About the Book
From the bestselling authors of The Right Nation, a visionaryargument that our current crisis in government is nothing less than thefourth radical transition in the history of the nation-state
Dysfunctional government: It s become a cliche, and most of us are resigned to the fact that nothingis ever going to change. As John Micklethwait andAdrian Wooldridge show us, that is a seriouslylimited view of things. In fact, there have beenthree great revolutions in government in thehistory of the modern world. The West has led theserevolutions, but now we are in the midst of a fourthrevolution, and it is Western government that is indanger of being left behind.
Now, things really are different. The West s debtload is unsustainable. The developing world hasharvested the low-hanging fruits. Industrializationhas transformed all the peasant economies it hadleft to transform, and the toxic side effects of rapiddeveloping world growth are adding to the bill.From Washington to Detroit, from Brasilia to NewDelhi, there is a dual crisis of political legitimacy andpolitical effectiveness.
The Fourth Revolution crystallizes the scope of thecrisis and points forward to our future. The authorsenjoy extraordinary access to influential figures andforces the world over, and the book is a global tourof the innovators in how power is to be wielded.The age of big government is over; the age of smartgovernment has begun. Many of the ideas theauthors discuss seem outlandish now, but the centerof gravity is moving quickly.
This tour drives home a powerful argument: that countries success depends overwhelmingly ontheir ability to reinvent the state. And that muchof the West and particularly the United States is failing badly in its task. China is making rapidprogress with government reform at the same timeas America is falling badly behind. Washington isgridlocked, and America is in danger of squanderingits huge advantages from its powerful economybecause of failing government. And flailingdemocracies like India look enviously at China sstate-of-the-art airports and expanding universities.
The race to get government right is not just arace of efficiency. It is a race to see which politicalvalues will triumph in the twenty-first century the liberal values of democracy and liberty or theauthoritarian values of command and control. Thestakes could not be higher."
About the Author :
John Micklethwait is the editor in chief of Bloomberg News. After studying history at Magdalen College, Oxford, he worked as a banker at Chase Manhattan before joining The Economist as a finance correspondent in 1987. He served as The Economist s editor in chief from 2006 to 2015 and was named an Editors Editor by the British Society of Magazine Editors in 2010.
Adrian Wooldridge is TheEconomist s management editor andwrites the Schumpeter column. Hewas previously based in Washington, D.C., as the Washington bureau chief, where he also wrote the Lexingtoncolumn. Together they are theauthors of five books: The WitchDoctors, A Future Perfect, The Company, The Right Nation, and God Is Back."
Review :
Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe:
This is an important book. This book changes everything.
Tyler Cowan, Marginal Revolution:
It is probably the best current manifesto on the proper roles for market and state . This book is also the single best statement of the thesis that these days government simply is not working very well, and that such an insight is recognized by many voters better than by many intellectuals. Definitely recommended.
The Daily Mail (UK):
Splendid.
The Telegraph
Superb . Micklethwait and Wooldridge s must-read manifesto is a plea for more reform, inspired this time by successful reforms in other countries and the harnessing of the digital revolution.
Seattle Times
[The authors] offer thoughtful proposals . a useful look at America from the outside in.
Times of London
"The basic argument of this well-written, intelligent book is twofold. First reform [of the state] is essential. Second, reform is possible because it is happening all over the world and because new technology is available. By the end of reading The Fourth Revolution it is hard to deny either of these points."
Kirkus Reviews
A different, provocative view of the challenge emerging in Asia.
Fareed Zakaria, author of The Post American World
"This is a book with an important message. It is also one that brims with intelligence, erudition, and best of all common sense. I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page."
Walter Russell Mead:
"This brilliant and courageous book is also a gripping read. At a time when most politicians and pundits on the left and the right look back to past golden ages, the Economist s John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge dare to ask what must be done to make democracy work again. Their answers point beyond the dull nostrums of conventional politics toward new ideas and reforms that could renew the democratic systems in both the US and Europe. This is a landmark study of a vital subject, told with great verve and dash, and it is a book that no one who cares about the future of politics can afford to miss."
Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe:
This is an important book. This book changes everything.
Tyler Cowan, Marginal Revolution:
It is probably the best current manifesto on the proper roles for market and state . This book is also the single best statement of the thesis that these days government simply is not working very well, and that such an insight is recognized by many voters better than by many intellectuals. Definitely recommended.
"The Daily Mail" (UK):
Splendid.
"The Telegraph"
Superb . Micklethwait and Wooldridge s must-read manifesto is a plea for more reform, inspired this time by successful reforms in other countries and the harnessing of the digital revolution.
"Seattle Times"
[The authors] offer thoughtful proposals . a useful look at America from the outside in.
"Times of London"
"The basic argument of this well-written, intelligent book is twofold. First reform [of the state] is essential. Second, reform is possible because it is happening all over the world and because new technology is available. By the end of reading "The Fourth Revolution" it is hard to deny either of these points."
"Kirkus Reviews"
A different, provocative view of the challenge emerging in Asia.
Fareed Zakaria, author of "The Post American World"
"This is a book with an important message. It is also one that brims with intelligence, erudition, and best of all common sense. I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page."
Walter Russell Mead:
"This brilliant and courageous book is also a gripping read. At a time when most politicians and pundits on the left and the right look back to past golden ages, the "Economist" s John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge dare to ask what must be done to make democracy work again. Their answers point beyond the dull nostrums of conventional politics toward new ideas and reforms that could renew the democratic systems in both the US and Europe. This is a landmark study of a vital subject, told with great verve and dash, and it is a book that no one who cares about the future of politics can afford to miss."
Joe Scarborough, "Morning Joe"
"This is an important book. This book changes everything."
Tyler Cowan, Marginal Revolution:
"It is probably the best current manifesto on the proper roles for market and state.... This book is also the single best statement of the thesis that these days government simply is not working very well, and that such an insight is recognized by many voters better than by many intellectuals. Definitely recommended."
"The Daily Mail" (UK):
"Splendid."
"The Telegraph"
"Superb.... Micklethwait and Wooldridge's must-read manifesto is a plea for more reform, inspired this time by successful reforms in other countries and the harnessing of the digital revolution."
"Seattle Times"
"[The authors] offer thoughtful proposals.... a useful look at America from the outside in."
"Times of London"
"The basic argument of this well-written, intelligent book is twofold. First reform [of the state] is essential. Second, reform is possible because it is happening all over the world and because new technology is available. By the end of reading "The Fourth Revolution" it is hard to deny either of these points."
"Kirkus Reviews"
"A different, provocative view of the challenge emerging in Asia."
Fareed Zakaria, author of "The Post American World"
"This is a book with an important message. It is also one that brims with intelligence, erudition, and--best of all--common sense. I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page."
Walter Russell Mead:
"This brilliant and courageous book is also a gripping read. At a time when most politicians and pundits on the left and the right look back to past golden ages, the "Economist"'s John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge dare to ask what must be done to make democracy work again. Their answers point beyond the dull nostrums of conventional politics toward new ideas and reforms that could renew the democratic systems in both the US and Europe. This is a landmark study of a vital subject, told with great verve and dash, and it is a book that no one who cares about the future of politics can afford to miss."
Joe Scarborough, "Morning Joe"
"This is an important book. This book changes everything."
Tyler Cowan, Marginal Revolution:
"It is probably the best current manifesto on the proper roles for market and state.... This book is also the single best statement of the thesis that these days government simply is not working very well, and that such an insight is recognized by many voters better than by many intellectuals. Definitely recommended."
"The Daily Mail" (UK):
"Splendid."
"The Telegraph"
"Superb.... Micklethwait and Wooldridge's must-read manifesto is a plea for more reform, inspired this time by successful reforms in other countries and the harnessing of the digital revolution."
"Seattle Times"
"[The authors] offer thoughtful proposals.... a useful look at America from the outside in."
"Times of London"
"The basic argument of this well-written, intelligent book is twofold. First reform [of the state] is essential. Second, reform is possible because it is happening all over the world and because new technology is available. By the end of reading "The Fourth Revolution" it is hard to deny either of these points."
"Kirkus Reviews"
"A different, provocative view of the challenge emerging in Asia."
Fareed Zakaria, author of "The Post American World"
"This is a book with an important message. It is also one that brims with intelligence, erudition, and--best of all--common sense. I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page."
Walter Russell Mead:
"This brilliant and courageous book is also a gripping read. At a time when most politicians and pundits on the left and the right look back to past golden ages, the "Economist"'s John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge dare to ask what must be done to make democracy work again. Their answers point beyond the dull nostrums of conventional politics toward new ideas and reforms that could renew the democratic systems in both the US and Europe. This is a landmark study of a vital subject, told with great verve and dash, and it is a book that no one who cares about the future of politics can afford to miss."
Tyler Cowan, Marginal Revolution:
"It is probably the best current manifesto on the proper roles for market and state.... This book is also the single best statement of the thesis that these days government simply is not working very well, and that such an insight is recognized by many voters better than by many intellectuals. Definitely recommended."
"The Daily Mail" (UK):
"Splendid."
"The Telegraph"
"Superb.... Micklethwait and Wooldridge's must-read manifesto is a plea for more reform, inspired this time by successful reforms in other countries and the harnessing of the digital revolution."
"Seattle Times"
"[The authors] offer thoughtful proposals.... a useful look at America from the outside in."
"Times of London"
"The basic argument of this well-written, intelligent book is twofold. First reform [of the state] is essential. Second, reform is possible because it is happening all over the world and because new technology is available. By the end of reading "The Fourth Revolution" it is hard to deny either of these points."
"Kirkus Reviews"
"A different, provocative view of the challenge emerging in Asia."
Fareed Zakaria, author of "The Post American World"
"This is a book with an important message. It is also one that brims with intelligence, erudition, and--best of all--common sense. I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page."
Walter Russell Mead:
"This brilliant and courageous book is also a gripping read. At a time when most politicians and pundits on the left and the right look back to past golden ages, the "Economist"'s John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge dare to ask what must be done to make democracy work again. Their answers point beyond the dull nostrums of conventional politics toward new ideas and reforms that could renew the democratic systems in both the US and Europe. This is a landmark study of a vital subject, told with great verve and dash,
"Kirkus Reviews"
"A different, provocative view of the challenge emerging in Asia."
Fareed Zakaria, author of "The Post American World"
"This is a book with an important message. It is also one that brims with intelligence, erudition, and--best of all--common sense. I found myself nodding in agreement on almost every page."
Walter Russell Mead:
"This brilliant and courageous book is also a gripping read. At a time when most politicians and pundits on the left and the right look back to past golden ages, the "Economist"'s John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge dare to ask what must be done to make democracy work again. Their answers point beyond the dull nostrums of conventional politics toward new ideas and reforms that could renew the democratic systems in both the US and Europe. This is a landmark study of a vital subject, told with great verve and dash, and it is a book that no one who cares about the future of politics can afford to miss."
