A Cold Peace: America, Japan, Germany, and the Struggle for Supremacy

Jeffrey E. Garten has written an excellent book that presents Americans with many challenges in regards to foreign and domestic policy. The main thesis of this book is that the U.S. no longer "enjoys" the position of being the sole world power. Today the U.S. must learn to share this role with Japan and Germany. Both countries have emerged from WWII as powerful economic nations who have started to increase in political and social influence in their respective backyards. Garten believes that we must first attend many of our domestic social problems if we want to continue as a super power. Our way of thinking has to change for it is a reality that power must be shared with these two nations. Instead of blaiming the economic policies of these nations (e.g. tariffs, etc.) for our own economic problems, we must find ways to work with them and even borrow ideas and business practices from these other capitalistic nations. Garten makes his book very readable and enjoyable. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with an open mind who desires to better understand what the tomorrow's world will be like.