The Next Century [FIRST TRADE EDITION, FIRST PRINTING]

Halberstam, David

Published by William Morrow and Company, Inc., New York, 1991

About this Item

As new condition blue boards, navy blue cloth spine, and silver spine lettering contained in an as new condition price-clipped dust jacket. Includes List of Other Books by David Halberstam and Author Dedication. "It is our not very secret secret that the American Century is over," writes veteran journalist David Halberstam, Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of The Best and the Brightest, The Reckoning, and Summer of '49. Halberstam takes a moment to ruminate on the lessons of those three books and to consider the recent past, the astonishing events now taking place in the world, and the possible shape of the twenty-first century. Drawing upon his experience as a New York Times reporter in Eastern Europe and recent visits back there, Halberstam looks at the startling changes reshaping the Soviet Union and its former satellites. He shows us the problems faced by these nations after their first heady rush of freedom: divisions caused by nationality, religion, and class, and worst of all, the complete absence of economic foundations. The important question is: Will the future bring chaos or a new period of economic dynamism to these countries? Halberstam also turns his attention to Japan, where he lived for two years researching his book The Reckoning. He analyzes the miracle of Japan's quick rise from the shattering defeat of World War II to its current preeminent position in the world's economy. He shows how Japan has pioneered a new definition of economic power by maximizing its greatest natural resource - the human brain - through educational excellence. The heart of this section is a portrait of the great industrialist Kazuo Inamori, head of Kyocera, one of Japan's most successful companies. We learn something of the secrets of Inamori's success - how he accomplished his revolutionary breakthroughs and how he established a unique and demanding corporate culture. Finally we look at America. Halberstam postulates that the era of easy affluence in America is already over and that the basic assumptions of our post-World War II foreign and domestic policies are no longer valid. It is not so much a case of America falling behind, he notes, as of other nations catching up in a new, ever more crowded international economy. Yet America remains politically paralyzed, unable to deal with the harsh realities now facing it: a crumbling infrastructure, deteriorating standards of education, and the increasing inability of our industries to compete worldwide. Halberstam proposes some provocative solutions to our current dilemma. Here is a penetrating and thoughtful piece by one of our most valued social and cultural observers. Anyone concerned with the future of America will want to read it." - from the inner front and rear jacket flaps. Seller Inventory # 007523

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Next Century [FIRST TRADE EDITION, FIRST...

Publisher: William Morrow and Company, Inc., New York

Publication Date: 1991

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Anthony, Robert (jacket design)

Condition: As New

Dust Jacket Condition: As New

Edition: 1st Edition