The Age of Illusions

How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory

By: Andrew Bacevich

Narrated by: Andrew Bacevich, Rob Shapiro

A thought-provoking and penetrating account of the post-Cold war follies and delusions that culminated in the age of Donald Trump from the bestselling author of The Limits of Power.

When the Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Washington establishment felt it had prevailed in a world-historical struggle. Our side had won, a verdict that was both decisive and irreversible. For the world’s “indispensable nation,” its “sole superpower,” the future looked very bright. History, having brought the United States to the very summit of power and prestige, had validated American-style liberal democratic capitalism as universally applicable.

In the decades to come, Americans would put that claim to the test. They would embrace the promise of globalization as a source of unprecedented wealth while embarking on wide-ranging military campaigns to suppress disorder and enforce American values abroad, confident in the ability of U.S. forces to defeat any foe. Meanwhile, they placed all their bets on the White House to deliver on the promise of their Cold War triumph: unequaled prosperity, lasting peace, and absolute freedom.

In The Age of Illusions, bestselling author Andrew Bacevich takes us from that moment of seemingly ultimate victory to the age of Trump, telling an epic tale of folly and delusion. Writing with his usual eloquence and vast knowledge, he explains how, within a quarter of a century, the United States ended up with gaping inequality, permanent war, moral confusion, and an increasingly angry and alienated population, as well, of course, as the strangest president in American history.

Excellent analysis of the “End of History” Era

I am a progressive so expected to be at odds with the analysis of more conservative thinker. However Bacevich stands outside of the current left/right paradigms and offers a valuable critique of the post fall of communism world. His insights into how America got it wrong and how he weaves Trumpism into the historical context is excellent. He shows how Trump is a symptom and not a cause. Outstanding and important read.

meticulous accessibility

Professor Bacevich pulls you into our current state of affairs and the key events that contributed to the downfall of decency and with the need for empty victory in favor of crucial progress. Without refrain he holds up a mirror to us and our forgotten history lending itself to a much needed lesson.

"peace has cost you your strength, victory has defeated you."

Sobering Bit of Analysis

It matters when a conservative military officer is disgusted with the whole status quo because he has every incentive to go along and become wealthy by the prevailing system. So this book, like many others currently available, is another argument that this country's glory days are behind us if a fundamental change doesn't happen soon.
personally speaking I doubt that it'll change.

An explanation of the rise of Trump

Andrew Bacevich presents a valuable lesson of why we have Trump. He traces our history to show why we created him.

A very good very much needed book. The best analys

If Professor Bacevich is best known as a war historian, and is probably the best known war historian, you'll probably expect this to be a book about war... And it is true what the book's dust jacket says: the primary thesis of this book is that the United States has squandered it's triumph over Russia in the cold War. Bacevich illustrates this claim amply, and it is very interesting, and sobering.
But the book is so much more: a nearly up-to-the-moment analysis of the intersection of international policy and politics in a blow-by-blow president by president rundown of the post cold war Era.
His takes on all contemporary politicians are well informed, realistic and right on point.

While this is a quick read, it carries more than its weight in valuable insights. I am pretty convinced.


Give 'The Age of Illusions' a try. I recommend it. £