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After the Fall

Being American in the World We've Made

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After the Fall

By: Ben Rhodes
Narrated by: Ben Rhodes
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Bloomsbury presents After the Fall written and read by Ben Rhodes.

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

'A dystopian odyssey through the dark authoritarian landscape of the modern world’
The Times

To be born American in the late twentieth century was to take the fact of a particular kind of American exceptionalism as granted – a state of nature arrived at after all else had failed. In the span of just thirty years, this assumption would come crashing down.

After the fall, we must determine what it means to be American again.

In 2017, as Ben Rhodes was helping Barack Obama begin his next chapter, the legacy they worked to build for eight years was being taken apart. To understand what was happening in America, Rhodes decided to look outwards.

Over the next three years, he travelled to dozens of countries, meeting with politicians, activists, and dissidents confronting the same nationalism and authoritarianism that was tearing America apart. Along the way, a Russian opposition leader he spends time with is poisoned, the Hong Kong protesters he comes to know see their movement snuffed out, and America itself reaches the precipice of losing democracy before giving itself a second chance.

After the Fall is a hugely ambitious and essential work of discovery. Throughout, Rhodes comes to realize how much America’s fingerprints are on a world it helped to shape: through the excesses of the post-Cold War embrace of unbridled capitalism, post-9/11 nationalism and militarism, mania for technology and social media, and the racism that shaped the backlash to the Obama presidency. At the same time, he learns from a diverse set of characters – from Obama to rebels to a rising generation of leaders – how looking squarely at where America has gone wrong only makes it more essential to fight for what America is supposed to be – for itself, and for the entire world.©2021 Ben Rhodes (P)2021 Penguin Random House LLC Americas Politics & Government United States Socialism Middle East Social justice Russia Capitalism Authoritarianism Iran
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Critic reviews

A dystopian odyssey through the dark authoritarian landscape of the modern world
After the Fall takes the form of a quest . . . Rhodes’s travels, and his contemplation of the scene at home, lead him to an important conclusion: The United States, having exported to the world unleashed capitalism, ungoverned social media and a militarized foreign policy, has now seen its pathologies weaponized by its enemies and turned back upon itself
Vital reading for Americans and people anywhere who seek to understand what is happening 'after the fall' of the global system created by the United States and shaped increasingly by China under Xi Jinping
The story of an aftermath . . . Elegantly expressed
All stars
Most relevant
An enlightening read which paints a worrying picture of the joined up approach taken by authoritarian leaders. Thanks for your work Ben Rhodes

Excellent

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Really liked this book.

Lots to reflect on (I'd recommend taking time during it to do so). Great motivation to take action, to think about how you can leave your mark on the world.

I think if you aren't American you need to have some patience and tolerance to not react to the sometimes overly patriotic rhetoric and self-importance, and if you do you'll see it is a careful balance of self criticism and pride, which is refreshing.

Only comment from me is that the use of the male pronoun as default happened a few times, and there were a couple of remarks I would label as culturally insensitive, but I trust the author did their best to avoid this in a book that touched many sensitive issues.

Overall definitely 5 stars and would 100% recommend!

Read it!

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I will be honest and say I never understood how a creative writer major gets to be called a national security adviser. The sense one gets is a speech writer in the room when others are making strategic decisions. I wish he could have clarified what he added to the national security beyond nice words for Obama to say. That aside, this is a good read/listen. It is however bleak but naggingly pertinent. A warning to take our democracy seriously and not fall for fools like Trump and Boris. this is a time for serious politicians and maybe one for realising we made a huge mistake outsourcing everything to China. We are going to have to pay more for things, manufacture them in democratic nations and raise barriers to trade based on the rule of law and human rights. Only then can we tackle the thugocracies. There remains the distinct possibility it may all be too late.

Power Corrupts

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A talented writer and insightful approach to complex ideas. I definitely learnt a lot from him

Superb Analysis

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I heard of Ben Rhodes through his podcast and therefore knew him as an informed, intelligent, articulate and thoughtful commentator. This book abundantly illustrates these qualities as well as many others (like courage and integrity). I’ve learnt a lot about recent global events & America’s role on the world stage. He has given me a lot to think about and I heartily recommend it.

An amazing book

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