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Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance--and Why They Fall
by
Amy Chua
In this sweeping history, bestselling author Amy Chua explains how globally dominant empires—or hyperpowers—rise and why they fall. In a series of brilliant chapter-length studies, she examines the most powerful cultures in history—from the ancient empires of Persia and China to the recent global empires of England and the United States—and reveals the reasons behind their...more
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
January 6th 2009
by Anchor
(first published October 30th 2007)
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J.B. B.
rated it
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone who can read a long book
Recommended to J.B. by:
bloomberg interview
There is lots of great information in this book, and a brilliant conclusion. I was actually considering doing ressearch about the same topic, and i saw her interview so i had to read. I have 2 quotes in my 'quotes' page here, that i found in this book. such eye opening and original material.
I would like to point out though that the tone is very repetitive and this book could have probably been about 1/3 shorter. it took a sincere interest in re-learning this stuff for me to fi...more
I would like to point out though that the tone is very repetitive and this book could have probably been about 1/3 shorter. it took a sincere interest in re-learning this stuff for me to fi...more
If you're interested in empires and spend any time conteplating America's situation in the world today, I highly recommend this well-written book.
I saw this writer on CSpan Book TV in January, and was fascinated by her ideas about empire, particularly since I had just returned from my first trip to Spain.
Ms. Chua does a great job of condensing the pertinent information of historical empires into this book and then looking for the constants in every empire.
Al...more
I saw this writer on CSpan Book TV in January, and was fascinated by her ideas about empire, particularly since I had just returned from my first trip to Spain.
Ms. Chua does a great job of condensing the pertinent information of historical empires into this book and then looking for the constants in every empire.
Al...more
Chua's thesis that tolerance of minorities was a substantial factor in the endurance and success of empires is an important, and almost truly overlooked, point. She analyzes several empires to illustrate this point, including the Persian, Roman, Chinese, Mongol, Dutch, Spanish, British, American empires (and I'm probably forgetting one). She also introduces the term of hyperpower, which is sort of a nation with imperial ambitions and potential on steroids. However, there's a critical flaw in thi...more
In short, the secret ingredient to a power turning into a great `hyperpower' is tolerance. Not that being tolerant makes a nation a great power but it was essential to these already established powers to become the predominant power of their day, or as Chua defines it a `hyperpower.' More then a superpower, hyperpowers are completely dominant in their sphere of the world with no rivals. To become a hyperpower, a nation must become tolerant as a prerequisite, and pulling away from that tolerance ...more
This is another well written and sharp book by Amy Chua, a contract law professor at Yale, on why empires (or "Hyperpowers") rise and fall. The punchline is generally that the reasons why they rise are also the reasons why they fall -- or you can get too much openness, expansion, diversity, entrepreneurship, etc. The story generally seems to work although I doubt it would sustain much hard scrutiny on the details. That is not the point, however. It tells a plausible and interesting...more
Describes the history of hyperpower civilizations of which there were more than had previously thought and their histories are shorter. From the Huns, the Romans, the Chinese to the current US, Amy describes the life span of each. She sees parralells between these civilizations rise (relative freedoms for diverse peoples leading towards innovation and aquiensance) to theie eventual declines (reduction in those relative freedoms as the society becomes inwardly focused) and discusses what this mea...more
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)
Almost everyone agrees by now that the United States currently wields an enormous amount of power and influence over the rest of the world; but does that give us the right to call the US an "empire," at least as how we traditionally define the word? After all, the US isn't trying...more
Almost everyone agrees by now that the United States currently wields an enormous amount of power and influence over the rest of the world; but does that give us the right to call the US an "empire," at least as how we traditionally define the word? After all, the US isn't trying...more
Impressive - the author combines a great depth and breadth of scholarship with exceptional writing and organization of material. Her thesis, which is essentially that powers come to dominate whatever part of the world is accessible to them by being more open and tolerant than others, and therefore more likely to attract the most talent, but that the same openness is ultimately their undoing because they aren't able to muster enough cohesion to keep from coming unraveled, and that their decline ...more
الكتاب مترجم بطريقة ممتازة بعنوان "عصر الامبراطورية" أصدار العبيكان أنصح بقراءتة وهو يرتب شواهد من التاريخ منذ الدولة الاخمندية والصين مروراً بالاسلام والمغول وبريطانيا وهولندا وصولاً الى أمريكا اليوم تذهب الى
أن التسامح يزيد من قوة الدولة ونفوذها والتعصب يجعلها تسقط والكتاب يشبه مقدمة إبن خلدون وفلسفته التاريخية وكلا المؤلفين متخصصان في القانون
أن التسامح يزيد من قوة الدولة ونفوذها والتعصب يجعلها تسقط والكتاب يشبه مقدمة إبن خلدون وفلسفته التاريخية وكلا المؤلفين متخصصان في القانون
I thoroughly enjoyed "Day of Empire". Amy Chua provides a thoughtful analysis of the social changes within "hyper powers" that contributed to their downfall. Although most of these empires were founded on military conquest, her thesis that they grew to hyper power status through their tolerant social and cultural attitudes. She further proves that these powers began their decline due to an increase in nationalism and intolerance. She relates these historic lessons to America'...more
Kirk Bower
added it
So much talk about Friedman? The talk should be turned toward Chua. Another outstanding book with an original thesis. Chua looks at tolerance during empires growth.
I learned a good deal of history but was frequently annoyed by her usage of "I"- as in "I contend", "I will now prove"... it's redundant when the book is her thesis.
Kent Lundgren
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Students of history and geopolitics
Shelves:
geopolitics
The author, Amy Chua, makes a convincing case that hyperpowers, empires or nations whose supremacy in the world is unchallenged for a time, rise and fall as a factor of their inclusiveness. If they value and invite the contributions that can be made by those who fall under their sway, they will prosper. And vice-versa.
The case is documented persuasively by close examination of several of the world's historic hyperpowers (and there have been fewer than one might think), among them...more
The case is documented persuasively by close examination of several of the world's historic hyperpowers (and there have been fewer than one might think), among them...more
Amy Chua account of global dominance in history was insightful,full of history and extemely readable Her writing style was easy and yet very entertaining.
I was fascinated by this book because it more cleary than any book I've read illustrates how nations rise when they are more inclusive and accepting of immigrants from various ethnic, social, and religious backgrounds.
Mrs. Chua shows through many examples what happens to nations as they look exclude, persecute, or disenfranchise people of different backgrounds and what they can potentially contribute to that nation.
The lessons illustrated are clear. Can America continue ...more
Mrs. Chua shows through many examples what happens to nations as they look exclude, persecute, or disenfranchise people of different backgrounds and what they can potentially contribute to that nation.
The lessons illustrated are clear. Can America continue ...more
My favourite book of the year! Learn a lot too. Her thesis is profound and history buff or not you have to read this!
Short concise book on history. Easy to read and very informative. Very good read.
I remember reading this and thinking it was generally well done.
amazing history lesson on empires
This book is both easy and enjoyable to read, but not very profound or memorable.
Intriguing and well supported premise: That great powers rise and fall in direct relation to their tolerance or intolerance, i.e. the most tolerant power attracts the best and brightest from other cultures, religions, nations etc enabling them to join and contribute to the rise of the great power. Extrapolates this out to America’s past and future. The kind of book that gives you a great insight into historical processes that otherwise seemed random.
A very simple but useful book. She lays out her thesis - that tolerance is the key to the success of hyperpowers - from the get go and then hammers through her case studies, from Persia to China.
On the down side, she does at times seem to belabor the point,
she will win no prizes for writing style & sophistication - the book reads like a good undergrad senior thesis, and I fear at times she shoehorns history to fit nicely into her thesis.
On the down side, she does at times seem to belabor the point,
she will win no prizes for writing style & sophistication - the book reads like a good undergrad senior thesis, and I fear at times she shoehorns history to fit nicely into her thesis.
A wonderful book! It gives a great history of the rise and fall of all the greatest nations throughout the history of the world. It gives you a great perspective on today's issues as well as, hopefully, enhances your current political and sociological views; most particularly in the areas of immigration, tolerance, and war. The world is truly ever-changing.
This book focused on why countries become hyper powers and focused on previous empires and on the US and its future competition. It focused on toleration and how toleration allowed the empires to be what they were and now intolerance led to their fall.
Between this but and Chua's "World on Fire", she explains all you need to know about how the world works politically. Her knowledge of the intricacies of every country and culture in almost every time is amazing.
The premise was good, how empires fall by being intolerant, but the author tended to offer up this point to often, it was in fact the thesis, so yea we got the point early on.
It verges on being too dry at times...but just about manages to avoid it when it counts. A fascinating look at the cycle of history and empires.
Interesting take on hegemonies and what makes them rise and fall. Very good overview of world history through the lens of power and politics.
very good historical analysis. my students enjoyed it too, which is impressive. its hard to get undergraduates excited about anything.
Its ok. Author examines tolerance throughout the ages and how it affects the rise and fall of great powers. Pretty interesting stuff.
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Amy L. Chua (born 1962) is the John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School. She joined the Yale faculty in 2001 after teaching at Duke Law School. Prior to starting her teaching career, she was a corporate law associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. She specializes in the study of international business transactions, law and development, ethnic conflict, and globalization and th...more
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