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Niall Ferguson

Colossus: The Price of America's Empire Paperback – June 1, 2005

by Niall Ferguson (Author)

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Title: Colossus( The Rise and Fall of the American Empire) <>Binding: Paperback <>Author: NiallFerguson <>Publisher: PenguinBooks

Language

English
Publisher

Gardners Books
Publication date

June 1, 2005
Dimensions

5.08 x 0.91 x 7.8 inches
ISBN-10

0141017007
ISBN-13

978-0141017006
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gardners Books; 1st Printing edition (June 1, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141017007
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141017006
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.08 x 0.91 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,198,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10,569 in Political Science (Books)
- #79,734 in Social Sciences (Books)

Customer Reviews:
216 ratings

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Niall Ferguson

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Niall Ferguson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, former Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University and current senior fellow at the Center for European Studies at Harvard University, a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing, and founder and managing director of advisory firm Greenmantle LLC. The author of 15 books, Ferguson is writing a life of Henry Kissinger, the first volume of which—Kissinger, 1923-1968: The Idealist—was published in 2015 to critical acclaim. The World's Banker: The History of the House of Rothschild won the Wadsworth Prize for Business History. Other titles include Civilization: The West and the Rest, The Great Degeneration: How Institutions Decay and Economies Die and High Financier: The Lives and Time of Siegmund Warburg. Ferguson's six-part PBS television series, "The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World," based on his best-seller, won an International Emmy for best documentary in 2009. Civilization was also made into a documentary series. Ferguson is a recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Service as well as other honors. His most recent book is The Square and the Tower: Networks on Power from the Freemasons to Facebook (2018).

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Gato Rebelde

Datos interesantes pero sin un marco interpretativo

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2018

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En general me gustó el libro Porque da información interesante que permite comparar a los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica contra otros imperios como China y el Imperio británico sin embargo no hay un marco teórico o interpretativo detrás que permita comprender la relevancia o magnitud de esos datos. Lo que sí hay detrás es la opinión de Ferguson de que los Estados Unidos debería de pensar en crear incentivos para que sus élites se vayan a vivir a los países sobre los cuales tiene imperio o dominio y que no sea como ahora en que sólo llegan por unos pocos años a lo sumo y luego se van. Esto porque en la teoría de Ferguson o en su opinión Esto hace que los Estados Unidos no pueda consolidar gobiernos que de forma sostenible se asemejen al gobierno de los Estados Unidos e integran los valores que ellos quieren trasladar. Yo recomiendo el libro para tener una idea general de la fuerza de los Estados Unidos pero no para tener una comprensión sofisticada sobre su modelo de imperialismo.

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Al Galt

America may be fall but for other reasons.

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2018

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ExcellenThe book is good, but the USA is not an empire and it can be demonstrated.

If the USA falls or splits up, which is the safest thing to do, it is the advice of the congnivitive second to confuse reality with ideas. The USA was founded on the foundations of a movement called Enlightenment. But we see it today are unqualified and incompetent minorities in positions of importance, which have bankrupted entire cities.

It is known who these minority groups are, but the comfort of the political class, of not facing the problem, because peace prevails, has only aggravated the problem.

In the book, only what is stated in the previous paragraphs is touched in a tangential or very diffuse way.

However, I highly recommend the book, to serve as a warning.t book, although I don't share all content, but is great help to analyse the current situation.

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Auren Hoffman

Colossus has Colossal thought

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2004

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This new foreign policy book really made me think. Ferguson's argument is that America is an empire, albeit a reluctant one. He alludes to believing that this could be a good thing -- both for America and the world -- but often also shows how the costly running an empire really can be. He concludes the book by stating "I believe the world needs an effective liberal empire and that the United States is the best candidate for the job."

But what makes his book extremely interesting is the historical context he uses. Ferguson goes over so many of the U.S. large wars and tiny wars over the last 150 years. He also draws many parallels to the British empire -- and shows how a great deal of their forays were not successful (both in terms of British and the colony's interest).

The examples that most stared at me were the Philippines and Egypt -- where he draws parallels to Iraq.

The first example is one that is often used. America "liberated" the Philippines in the Spanish-American War and lost about 1000 lives conquering it (which was a very small amount for that day). However, people in the Philippines were not content to just shake off one master and get a new one. Over the next decade America lost another 4000 lives due to rebel activities on the islands. The war and conquest, which in the beginning was extremely popular, became increasingly less so over time. So much so that successive Presidents were trying to find a way out ... and fast.

Egypt is an example I have not yet heard. The British effectively took over Egypt in 1882 when the country's pro-British ruler was overthrown. And though the British claimed on countless occasions that it wanted to leave Egypt as soon as possible, it was still ruling the country for the next 74 years. In fact, in 1956, the year the British did leave (and only because the national purse could not afford it), the British still had over 80,000 troops on its Egyptian base -- which was a tract of land near the canal that was the size of Massachusetts!

We learn from these examples that our transformation of Iraq is going to be enormously difficult and costly. If odds makers were making bets (and some surely are), the odds would definitely be against us succeeding. And Ferguson weaves in Americas huge debts (see Running On Empty by Pete Peterson) of unfunded liabilities to the tune of $45 trillion (!!!) make saving the world an increasingly difficult thing to do.

Like Peterson's book, my outlook after finishing Colossus is one of decided gloom. And gloom is generally not in my character. Though I tend to be an eternal optimist and believe the world is becoming an increasingly better place, it is difficult to not see the enormous challenges that lay ahead of my generation.

Summation: Colossus is a academic book, but very much worth reading. I'd like to leave you one of Ferguson's key quotes from the book:

"there are three fundamental deficits that together explain why the United States has been a less effective empire than its British predecessor. They are its economic deficit, its manpower deficit and -- the most serious of the three -- its attention deficit."

30 people found this helpful

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Well written and argued, whether you agree or not

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2005

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In the 19th century a "Liberal" was someone who believed in free trade, meritocracy (instead of inherited privilege) and the advancement of science and civilization, the last meaning generally European civilization. Thus the "White Man's Burden".

Ferguson, though generally considered a Conservative in today's vernacular is really a 19th century liberal, not far from what we call a Neo-Con. As such he is unapologetic about America's potential role as a benevolent hegemon and in this book goes into considerable detail describing American and world attitudes, the history of 19th century liberal imperialism and argues persuasively the US should do more, rather than less of this, regardless of the cost.

Though clearly more on the side of the US Conservatives, Ferguson's view is actually a third way...combining some of the idealism of modern liberalism with the pragmatic self-interest of economic conservatives and dismissing entirely the social warriors of both sides. In other words alternatively furiating and enjoyable whichever side you are "on". I expect both sides will also manage to co-opt his arguments to their advantage...

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Jon

Interesting point of view

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2022

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I'm usually one for reading narrative history, at my happiest reading what happened and how the person concerned felt about it. This book is much more an examination of political and economic trends relating to American soft power abroad to create an empire of sorts, but the author's skill as a writer made this book really interesting, even to someone of my historical reading preferences!

The central idea is that the US does have an empire but that on balance this is actually a good thing as its absence would create a vacuum where very much worse ideologies could fill the void. Indeed, the author urges the US to if anything be more imperially proactive.

Well worth a read.

Shane Morley

Entertaining and informative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2018

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I found 'Colossus' very easy to follow despite the often detailed analyses of the American economy. Ferguson paints a picture of an Empire in all but name, which seems to be currently manufacturing its own coffin. That being said, the author does point out that America's future is by no means set, as the current (primarily) economic factors which could likely bring about America's eventual downfall can be still (about just) be remedied. It's worth noting that the book was written in the early 2000's so the data is a little dated. However, the author does discuss the potential for the US to be swept away by a populist political movement as the result of poor economic performance (incredibly prescient!).

Finally, it was Winston Churchill who said that the further one can see into the past, the greater our insight can penetrate into the future, in this sense Ferguson's major thesis here seems to be a desire to provide lessons for the American Empire from a considered understanding of the British one. In this style, he paints a fascinating picture of the many similarities and shared experiences of the two Anglophone powers that should be read by anyone who wishes to understand what may lay ahead for the world's only current superpower.

3 people found this helpful

Mr. Stephen Parkin

Thought-provoking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2010

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As usual with Mr Ferguson, a good read. Some factual errors-p265 states that Iraqis' income was once between a quarter and a half of Americans. Possibly in 1980 at the height of oil production the theoretical figure might have reached 25%, but that was never reflected in Iraqi living standards. P.262 that U.S share of world output hit a low of 10% in 1980. The figure was about 21% which rose to 26% in1981-such are the vagaries caused by exchange rate movements.
Mr Ferguson's statistics and therefore premise have been overtaken by seismic shifts over the last twelve years. His pessimism over "the sick man of Europe", Germany has been confounded; American unemployment is now three percentage points higher than German. The developed countries GDP per head listed on p.175 have all made substantial gains on American levels since 1998.
His contention that China will not surpass the U.S in total GDP until 2050 looks unlikely, 2020 now looking highly probable due to continuing strong Chinese growth of c8% per annum and American economic stagnation. Indeed China has now surpassed the U.S as the world's largest energy producer and consumer,exporter,motor vehicle producer and market and also the world's largest manufacturer.
His statement on p.299 "there is no regime it(U.S) could not terminate if it wanted to...
(it)would emerge from the rubble more or less unscathed."
This is plainly untrue with regards to Russia, which could equally devastate the U.S. China, Britain and France could also inflict vast damage in a nuclear exchange.
His view that the nation state is a modern invention is denied by ancient Egypt,Israel,Assyria,Armenia and even Japan, that were nation states par excellence.

Nevertheless,his core contention that financially irresponsible countries with feckless,venal governments would benefit from competent foreign rule has merit.
One can only hope that the U.S becomes a Chinese protectorate in the very near future.
One final point,describing John Lennon's "Imagine" as a dirge shows Mr Ferguson, whatever his merits as an historian, has no ear for music.

3 people found this helpful

Dave C

50% history book. Some interesting ideas about the future.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2011

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A good summary of the recent history of the American Empire - mostly WWII and after. I found the book to be an informative summary of US military interventions over the last 100 year. However, from an economic historian, I was expecting more about the alleged cultural and commercial imperialism (Coca-Colonisation).

The author points out the both the positive outcomes and good intentions of US military actions as well as the failures that influenced subsequent policy. The US comes off well (as the UK did in his history of the British Empire).

I expect history books to focus on the past, not the future. It must have been tempting for the author in 2004 to speculate on the outcome of the Iraq War, American policy post 9/11, and the weaknesses of the EU as he clearly holds strong views on these subjects. However, these chapters (about half the book) now look dated as he muses about the chance of oil reaching $30/barrel, the possibility of the US remaining in Iraq for 3 or more years, and laments the policies that have made Germany the sick man of Europe. This review was written in 2011, if you're reading it in 2018, then more fool me.

There is a chapter about the EU with very little to anchor it to the rest of the book.

A very good read, but too much irrelevant material and soapbox to be considered a good history book.

3 people found this helpful

P I

Niall Ferguson's book is excellent and he shows in this book shows the remarkable ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2015

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Niall Ferguson's book is excellent and he shows in this book shows the remarkable rise from a colony to the most productive and technology advanced and richest country in the world. In this book he writes about the future causes of Americas decline and he shows how America is getting to relent on Chinese loans to keep Americas war machine funded and to fund it's out of control deficit spending. He also shows in this book how fiscally unbalanced the U.S are and he shows what the future problems the USA could have in near future if they do not address the root causes of these problems. Ferguson shows how America feels about it's self post September 11 and how it has changed how seen its self since that horrifying day and it's changed outlook on the world and most important of all itself.

3 people found this helpful

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