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When Giants Fall: An Economic Roadmap for the End of the American Era
 
 
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When Giants Fall: An Economic Roadmap for the End of the American Era (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "There was electricity in the air when America's 40th president spoke those words during a June 1987 address at the base of the Brandenburg Gate,..." (more)
Key Phrases: credit bubble, geopolitical instability, sovereign wealth funds, United States, Middle East, Financial Times (more...)
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What If the Market Doesn't Come Back Up?
Author Michael Panzner predicts that the American market will make a turn for the worse. Read the preface to learn how to achieve financial security and stability in an increasingly uncertain world.

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Panzner is a 25-year veteran of the global stock, bond, and currency markets and has worked for leading financial companies such as HSBC and JPMorgan Chase. He sees the current financial crisis as a watershed event in our nation’s history that will lead to unprecedented, possibly devastating changes in our economy and lifestyle. Just as other empires have done in the past, he asserts, we have stretched ourselves too thin both militarily and economically, and we are rapidly running out of the resources and global goodwill that will sustain our dominance. Our massive national deficit means we are at the mercy of foreign interests such as China, which holds a large proportion of our bonds, while enormous government bailout and “stimulus” spending programs create black holes of debt that threaten to create hyperinflation. Thankfully, Panzner lays out a road map to navigate these turbulent waters, and he argues convincingly that following his plan will help individuals to maintain wealth and security during the troubled times ahead. Recommended for all those trying to make sense of the economy. --David Siegfried


Product Description

In When Giants Fall, Panzner makes his case for the turbulent economic changes that will be occurring over the next few years and examines the resulting economic opportunities.

According to Panzner, the economic changes will be widespread. Businesses will struggle amid wars, shortages, logistical disruptions, and a breakdown of the established monetary order. Individuals will be forced to rethink livelihoods, lifestyles, living arrangements, and locales. Political structures will be in flux, as local leaders gain influence at the expense of national authorities. For many people, it will be nothing short of a modern Dark Ages, where each day brings fresh anxieties, unfamiliar risks, and a sense of foreboding.

However, for those enlightened few who understand what is really going on and what happens next, the chaotic years ahead represent the opportunity of a lifetime - a time when they can realize goals they never thought possible and achieve a level of wealth, security, and inner peace that will leave them head-and-shoulders above everyone else. In this book, Panzner offers cutting-edge insights and strategies that will enable readers to stay well ahead of the game during the uniquely unsettling period ahead.
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley (February 9, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 047031043X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0470310434
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,528 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Michael J. Panzner
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
There was electricity in the air when America's 40th president spoke those words during a June 1987 address at the base of the Brandenburg Gate, near the imposing concrete wall that divided the German city of Berlin into East and West. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
credit bubble, geopolitical instability, sovereign wealth funds
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Middle East, Financial Times, Latin America, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Saudi Arabia, European Union, Cold War, International Monetary Fund, Agence France-Presse, New York Times, Great Depression, Christian Science Monitor, World War, World Trade Organization, Central Asia, International Herald Tribune, World Bank, Defense Department, United Kingdom, Future of Violence, United Arab Emirates, South American, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews
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93 of 107 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Prepare for a Modern Dark Ages, February 5, 2009
By Befragt (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
  
The gist of this book is that the US is suffering from declining respect and financial and military strength, and that the world is beginning to suffer from overdue Malthusian shortages of critical resources. Because the US is in decline, the consequence will be international chaos as various actors (state and non-state, such as terrorists and international corporations) step into the void and inevitably begin to collide with the US and one another. The result of this will be global shortages of food, water and energy, increased protectionism, military conflagration, increased income disparity, and any other number of woes.

To support the inevitability of this dire future, Panzer cites Malthus, Paul Kennedy's book "The Rise and Fall of Great Powers," various fairly current news accounts, and less frequently, historic events. However, his rather strident argument of inevitable decline and collapse appears conclusory at best, and a critic might argue that the book itself represents a cynical attempt to capitalize upon the prevalent dour sentiments concerning the economy and America's position in the world.

Moreover, at times the tone of the book risks falling into condescending tongue clucking of the elite who, of course, saw this coming and are shocked, shocked, that we could ever allow this to happen. Take this quote from page 9, drawing parallels between the US and Rome as it was collapsing: "Instead of bread lines and circuses, we have NASCAR, video games and reality TV." 45 years ago, many Americans may have told you how the US was collapsing because of its softness in the face of communism, the Beatles, etc.

On the plus side, Panzner is well read, and he recounts a string of recent and several more remote historical events in great detail. My issue is not that he cites Malthus and Kennedy - it's that he comes up with quite specific predictions based upon a smattering of self-selected news and historical accounts. While the dire future he predicts may come into being, I'm not sure I agree that it WILL come to pass.

A second issue I take with this book is that it promises "cutting edge strategies and much needed direction that will allow you to achieve financial security and stability in an increasingly uncertain and dangerous world." I guess I missed this section other than some advice to invest in commodity producers. Moreover, given that the book essentially predicts a real-live "Road Warrior" world, I am skeptical whether any book could provide such "cutting edge" strategies, unless you consider building a bomb shelter and preparing for a survivalist future to be worthwhile.

On the plus side, the book is a fairly easy read, and the author has clearly spent much time combing the news media for information that appears to support his conclusions. Anyone wishing for a refresher about various international mishaps, primarily of the US, will find this book enjoyable.

Personally, I prefer Paul Kennedy's book "The Rise and Fall of Great Powers," which is truly a landmark book about the dangers of imperial over-reach. Another interesting, although not necessarily persuasive, read is Dent's "The Great Depression Ahead," which is distinguishable from "When Giants Fall" by its narrow focus upon demographics and provision of a bit more tangible financial planning advice.

In summary, I can't say that Panzner is wrong - his projections for the future might well be right. That being said, his book purports to predict the future with a certainty that does not appear supported by the data provided (keep in mind that the actual text of this book is slightly less than 190 pages, exclusive of the extensive bibliography). It is possible that Panzner sought to keep the book "readable," and hence cut down on the detail, but in this regard, I would have preferred to have more information supporting Panzner's conclusions, and some more hints about how to survive the collapse we are supposedly about to face.
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40 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Eye-Opener, February 9, 2009
In Financial Armageddon, Panzner detailed a frightening but, as it turns out, prescient vision of a nation in the throes of an economic cancer. In his latest book, he expands on that earlier theme and writes about, among other things, how the world will change as the disease progresses through the terminal phase. The book covers a lot of ground, including oil, water, and food-related concerns, the future of NAFTA and the European Union, the potential for social unrest and world war, and what to own in world gone mad (hint: its the shiny stuff). It's probably not the sort of book that you crack open on a rainy Sunday afternoon, but once you get started, it's a powerful eye-opener that's hard to put down.
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A prophet has no honor in his own country..., February 16, 2009
This follow up to Panzer's earlier book Financial Armageddon is exhaustively researched, well written and very sobering. When Giants Fall can really be described as one book in three parts. In the first, Panzer lays the historical basis for the unraveling of the American empire - the missteps that led our nation down the same past as many previous world powers.

The second phase of the book is a very well thought out hypothesis of what America and the world, will be facing next. The reader will dismiss Panzer's forecast of coming events at their own peril. Those who have read Financial Armageddon will know already that Panzer is among the very few (including Peter Schiff) who had predicted our current events well before they had come to pass.

The final part of the book is the bibliography. Granted, few people ever spend much time reading any bibliography, especially one that is over fifty pages long. I point this out only to emphasize the exhaustive research Panzer performed in writing this. While no one can predict the future, it is possible to make logical assumptions as to what the future may hold based on past events and current data. If past is prologue, we are in for quite a bumpy ride
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars When Giants Fall
Michael Panzner paints a much different picture of the future of the american ecnomony than the mainstream media does. He believes the U.S. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Thomas Campion

3.0 out of 5 stars A bleak view of the future
Michael J. Panzner offers a dreary glimpse of the future in his latest book. He explores a world where the United States is no longer the superpower that it is now, and that... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sacramento Book Review

5.0 out of 5 stars How to survive America's imminent collapse
Books about the future usually mix and match four broad categories: The present is great or awful, and the future will be great or awful. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rolf Dobelli

3.0 out of 5 stars Old Stuff
I've read all this stuff before. It's a re-hash of what I've read in financial journals. (I don't mean the hogwash that comes from our Government and the FED. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Frank J. DeFelice

3.0 out of 5 stars Makes the case, but not the remedies
This book puts the case well that the USA seems to be losing it's pre-eminent role in world affairs financially and politically especially with other forces snapping at it's heels... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Darryl Cross

5.0 out of 5 stars A sobering, frightening survey
WHEN GIANTS FALL: AN ECONOMIC ROAD MAP FOR THE END OF THE AMERICAN ERA provides a second set of disaster predictions from an author who proved right in FINANCIAL ARMAGEDDON,... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Midwest Book Review

4.0 out of 5 stars Happenings
Excellent book ,fast read and understandable even to the layman. Every American should read it ,perhaps it will wake us up to reality.
Published 7 months ago by William C. Herbst

5.0 out of 5 stars A simple warning about the certain future
True, his writing style is not perfect, but he delivers important information in a readable manner.
Published 7 months ago by desert doolie IV

1.0 out of 5 stars you could have written this book
Very little original material here. The book is mostly a collection of quotes taken from such various secondary sources as Time Magazine, The Economist, The Guardian and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Chetnik

4.0 out of 5 stars One Giant leap for understanding
Panzner's earlier book, Financial Armageddon, laid out the four horsemen of the apocalypse riding towards the global economy. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Andrew Rastrick

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