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The Empire and the Five Kings: America's Abdication and the Fate of the World by Bernard-Henri Levy
jdintr's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It's an interesting insight into the state of the world made by an astute observer of America.
Levy's basic premise is that the United States is sleeping while five, totalitarian kings (Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, China and Iran are running roughshod, gobbling up the world (or at least the Middle East, and sowing the seeds of future conflicts. He is particularly outraged by the fates of Syrian Kurds, who led the ground war against Isis, only to be abandoned by the American commander-in-chief and left to the infinitesimal mercies of three of the "kings:" Turkey, Iran and the House of Saud.
Levy provides some interesting insights on American culture and its place in the world. He points out that 'Americans will never build anything permanent,' which I disagreed with at first, but then took a look at my own shape-shifting town and realized the truth. Americans don't speak with the wisdom of centuries (sad) nor do we expect our ideas and works to endure for centuries (not a bad way to be, IMO). We just live life as we wish to here, without ever closing the door to moving there at some point in the future.
In general, I felt that Levy--like most European observers--overestimates the desire of voting Americans to step in and fix the world's problems militarily. There is still a strong military culture here, but a lessening desire to do the bidding of almost every country but tiny, little Israel. To me, let someone else stop these kings in their tracks. Why not France or India for a change?
Levy's basic premise is that the United States is sleeping while five, totalitarian kings (Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, China and Iran are running roughshod, gobbling up the world (or at least the Middle East, and sowing the seeds of future conflicts. He is particularly outraged by the fates of Syrian Kurds, who led the ground war against Isis, only to be abandoned by the American commander-in-chief and left to the infinitesimal mercies of three of the "kings:" Turkey, Iran and the House of Saud.
Levy provides some interesting insights on American culture and its place in the world. He points out that 'Americans will never build anything permanent,' which I disagreed with at first, but then took a look at my own shape-shifting town and realized the truth. Americans don't speak with the wisdom of centuries (sad) nor do we expect our ideas and works to endure for centuries (not a bad way to be, IMO). We just live life as we wish to here, without ever closing the door to moving there at some point in the future.
In general, I felt that Levy--like most European observers--overestimates the desire of voting Americans to step in and fix the world's problems militarily. There is still a strong military culture here, but a lessening desire to do the bidding of almost every country but tiny, little Israel. To me, let someone else stop these kings in their tracks. Why not France or India for a change?
coreyln's review against another edition
4.0
So glad I read this book! I am not an expert at all on international crisis or history. The book is well laid out to explain many different events that support the author's main point. While the US and now some of their allies pull back from world leadership, the countries are taking the opportunitiy to try to build empires as there were in the past. While Mr. Levy points out how such empires ultimately fail, their is suffering of many in the meantime.
Between buying the book and reading it, I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Levy in person speaking at The Commonwealth Club. His passion is infectious. His story rings true for is dedication that others, especially the Kurds whom he stayed with several times, be allowed to live their lives.
Since reading this book, I continue to increase my knowledge of the wider world and people in it.
Between buying the book and reading it, I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Levy in person speaking at The Commonwealth Club. His passion is infectious. His story rings true for is dedication that others, especially the Kurds whom he stayed with several times, be allowed to live their lives.
Since reading this book, I continue to increase my knowledge of the wider world and people in it.
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