insightful and interesting

Of course the author rightly points out that the details are not necessarily correct but the view of what might happen on a wider scale is very interesting. You really have to not see the book as an exact timeline but more as a guild to possible problems and solutions for us in the next 100 years.

Fun and thought provoking

Any additional comments?

George Friedman provide the listener with his predictions on the course of international relations over the next hundred years. He begins by setting out the forces that he thinks shape world politics and then outlines how he expects events to progress. There is humor in this as well as serious ideas. Well worth reading, even if to define in your own mind, why you think he might be wrong.