We May Dominate the World

Ambition, Anxiety, and the Rise of the American Colossus

By: Sean A Mirski

Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann

What did it take for the United States to become a global superpower? The answer lies in a missing chapter of American foreign policy with stark lessons for today

The cutthroat world of international politics has always been dominated by great powers. Yet no great power in the modern era has ever managed to achieve the kind of invulnerability that comes from being completely supreme in its own neighborhood. No great power, that is, except one—the United States.

In We May Dominate the World, Sean A. Mirski tells the riveting story of how the United States became a regional hegemon in the century following the Civil War. By turns reluctant and ruthless, Americans squeezed their European rivals out of the hemisphere while landing forces on their neighbors’ soil with dizzying frequency. Mirski reveals the surprising reasons behind this muscular foreign policy in a narrative full of twists, colorful characters, and original accounts of the palace coups and bloody interventions that turned the fledgling republic into a global superpower.

Today, as China makes its own run at regional hegemony and nations like Russia and Iran grow more menacing, Mirski’s fresh look at the rise of the American colossus offers indispensable lessons for how to meet the challenges of our own century.

A great historical read

This was a great history full of delightful vignettes. Especially recommended for those with an interest in American history and foreign policy who will surely have our Western Hemisphere adventures as a blind spot.

Great book history we need to know

This book contributes to my U.S. foreign policy foundations and it’s a must read. The history is relevant today we we see China push boundaries in Asia.

Good listen/read

The book is a nice summary of history from the perspective of a rising America

So much history I never knew about

I greatly enjoy the geopolitical genre — my favorites being Peter Zeihan’s series — so when I heard about this book on a podcast I figured I’d give it a try. I preordered it and it didn’t disappoint!

The book is a gripping historical analysis about many events I largely knew nothing about; in particular, I enjoyed learning about the many conflicts America had with Spain as it ascended and diving into US foreign policy in the republics early days.

The author writes clearly and concisely, and the pace of the book never really slows down. I purchased the audiobook and the narrator sounded great (although I honestly prefer when the author narrates as there is always that more unique quality to it).

If you’re looking for that next geopolitical book, consider giving this one a go.

Great production.

Great narration, production and story. Perfect book for American History lovers. Cruised through this one.