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The Age of Illusions
- How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory
- Narrated by: Andrew Bacevich, Rob Shapiro
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
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Publisher's Summary
A thought-provoking and penetrating account of the post-Cold war follies and delusions that culminated in the age of Donald Trump from the best-selling author of The Limits of Power.
When the Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Washington establishment felt it had prevailed in a world-historical struggle. Our side had won, a verdict that was both decisive and irreversible. For the world’s “indispensable nation”, its “sole superpower”, the future looked very bright. History, having brought the United States to the very summit of power and prestige, had validated American-style liberal democratic capitalism as universally applicable.
In the decades to come, Americans would put that claim to the test. They would embrace the promise of globalization as a source of unprecedented wealth while embarking on wide-ranging military campaigns to suppress disorder and enforce American values abroad, confident in the ability of US forces to defeat any foe. Meanwhile, they placed all their bets on the White House to deliver on the promise of their Cold War triumph: unequaled prosperity, lasting peace, and absolute freedom.
In The Age of Illusions, best-selling author Andrew Bacevich takes us from that moment of seemingly ultimate victory to the age of Trump, telling an epic tale of folly and delusion. Writing with his usual eloquence and vast knowledge, he explains how, within a quarter of a century, the United States ended up with gaping inequality, permanent war, moral confusion, and an increasingly angry and alienated population, as well, of course, as the strangest president in American history.
USA Today Best Books of the Year - 2020
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- Brian Hopper
- 25-01-2024
Well presented an read view of US history and current perplexing state if affairs.
well structured arguements that stayed on track. As an Australian reader it gave great insight into historical events that shaped the current messy events in US politics. written prior to December 6th...would love an update as to whet Andrew thinks of a SECOND Trump presidency and where the US is now tumbling headlongreading was expertly measured. will look for more read by him.
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