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Peter Zeihan
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The Accidental Superpower: The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disorder Hardcover – November 4, 2014

by Mr. Peter Zeihan (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,644 ratings
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The freshman book of New York Times Bestselling Author of The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization.
An eye-opening assement of American power and deglobalization in the bestselling tradition of The World is Flat and The Next 100 Years.
Near the end of the Second World War, the United States made a bold strategic gambit that rewired the international system. Empires were abolished and replaced by a global arrangement enforced by the U.S. Navy. With all the world's oceans safe for the first time in history, markets and resources were made available for everyone. Enemies became partners.
 
We think of this system as normal - it is not. We live in an artificial world on borrowed time.
 
In The Accidental Superpower, international strategist Peter Zeihan examines how the hard rules of geography are eroding the American commitment to free trade; how much of the planet is aging into a mass retirement that will enervate markets and capital supplies; and how, against all odds, it is the ever-ravenous American economy that - alone among the developed nations - is rapidly approaching energy independence. Combined, these factors are doing nothing less than overturning the global system and ushering in a new (dis)order.
 
For most, that is a disaster-in-waiting, but not for the Americans. The shale revolution allows Americans to sidestep an increasingly dangerous energy market. Only the United States boasts a youth population large enough to escape the sucking maw of global aging. Most important, geography will matter more than ever in a de-globalizing world, and America's geography is simply sublime.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Twelve
  4. Publication date
    November 4, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.55 x 9.35 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1455583669
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1455583669
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Many believe that the American economy has some inherent advantages over its major competitors -- a more flexible structure, stronger entrepreneurial traditions and a more demographically vibrant society. Along comes a fascinating new book that says you ain't seen nothing yet." -- Fareed Zakaria, CNN

About the Author

Peter Zeihan launched his own firm, Zeihan on Geopolitics, in 2012 after working for twelve years with the geopolitical analysis firm Stratfor, where he was Vice President of Analysis.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Twelve; Illustrated edition (November 4, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1455583669
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1455583669
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.28 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.55 x 9.35 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,644 ratings

About the author

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Peter Zeihan

Peter Zeihan

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Geopolitical Strategist Peter Zeihan is a global energy, demographic and security expert.

Zeihan’s worldview marries the realities of geography and populations to a deep understanding of how global politics impact markets and economic trends, helping industry leaders navigate today’s complex mix of geopolitical risks and opportunities. With a keen eye toward what will drive tomorrow’s headlines, his irreverent approach transforms topics that are normally dense and heavy into accessible, relevant takeaways for audiences of all types.

In his career, Zeihan has ranged from working for the US State Department in Australia, to the DC think tank community, to helping develop the analytical models for Stratfor, one of the world’s premier private intelligence companies. Mr. Zeihan founded his own firm -- Zeihan on Geopolitics -- in 2012 in order to provide a select group of clients with direct, custom analytical products. Today those clients represent a vast array of sectors including energy majors, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests, universities and the U.S. military.

His freshman book, The Accidental Superpower, debuted in 2014. He followed Accidental with The Absent Superpower (2016), Disunited Nations (2019), and in June of 2022 his newest release: The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization.

Find out more about Peter -- and your world -- at www.zeihan.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
2,644 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

bdp6740
5.0 out of 5 stars Zeihan is a sage
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
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Besides understanding the modern world this book helps provide insights on how societies developed and why they are they way that they are. The author is brilliant and possess a decent sense of humor. I don't really have any criticisms of the book. I may disagree on a point or two here and there but his overall thesis is solid and is well supported. I've been recommending this book to everyone.
2 people found this helpful
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R. Dennis
5.0 out of 5 stars You will not be disappointed. Fantastic insight.
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2022
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I did not discover Peter until a few weeks ago. Now I am addicted. Understanding that he very accurately predicted, years ago, what is happening now blows my mind. Geographic and demographic facts that can perhaps be interpreted to reach different conclusions than he reaches, but facts nonetheless. And his conclusions are presented in a straightforward come sense way that even I can follow. Peter has opened my mind to a completely different understanding of the world and what is happening. I have now read all three of his currently released books and I am anxiously waiting for the fourth next week. I can only hope that those in our government are also reading his books!

The geography of a country’s borders, it’s ability or lack thereof to defend those borders. Whether it has the land to grow crops or must import. Extract oil or import oil. All of these are fixed. Every country must decide how to deal with these issues, or cease to exist. Hungry people will do desperate things.

There are fewer young people today than old and they are having fewer babies. It is not likely this trend will change, but even if it does “it takes twenty years to create a twenty year old person”. The trajectory we are currently on is going to continue for at least decades. PZ accurately predicted what Russia is currently doing because if they waited any longer they would not have enough soldiers to fight.

His writing style is fantastic. His books are page turners. If you want to understand what is happening, and have a sense of what the future holds, you will enjoy reading his books.
13 people found this helpful
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Bill
4.0 out of 5 stars Geography dictates global power and survival
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
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Very well considered view that geography dictates global power and survival.

However, the author seems to completely ignore other ongoing and developing factors that could mitigate some of his core assumptions. Such as:

The revolution in material science and it's impact on power consumption, efficiency, emerging tech such as Ai, robotics and it's impact on age demographics and basic labor, high temp superconducting, effects of climate changes that are occurring (for whatever reason ) and will most likely continue or accelerate.

The rise of new energy production tech... his world is entirely oil-centric.

He completely ignores (perhaps due to the publication date) The Chinese reaction since publication to the very forces he describes ie... China's massive belt and road initiative and their massive build up in Naval capacity which is overtaking the US in almost every metric.

Another World War which could reshuffle the entire equation.

His bright view our unique American place in the world ignores deep domestic problems and the widening political / ideological rifts and possible trajectory towards violent dysfunction and/or Balkanization... a quick look at his more recent publications would indicate they continue not to factor into his equations.

These factors, all told I believe do not constitute a concrete road map to the future as his confidence would indicate, but illuminating and very instructive none the less and a very compelling read.
16 people found this helpful
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Frank Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2024
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Like all his other books, insightful and well researched
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Pavel N. Matustik
5.0 out of 5 stars Don’t miss it
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2024
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If you’re only remotely interested in the future follow Zeihan’s work. Predicting future isn’t a very thankful job but Peter is doing it well and with slightly black humor.
Just pick the darned book. You’ll be glad you did.
One person found this helpful
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Mark H Kaltenborn
5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024
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Peter is certainly correct about the marvelous effects of being surrounded by brilliant minds at work deciphering the mysteries of human behavior. Thankfully he does not do this by analyzing our souls but by simply providing historical context. History doesn't always repeat but does often times rhyme. Thank you for the feast of food for thought.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Super interesting with classic Peter flair
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2024
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Learnt a lot from this book.
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Enrique
2.0 out of 5 stars un panfleto propagandistico
Reviewed in Spain on October 31, 2021
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son 358 paginas de que grande es America y que insignificante es el resto del mundo. si queréis un panfleto propagandístico "stars & stripes", este es el libro.
One person found this helpful
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Emma
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in Germany on September 2, 2021
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This book is a must read for all who do not wish to be oblivious to the fundamental changes the world is about to face.
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Javier Noyola
5.0 out of 5 stars Este es el libro definitivo para entender el mundo actual desde la perspectiva de Geopolítica
Reviewed in Mexico on March 24, 2020
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Desde Egipto hasta la actualidad y más allá, el autor explica y describe cómo la geopolítica y tecnología ha creado a las grandes potencias del planeta. La tesis central es el cómo Estados Unidos se convirtió en LA superpotencia y moldeó buena parte del mundo fuera de la unión soviética de acuerdo a sus intereses y necesidades. Después de la guerra fría, los intereses inmediatos de los estadounidenses han cambiado, y esto a su vez cambiará el mundo de manera mucho más drástica que cualquiera se imagina. Sin lugar a dudas de los mejores libros que he leído en la vida.
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Felipe
4.0 out of 5 stars Perspectiva geral
Reviewed in Brazil on June 27, 2019
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O livro fica bem em situações futuras e como ela pode desenrolar. O único pecado é o excesso de patriotismo e mostrando que a região dos EUA será vencedora sempre
2 people found this helpful
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