Summary of Superpower

Ian Bremmer

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Editorial Rating

The rating – what does it mean?

At getAbstract, we summarize books* that help people understand the world and make it better. Whatever we select for our library has to excel in one or the other of these two core criteria:

Enlightening – You’ll learn things that will inform and improve your decisions.

Helpful – You’ll take-away practical advice that will help you get better at what you do.

We rate each piece of content on a scale of 1–10 with regard to these two core criteria. Our rating helps you sort the titles on your reading list from solid (5) to brilliant (10). Books we rate below 5 won’t be summarized. Here's what the ratings mean:

10 – Brilliant. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. Often an instant classic and must-read for everyone.
9 – Superb. A helpful and/or enlightening book that is extremely well rounded, has many strengths and no shortcomings worth mentioning.
8 – Very good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that has a substantial number of outstanding qualities without excelling across the board, e.g. presents the latest findings in a topical field and is written by a renowned expert but lacks a bit in style.
7 – Good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner.
6 – Notable. A helpful and/or enlightening book that stands out by at least one aspect, e.g. is particularly well structured.
5 – Solid. A helpful and/or enlightening book, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. For instance, it may offer decent advice in some areas while being repetitive or unremarkable in others.

*getAbstract is summarizing much more than books. We look at every kind of content that may matter to our audience: books, but also articles, reports, videos and podcasts. What we say here about books applies to all formats we cover.

Qualities

Analytical
Visionary
Background

While the rating tells you how good a book is according to our two core criteria, it says nothing about its particular defining features. Therefore, we use a set of 20 qualities to characterize each book by its strengths:

Applicable – You’ll get advice that can be directly applied in the workplace or in everyday situations.
Analytical – You’ll understand the inner workings of the subject matter.
Background – You’ll get contextual knowledge as a frame for informed action or analysis.
Bold – You’ll find arguments that may break with predominant views.
Comprehensive – You’ll find every aspect of the subject matter covered.
Concrete Examples – You’ll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes.
Controversial – You’ll be confronted with strongly debated opinions.
Eloquent – You’ll enjoy a masterfully written or presented text.
Engaging – You’ll read or watch this all the way through the end.
Eye opening – You’ll be offered highly surprising insights.
For beginners – You’ll find this to be a good primer if you’re a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge.
For experts – You’ll get the higher-level knowledge/instructions you need as an expert.
Hot Topic – You’ll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue.
Innovative – You can expect some truly fresh ideas and insights on brand-new products or trends.
Insider’s take – You’ll have the privilege of learning from someone who knows her or his topic inside-out.
Inspiring – You’ll want to put into practice what you’ve read immediately.
Overview – You’ll get a broad treatment of the subject matter, mentioning all its major aspects.
Scientific – You’ll get facts and figures grounded in scientific research.
Visionary – You’ll get a glimpse of the future and what it might mean for you.
Well structured – You’ll find this to be particularly well organized to support its reception or application.

Recommendation

US taxpayers have grown weary of messy, expensive wars, so which foreign policy course should the world’s one superpower take? Political consultant, author and lecturer Ian Bremmer offers a thoughtful look at the possibilities. After laying out his view of the new geopolitical landscape, he proposes three scenarios. The first is for the United States to pull back from foreign entanglements and refocus on domestic issues. The second, “Moneyball America,” calls for a practical, flexible approach to foreign policy. The third positions the US as global policeman. getAbstract – while always politically neutral – recommends Bremmer’s analysis to international businesspeople, NGOs, political scientists, investors, and readers seeking a cogent description of US international relations and their implications.

About the Author

Ian Bremmer is president and founder of Eurasia Group, a consulting firm. The author of nine books, including The End of the Free Market, he’s a columnist for Time magazine.

Summary

A Confused Superpower

Will America, after debacles in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, retreat into isolationism? Will it continue as the world’s policeman, no matter the cost? Or will it pursue a middle ground and wage war only after careful calculation? The answer is unclear. In 2015, the US moved away from “incoherent America,” after a 25-year period that left citizens confused about how to respond to geopolitical turmoil.

The US became a superpower by balancing isolation and intervention. Disputes overseas became a US concern only when the conflicts grew too large to ignore. In World Wars I and II, American leaders waited to act. As a result, the US preserved precious financial and human resources while the powers of Europe exhausted money and lost millions of lives. In World War I, America lost 116,000 troops, compared to more than one million each for Germany, Russia, France and Austria-Hungary. The trend held in World War II. Some 418,000 US soldiers died, compared to 20 million Soviets, seven million Germans and three million Japanese. By sacrificing to create peace and prosperity, though losing comparatively fewer resources, the United States emerged in 1945...

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