Synopses & Reviews
This book begins with an eye-opening exploration of the rise of Chinas economy and an assessment of its potential for further rapid growth. The implications of Chinas new power are nothing short of profound, Reed Hundt contends.
In China's Shadow proceeds to paint a detailed landscape of the new reality confronting American businesses and citizens. For the first time in over one hundred years, Americans face critical challenges to their economy and way of life owing not only to Chinas impending economic might but also to the drift of U.S. business practices and government regulations over the past decade.
Aiming for a respectable defeat in the competition of nations will imperil not only the American Dream of an ever-increasing standard of living but also the American project itself, Hundt warns. Meeting the foreseeable challenges is not a matter of legislative strategy from the political left or right or prescriptive plans for businesses. The best chance for Americans to lead the world in job and wealth creation lies in an expanded and renewed culture of entrepreneurship. Hundt reviews the lessons of the 1990s, when the architectures of law, technology, and leadership produced a robust culture of entrepreneurship, and analyzes how entrepreneurship is being undermined today. He challenges Americans to do what they do bestadapt, invent, innovate, take risksand points the way for a reinvigorated entrepreneurial society.
Review
"Hundt draws intriguing lessons from the late, lamented economic boom years to create a reform agenda for American business, government, and education."—James Fallows, National Correspondent,
The Atlantic MonthlyReview
"As FCC Chairman during the Clinton-Gore Administration, Reed Hundt sat in the catbird seat of the great technological and economic boom of the 90's. With his background in government and business, I'm not surprised that he has provided an important, insightful, and brilliantly written diagnosis and prescription of how Americans must respond to global competition. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the 21st Century."—Vice President Al Gore
Review
"Reed Hundt offers provocative and intriguing prescriptions for America, as it faces China—its greatest challenge in decades. Offering a unique perspective that combines the role of law, technology, and entrepreneurship, In China's Shadow should be read from Silicon Valley to the White House."—David B. Yoffie, Max & Doris Starr Professor of International Business Administration, Harvard Business School
Review
"
In China's Shadow offers a powerful explanation as to why neither economic protectionism, nor laissez-faire complacency amounts to an effective American response to China's rising economy. Hundt argues persuasively that an effective strategy will require America to stop treating individualism and solidarity, freedom and equality as inherently incompatible. This book is certain to launch an important national conversation."—Peter M. Shane, author of
Democracy Online: The Potential for Political Renewal Through the InternetReview
"The frames we use—think "Cold War" or "cash cow"—shape the challenges and choices we perceive. Hundt reframes China as an amplifier for entrepreneurship. He shows that America's standard of living is at risk, unless we fight fire with entrepreneurial fire."—Thomas Eisenmann, Harvard Business School
Review
"Against China's surging challenge, Reed Hundt has issued a compelling call to re-ignite the nation's entrepreneurial prowess and renew the American dream."—John Jay Iselin, Marconi Society
Review
"Reed Hundt shows characteristic insight into the Chinese challenge by emphasizing the all too anemic American answer. He calls for business and public policy to return to the sources of American growth and advantage in entrepreneurship. This is a timely book, well argued, and right."—Tim Bresnahan, Stanford University
Review
"Reed Hundt's insights on how to get stuff done are augmented by insider anecdotes on how people got stuff done as key moments in American history. He really gets it—how the world works, what makes America successful and what will keep us successful."—John Doerr, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers
Review
"In China's Shadow draws a path for an American Renaissance in response to China's rapid rise. Reed Hundt's new book combines lessons from history, technology and optimism with insights on every page."—Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google
Review
“Reed Hundt casts a sober and objective eye on the subject of globalization. The results are a powerful call to action. The solution he advocates—changing the culture surrounding innovation—is daunting. But, as he points out, nothing less than the future of the United States is at stake.”—Andy Grove, Former Chairman, Intel Corporation
Review
"A remarkable book about America's response to China, one which should change the terms of the national debate in Corporate America, Washington, and Wall Street. It is deeper than any of the policy-oriented books I have seen, totally original in its focus, and extremely well-written to boot."—Jeffrey E. Garten, Juan Trippe Professor of International Trade and Finance, Yale School of Management
Review
"This book makes an important contribution to our understanding of American entrepreneurship and of the emergence of China as a major player in the capitalist world."—Richard S. Tedlow, Harvard Business School
Review
"Reed Hundt has given us a brilliant call to arms, and a blueprint for how to restore America's entrepreneurial spirit and maintain our economic robustness in the face of an emerging economic rival in China. At once sophisticated and accessible, anecdotal and analytical, In China's Shadow is a must read for the business, political, academic and journalistic communities—the sooner people read it, the faster we will get back on track."—Norman Ornstein
Review
"Without real gut tasting risky entrepreneurialism, all will be lost for America. Reed Hundt makes an original, interesting, and compelling case for its reinvigoration—anyone interested in what happens next must read this"—Barry Diller, Chairman, IAC/InterActiveCorp and Expedia
Review
"Brilliantly reminding us when government can and cannot make a difference, this is a polemic in the best sense as it mixes insider stories, far ranging analysis, and barbed opinion. Reed Hundt proposes a bold strategy for using government to support an even deeper entrepreneurial revolution by remaking America's social contract and technology policy. Big ideas and an insider's command of the digital technology frontier make this a terrific read."—Peter Cowhey, University of California, San Diego
Review
"Reed Hundt brings a broad depth of experience to this provocative work. America benefits when informed citizens like Hundt are at the front end of thoughtful debate about our nation's future."—Senator Chuck Hagel
Synopsis
Paints a detailed landscape of the new reality confronting American businesses and citizens in an insightful analysis of how entrepreneurship is being undermined today by the growing power of China's economy, as well as because of contemporary U.S. business practices and government regulation.
About the Author
A conversation with Reed Hundt
Q: How did you first become aware of the implications of Chinas rapidly growing economy on American businesses and culture?
A: I began visiting China in the mid-90s, when I was in the Clinton administration. On repeated visits I have witnessed the rise of numerous new firms, especially in technology. Even more important, in my time on the boards of more than a dozen American technology firms, I have seen the China syndrome emerge at every one: China is too big to dismiss, they say, but competing in that country and with its firms requires a globalization of American firms.
Q: You argue that the rise of China threatens not only American business but our very way of life. What do you mean by that?
A: If all citizens cannot find a route toward increased income and wealth, then the American Dreams core value of individual betterment will evaporate. After that the nation will not come to common, wise decisions about anything importantwhether the topic is war, climate change, or Social Security. The answer does not lie in tying American corporations to their home country. Instead Americans need to encourage in all sectorsespecially energy and healththe proliferation of entrepreneurship that in the 1990s flourished in the information sector and created big new winning companies like Google.
Q: What are the key lessons you hope American business leaders draw from China Syndrome?
A: American businesses and workers will be better off if American firms defeat their Chinese rivals in 60 percent to 80 percent of every sector. Isolated and acting alone, each firm will feel pressured to move money and jobs to China. Each existing firm should compete there, but all American entrepreneurs and collectively all American businesses will generate wealth for themselves and American workers if law, technology, and leaders open American markets to entrepreneurship. This worked in the 1990sit will work again in the late '00s.