The World - by Richard Haass (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book is designed to provide readers with the background and building blocks they need in order to answer for themselves the critical questions about what is taking place around the world and why. It explains what makes each region of the world tick, the many challenges globalization presents, and the most influential countries, events, and ideas. Its aim is to help readers become more informed, discerning citizens, better able to arrive at sound, independent judgments and less vulnerable to being misled"--

Book Synopsis

The New York Times bestseller

"A clear and concise account of the history, diplomacy, economics, and societal forces that have molded the modern global system." --Foreign Affairs

An invaluable primer from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, that will help anyone, expert and non-expert alike, navigate a time in which many of our biggest challenges come from the world beyond our borders.

Like it or not, we live in a global era, in which what happens thousands of miles away has the ability to affect our lives. This time, it is a Coronavirus known as Covid-19, which originated in a Chinese city many had never heard of but has spread to the corners of the earth. Next time it could well be another infectious disease from somewhere else. Twenty years ago it was a group of terrorists trained in Afghanistan and armed with box-cutters who commandeered four airplanes and flew them into buildings (and in one case a field) and claimed nearly three thousand lives. Next time it could be terrorists who use a truck bomb or gain access to a weapon of mass destruction. In 2016 hackers in a nondescript office building in Russia traveled virtually in cyberspace to manipulate America's elections. Now they have burrowed into our political life. In recent years, severe hurricanes and large fires linked to climate change have ravaged parts of the earth; in the future we can anticipate even more serious natural disasters. In 2008, it was a global financial crisis caused by mortgage-backed securities in America, but one day it could well be a financial contagion originating in Europe, Asia, or Africa. This is the new normal of the 21st century.

The World is designed to provide readers of any age and experience with the essential background and building blocks they need to make sense of this complicated and interconnected world. It will empower them to manage the flood of daily news. Readers will become more informed, discerning citizens, better able to arrive at sound, independent judgments. While it is impossible to predict what the next crisis will be or where it will originate, those who read The World will have what they need to understand its basics and the principal choices for how to respond.

In short, this book will make readers more globally literate and put them in a position to make sense of this era. Global literacy--knowing how the world works--is a must, as what goes on outside a country matters enormously to what happens inside. Although the United States is bordered by two oceans, those oceans are not moats. And the so-called Vegas rule--what happens there stays there--does not apply in today's world to anyone anywhere. U.S. foreign policy is uniquely American, but the world Americans seek to shape is not. Globalization can be both good and bad, but it is not something that individuals or countries can opt out of. Even if we want to ignore the world, it will not ignore us. The choice we face is how to respond.

We are connected to this world in all sorts of ways. We need to better understand it, both its promise and its threats, in order to make informed choices, be it as students, citizens, voters, parents, employees, or investors. To help readers do just that, The World focuses on essential history, what makes each region of the world tick, the many challenges globalization presents, and the most influential countries, events, and ideas. Explaining complex ideas with wisdom and clarity, Richard Haass's The World is an evergreen book that will remain relevant and useful as history continues to unfold.

Review Quotes

"This book is a superb introduction to the world and global issues. Richard Haass has been able to write something that is brief, readable and yet comprehensive--marked throughout by his trademark intelligence and common sense." --Fareed Zakaria

"A clear and concise account of the history, diplomacy, economics, and societal forces that have molded the modern global system." --Foreign Affairs

"Condensing so much complexity into a lucid 400 pages is no small accomplishment." --The New York Times

"This is the book that explains how the world really works, how it is changing, and why it matters. Just what every citizen and student needs to read." --Madeleine Albright

"This terrific work delivers completely on its promise to provide readers with a basic understanding of the world. It is hard to imagine anyone more suited for this ambitious task than Richard Haass. His narrative flair, depth of experience, and wide-ranging knowledge sparkle on every page." --Doris Kearns Goodwin

"Richard Haass has just reinvented the primer--something for everyone to read this summer. High school students, undergrads, grads in all disciplines and a few people in the nation's capital will benefit." --Rachel Kyte, Dean, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

"An essential book--just what the world needs now to put things in perspective." --Ray Dalio

"Richard Haass explains the world to us in a thoughtful, comprehensive and accessible way. At a time when our world is changing faster than ever--and becoming more interconnected and complex--it has never been more important to be globally literate. Our future depends on it." --Arne Duncan

"A comprehensive analysis of our world--a valuable guide for every alert citizen as well as for scholars and students of international affairs." --New York Journal of Books

"We are all being bombarded by strong views designed to conjure up emotion over sound judgement, which makes it very grounding to have The World. It is a great read for anyone who wants to have a sound background before deciding to retweet the latest crazy article making the rounds!" --Kal Penn

"This is a great book that every high school and college student, as well as teachers and parents, should read. An indispensable resource to educate global citizens." --Professor Fernando M. Reimers, Harvard Graduate School of Education

"The World explains important concepts clearly and fairly and offers an excellent overview of global affairs . . . Those who read and even study The World will be educated, stimulated and challenged. They will become better global citizens." --Washington Diplomat

"One core premise of this necessary book is that the three great scourges of our time--COVID-19, nuclear weaponry and climate change--cannot be resolved without a global outlook. Dr. Richard Haass, author of The World and 14 other books, is here to teach us. This book is aimed at a wide, inclusive audience. Haass' style is fulsome yet facile. He guides us on a rich, region-by-region world tour. The most fascinating feature of each treatment is 'looking ahead'--his fearless, in some cases, provocative analysis of what he feels is in store for a given corner of the globe." --Providence Journal

About the Author

Dr. Richard Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations. An experienced diplomat and policymaker, he served as the senior Middle East adviser to President George H. W. Bush, as director of the Policy Planning Staff under Secretary of State Colin Powell, and as the U.S. envoy to both the Cyprus and Northern Ireland peace talks. A recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award, and the Tipperary International Peace Award, he is also the author or editor of fourteen other books, including the best-selling A World in Disarray.