Book · 2010 · Business & Economics
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000
Why people recommend it
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers by Paul Kennedy is a widely recognized historical work that examines the interaction between economic strength and military power among major nations over several centuries. When discussing the subject on The Ezra Klein Show on February 6, 2026, guest Tim Wu recommended Paul Kennedy's book. During the conversation, Tim Wu mentioned the publication while explaining his perspective on the broader historical context. He stated that the work was where he originally gathered some of his foundational ideas regarding tech platforms and the big picture. By looking at how dominant empires rise and eventually decline due to imperial overstretch and shifting economic balances, the text offers readers a macroscopic lens for evaluating modern institutional and technological dominance. Tim Wu highlighted the book as a key source that shaped his understanding of large-scale systemic developments, making it a relevant touchstone for anyone attempting to analyze contemporary shifts in global power structures, infrastructure, and communication networks from a historical and structural viewpoint.
Who recommended it
- Tim Wu Recommended
Tim Wu — 1 mention
“The last book, I guess this is where I got some ideas about uh tech platforms and the big picture is from Paul Kennedy, Rise and Fall of the Great Powers.”