The World

A Brief Introduction

De: Richard Haass

Narrado por: Dan Woren

The New York Times bestseller

“A clear and concise account of the history, diplomacy, economics, and societal forces that have molded the modern global system.”—Foreign Affairs

An invaluable primer from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, that will help anyone, expert and non-expert alike, navigate a time in which many of our biggest challenges come from the world beyond our borders.

Like it or not, we live in a global era, in which what happens thousands of miles away has the ability to affect our lives. This time, it is a Coronavirus known as Covid-19, which originated in a Chinese city many had never heard of but has spread to the corners of the earth. Next time it could well be another infectious disease from somewhere else. Twenty years ago it was a group of terrorists trained in Afghanistan and armed with box-cutters who commandeered four airplanes and flew them into buildings (and in one case a field) and claimed nearly three thousand lives. Next time it could be terrorists who use a truck bomb or gain access to a weapon of mass destruction. In 2016 hackers in a nondescript office building in Russia traveled virtually in cyberspace to manipulate America's elections. Now they have burrowed into our political life. In recent years, severe hurricanes and large fires linked to climate change have ravaged parts of the earth; in the future we can anticipate even more serious natural disasters. In 2008, it was a global financial crisis caused by mortgage-backed securities in America, but one day it could well be a financial contagion originating in Europe, Asia, or Africa. This is the new normal of the 21st century.

The World is designed to provide listeners of any age and experience with the essential background and building blocks they need to make sense of this complicated and interconnected world. It will empower them to manage the flood of daily news. Listeners will become more informed, discerning citizens, better able to arrive at sound, independent judgments. While it is impossible to predict what the next crisis will be or where it will originate, those who explore The World will have what they need to understand its basics and the principal choices for how to respond.

In short, this book will make readers more globally literate and put them in a position to make sense of this era. Global literacy—knowing how the world works—is a must, as what goes on outside a country matters enormously to what happens inside. Although the United States is bordered by two oceans, those oceans are not moats. And the so-called Vegas rule—what happens there stays there—does not apply in today's world to anyone anywhere. U.S. foreign policy is uniquely American, but the world Americans seek to shape is not. Globalization can be both good and bad, but it is not something that individuals or countries can opt out of. Even if we want to ignore the world, it will not ignore us. The choice we face is how to respond.

We are connected to this world in all sorts of ways. We need to better understand it, both its promise and its threats, in order to make informed choices, be it as students, citizens, voters, parents, employees, or investors. To help listeners do just that, The World focuses on essential history, what makes each region of the world tick, the many challenges globalization presents, and the most influential countries, events, and ideas. Explaining complex ideas with wisdom and clarity, Richard Haass's The World is an evergreen book that will remain relevant and useful as history continues to unfold.

©2020 Richard Haass (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“This book is a superb introduction to the world and global issues. Richard Haass has been able to write something that is brief, readable and yet comprehensive—marked throughout by his trademark intelligence and common sense.”—Fareed Zakaria

“A clear and concise account of the history, diplomacy, economics, and societal forces that have molded the modern global system.”—Foreign Affairs

“Condensing so much complexity into a lucid 400 pages is no small accomplishment.”—The New York Times

Learning more about how and what’s involved behind worldwide governance doors.!

I just like to learn something especially worldwide social ..lives , capitalism, communism and socialism., very informative.

Should be called The World 101

Richard does it again with another fantastic book about the world we live in. this book can honestly be enjoyed by anybody who wants to understand this modern world we live in.

I want to thank the narrator as well. you helped bring this book to life. thank you.

Good entry level review of global flash points

A good introduction to nations & their often conflicting interests & where conflicts might result. Takes a broader view of areas conflict might occur including cyber space. Very good!!

Must read

For those of you who thought irrelevant requirements were a waste of time. Read it

Great overview of geopolitics with a bit of western bias

Overall, Haass did a great job presenting an overview of the current geopolitical climate from our last century. It gave a taster of brief history in each region of the world, the dynamic of world power, economics, immigration, and climate change. Hasss’s western / US bias gets in the way due to his previous work experiences working under the Bush administration.

Very informative

Very informative, great addition to the library although seeming targeted at an audience lacking in any world knowledge. But nevertheless still a good listen

Great book

I enjoy listening this book - I find it quite informative and knowledgeable. Great book...

Excellent survey course.

Whether you are very, somewhat or not at all knowledgeable, this quick read gives an excellent overview of the world today, how our politics got to the point, and some thoughts, hard ones of the path we need to take.

Perfect for the curious citizen who wants to be better informed but not overwhelmed.

Very informative

This book is an effective tool to help you build a broader picture of the world.

Great Overview

I resonated with the author’s reason for writing this book-a more educated public on the basics of regional and global dynamics. It’s difficult to have meaningful dialogue and public debate with a context of ignorance on the history of an area, what specific words mean and the significance of the roles of leaders, citizens and international bodies. This book is a great overview and worth the time to listen.