Books Recommended by Fareed Zakaria
The World Is Flat
A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
Thomas L. Friedman
Source: "[This book's] insight is true and deeply important. . . . The metaphor of a flat world, used by [the author] to describe the next phase of globalization, is ingenious." - Fareed Zakaria
Lee Kuan Yew
The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World
Graham Allison
Source: "Packed with intelligence and insight. If you are interested in the future of Asia, which means the future of the world, you've got to read this book." - Fareed Zakaria
The Professor and the Madman
A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
Simon Winchester
Source: "An unbelievable tale, one that reminds us of the extraordinary range, depth and beauty of the English language." - Fareed Zakaria
Losing the Long Game
The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East
Philip H. Gordon
Source: "A seemingly narrow subject matter, but it's really a broad book about America's engagement with the world." - Fareed Zakaria
Trade Is Not a Four-Letter Word
How Six Everyday Products Make the Case for Trade
Fred P. Hochberg
Source: "[The author] has managed to do the seemingly impossible, write a breezy, smart, funny book about trade." - Fareed Zakaria
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari
Source: "Wide-ranging, speculative look at the world today and where it is going -- fascinating big think." - Fareed Zakaria
The Decadent Society
How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success
Ross Gregory Douthat
Source: "Argues that Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump both represent the mood of our times." - Fareed Zakaria
The Narrow Corridor
States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty
Daron Acemoglu
Source: "The authors help you understand that the balancing act of liberal democracy is rare." - Fareed Zakaria
The Death of Truth
Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump
Michiko Kakutani
Source: "Brilliantly explains the cultural and political forces that brought us to our current sorry condition." - Fareed Zakaria
The American Story
Conversations with Master Historians
David M. Rubenstein
Source: "Really came out of [...] educating American congressmen about the country's history." - Fareed Zakaria
Blowout
Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth
Rachel Maddow
Source: "A brilliant description of many of the problems caused by our reliance on fossil fuels." - Fareed Zakaria
Democracy and Dictatorship in Europe
From the Ancien Régime to the Present Day
Sheri Berman
Source: "A superb historical study of the forces that produce democracy and threaten its survival." - Fareed Zakaria
The Meritocracy Trap
How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Class, and Devours the Elite
Daniel Markovits
Source: "The most interesting and provocative book I have read in a while." - Fareed Zakaria
The Inevitability of Tragedy
Henry Kissinger and His World
Barry Gewen
Source: "A study of Kissinger's worldview & the challenge of using power to pursue justice." - Fareed Zakaria
The Great Reversal
How America Gave Up on Free Markets
Thomas Philippon
Source: "The most important book on economics I've read in a while." - Fareed Zakaria
The Guarded Gate
Bigotry, Eugenics and the Law That Kept Two Generations of Jews, Italians, and Other European Immigrants Out of America
Daniel Okrent
Source: "A gripping account of a dark wave in American history." - Fareed Zakaria
A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves
One Family and Migration in the 21st Century
Jason DeParle
Source: "The best book on immigration I've read." - Fareed Zakaria
Destined for War
Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?
Graham Allison
Source: "A very smart and important book." - Fareed Zakaria
Prisoners of Geography
Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World
Tim Marshall
Source: "Explains the world starting with geography." - Fareed Zakaria
The Hundred-Year Marathon
China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower
Michael Pillsbury
Source: "In my book I talk a lot about [this book]." - Fareed Zakaria
FAQ
Did Fareed Zakaria recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Fareed Zakaria must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Fareed Zakaria mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Fareed Zakaria is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Fareed Zakaria actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Fareed Zakaria, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
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