Beyond the Age of Innocence: Rebuilding Trust Between America and the World (Paperback)

by Kishore Mahbubani (Author) "AMERICA HAS DONE MORE GOOD for the rest of the world than any other society..." (more)
Key Phrases: meme cluster, cotton subsidies, Cold War, United States, Security Council (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"So what are the political roots of Bush's revolution in foreign policy? And if the administration has indeed eroded America's international legitimacy, why aren't the self-correcting and moderating influences of public debate and democratic accountability kicking in? Kishore Mahbubani makes impressive headway in addressing these questions in his elegant and courageous Beyond the Age of Innocence." Washington Post Book World"

Product Description
An "elegant and courageous" analysis of why more than half of the world's population is becoming increasingly alienated from America (Washington Post Book World)

In Beyond the Age of Innocence Kishore Mahbubani, a leading Asian diplomat, reveals to us the America that Asia and the rest of the world see. We are a country that has given hope to billions by creating a society where destiny is not determined at birth. But we have become indifferent to the consequences of our decisions on others. Global financial institutions have been used to advance American interests, not global interests. America has been imprudent in its policy toward two large masses of mankind: the Chinese and Muslim populations.

To allow any lasting gap between America and the world, Mahbubani argues, would be a colossal strategic mistake for America and a huge loss to the world. But there is still time for the U.S. to change course, and in this thought-provoking and visionary book Mahbubani shows us how.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: PublicAffairs (March 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158648379X
• ISBN-13: 978-1586483791
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,267 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for every American citizen, June 29, 2006

By	Kathleen T. Ross "American AND Global Citizen" (Arlington VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book while traveling in Southeast Asia - and found Mahbubani's observations well articulated and compelling. Like Mahbubani, it breaks my heart that America's credibility and reputation is in free fall. He asserts that many world citizens still embrace American ideals - but are deeply troubled by our actions. We are violating the very rules / guidelines that we originally crafted to ensure a safe and equitable world order. Mahbubani maintains that America must partner with moderate Muslim countries so that the whole world can unite against extremism.

I returned home and have given copies of his book to at least 20 of my friends and colleagues. I think this book should be required reading for every American citizen.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A special recommendation, July 23, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Any concerned about America's changing relations with world nations should take a look at BEYOND THE AGE OF INNOCENCE: A WORLDLY VIEW OF AMERICA. Mahbubani expresses anguish over the deepening distrust and resentment of this country: he's a leading Asian diplomat who gets to observe this first-hand. He chides this nation on its indifference to its decisions on others - and advocates recognizing and alleviating the growing gap between America and the rest of the world - and shows how. It's his ability to point out alternative directions and how to reach them which makes BEYOND THE AGE OF INNOCENCE a special recommendation.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

4.0 out of 5 stars A THOUGHTFUL OUTSIDER'S VIEW, NOT AT ALL NEGATIVE, May 19, 2008

By	HL YUNG (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

I agree with the other two reviews that this book gives an important perspective on the outside world's view of the American projection of power and culture. It is not quite as distressing as they would have you believe. Although serious mistakes have been made since 9/11, and our popularity and "legitimacy" have been diminished, recovering them is neither complicated nor difficult. In fact, Mahbubani lays out a fairly obvious and uncontroversial plan of action.

In addition, he does not give enough credit to the resilience and power of economic globalization. In one of his examples, the World Bank and IMF fails to respond to the Asian financial crisis of 1997, thinking that it is not strategically important to US and G-7 interests. However, from the perspective of 10 years later the crises are long past. (Although perhaps not in Indonesia - his point)

Likewise, it now seems that we will get through the current US financial crisis (as of May, 2008), without tremendous damage, due to the strength of emerging markets and their share of global trade.