Great Powers: A Book, Obama and MaCain Must Read

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Powers-America-World-After/dp/0399155376/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213970164&sr=1-3

I usually don't pre-judge a book by it's cover. In this case Thomas P.M. Barnett's new book Great Powers: America and the World After Bush, is something that I am recommending before it's release date. As many of you know who read this blog with any frequency I have linked many articles written by Tom Barnett, and posted numerous comments about his vision of shrinking the Gap, Non-Integrating Gap, that includes most of the countries we now see as failed states. I have observed Barnett as he prepared for this book by reading hundreds of books from as many disciplines, and collecting thousands of articles, all the while keeping his daily blog where he comments on the state of all things human. He has traveled the world so much in the past three years since his last book Blueprint for Action, that his frequent traveler miles would probably qualify him for a round trip to the moon, if it were available. Tom's Trips

He has traveled across the globe, to address hundreds of organizations, civilian, academic and military. His message is important and needs to be told. It is not about American hegemony, over other nations, it is about connecting the world community by using our leverage and power to facilitate positive change throughout the world. Barnett was one of the first to offer suggestions that we, "lock in China at today's prices" and make them a partner in the security net that needs to be in place to allow for economic growth. Tom also likes to say, "It's the jobs, economic determinism that will allow democracy to bloom."

For whoever becomes President of the United States this fall, be it Obama or McCain, this is a must read book for them, and their policy makers. Barnett's insight is beyond partisan and should be given ever measure of thought and consideration.

To those of you who need more convincing, here is a link to some of Barnett's wisdom via youtube. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thomas+barnett

And if that whetted your interest, here is a longer brief, Tom Barnett Lecture from TED videos.

To illustrate how Tom Barnett is a voice that resonates within the Pentagon, here is a timely post by Galrahn at Information Dissemination entitled, Observing the Resistance to the Paradigm Shift in the DoD.

And on a lighter note about Barnett's global view, Dan at tdaxp.com, who wrote this Join the Core, Support Firefox! about a post that compared support for Firefox with the Tom Barnett’s Core/Gap model:

I am not being Pollyanna about Barnett. For those skeptics who need more evidence, just click on Tom Barnett in the label links at the bottom of this post to find previous posts about his views.