Why people recommend it
Breakneck by Dan Wang is a non-fiction book that explores the political economy and industrial landscape of China in comparison to the United States. During an appearance on The Ezra Klein Show published on December 23, 2025, in an episode titled 'This is Something that Traditional Economics Isn’t Prepared to Deal With', Tracy Aloway discussed the publication while sharing insights on global economic systems. Tracy Aloway recommended Dan Wang's book Breakneck, describing it as an excellent resource for anyone seeking to understand and evaluate the differing political economies of the United States and China. Furthermore, Tracy Aloway noted that the themes and analyses presented in the book closely aligned with many of the complex structural topics that she and the host had just examined during their broader conversation on the podcast. By highlighting how the text addresses modern manufacturing, state capacity, and technological advancement, the discussion framed the volume as an essential read for observers tracking the shifting balance of global power and industrial policy between the two superpowers. The recommendation emphasized the author's unique perspective on hardware, supply chains, and governance models that traditional economic frameworks often fail to capture adequately, making the work a valuable addition to contemporary policy discourse and comparative economic analysis.
Who recommended it
- Tracy Aloway Recommended
Tracy Aloway — 1 mention
“Dan Wong's new book breakneck break neck is excellent for comparing the political economy of the US and China and a lot of the things we just discussed”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Dan Wong came on the show and he is one of the world's China experts and he's just written a new book called Breakneck.”