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The American Challenge
“The signs and instruments of power are no longer armed legions or raw materials or capital… The wealth we seek does not lie in the earth or in numbers of men or in machines, but in the human spirit. And particularly in the ability of men to think and to create.” -- Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber in his international bestseller, The American Challenge.
The American Challenge was 50 years ahead of its time in its appraisal of Europe, industrialization, the global economy and digital future, and the sclerosis of French politics. The youth of the world can now rediscover this landmark book, and take measure of all that still remains to be accomplished to bring to fruition the dreams of post-war generation.
“The world we live in is very much the world Servan-Schreiber imagined,” Professor Paul Krugman writes in his preface to this ebook edition, further adding that “JJSS was an incredibly insightful prophet.”
With its radically new economic and political vision, The American Challenge was a bestseller when first published in 1967. Selling over 2 million copies in France and more than 10 million throughout the world, the book was translated and published in 16 languages and 26 countries.
This first ebook edition provides the original edition’s text in its entirety. Available from all major online retailers, it includes a new preface by New York Times op-ed contributor and Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Paul Krugman, acclaiming a book that “marked a whole generation.”
Praise for "The American Challenge":
“The American Challenge, was not only a game changer for European–American relations, it also provided a new and innovative conception of national competitiveness. The book was a true catalyst in the creation of the World Economic Forum.”- Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman, The World Economic Forum
“Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber first put forth his bold vision of accelerating American prosperity back in 1967. While this outcome seemed inevitable at the time, half a century later we have fallen far short of that future. The reissue of his landmark book serves as a clarion call for our stagnant civilization to find a way back to the optimistic future of the 1960s.” - Peter Thiel, Co-Founder of Paypal, Managing Partner of the Founders’ Fund
“Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber was a true humanist. He understood the importance of the sovereignty for the people in the wake of European colonialism, as well as the potential in federating resources in an increasingly multipolar world, exemplified by his support of the European integration. He also foresaw the possibilities and challenges of modern technology.” - Nicolas Berggruen, President, Berggruen Institute on Governance
“The American Challenge is an excellent, vigorous and modern book – that is to say, one free of many of the usual shortcomings and repetitiveness of commonplace thinking.” - Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of France, 1974-1981
“The American Challenge is at the top of the best seller lists. For a tome rich in statistics and dealing with the world of economic and corporate development, computers, satellites and the rivalries of industrial power blocs, this is an astonishing success. If Marx had done as well with “Das Kapital”, we might all be waving red flags and eating caviar.” - New York Times, May 19, 1968
About the
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber (1924 – 2006) was a WWII fighter pilot, the founder of the French newsweekly L’Express, author of several bestsellers, and deputy and President of the regional council of Lorraine.
The American Challenge was 50 years ahead of its time in its appraisal of Europe, industrialization, the global economy and digital future, and the sclerosis of French politics. The youth of the world can now rediscover this landmark book, and take measure of all that still remains to be accomplished to bring to fruition the dreams of post-war generation.
“The world we live in is very much the world Servan-Schreiber imagined,” Professor Paul Krugman writes in his preface to this ebook edition, further adding that “JJSS was an incredibly insightful prophet.”
With its radically new economic and political vision, The American Challenge was a bestseller when first published in 1967. Selling over 2 million copies in France and more than 10 million throughout the world, the book was translated and published in 16 languages and 26 countries.
This first ebook edition provides the original edition’s text in its entirety. Available from all major online retailers, it includes a new preface by New York Times op-ed contributor and Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Paul Krugman, acclaiming a book that “marked a whole generation.”
Praise for "The American Challenge":
“The American Challenge, was not only a game changer for European–American relations, it also provided a new and innovative conception of national competitiveness. The book was a true catalyst in the creation of the World Economic Forum.”- Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman, The World Economic Forum
“Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber first put forth his bold vision of accelerating American prosperity back in 1967. While this outcome seemed inevitable at the time, half a century later we have fallen far short of that future. The reissue of his landmark book serves as a clarion call for our stagnant civilization to find a way back to the optimistic future of the 1960s.” - Peter Thiel, Co-Founder of Paypal, Managing Partner of the Founders’ Fund
“Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber was a true humanist. He understood the importance of the sovereignty for the people in the wake of European colonialism, as well as the potential in federating resources in an increasingly multipolar world, exemplified by his support of the European integration. He also foresaw the possibilities and challenges of modern technology.” - Nicolas Berggruen, President, Berggruen Institute on Governance
“The American Challenge is an excellent, vigorous and modern book – that is to say, one free of many of the usual shortcomings and repetitiveness of commonplace thinking.” - Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of France, 1974-1981
“The American Challenge is at the top of the best seller lists. For a tome rich in statistics and dealing with the world of economic and corporate development, computers, satellites and the rivalries of industrial power blocs, this is an astonishing success. If Marx had done as well with “Das Kapital”, we might all be waving red flags and eating caviar.” - New York Times, May 19, 1968
About the
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber (1924 – 2006) was a WWII fighter pilot, the founder of the French newsweekly L’Express, author of several bestsellers, and deputy and President of the regional council of Lorraine.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 18, 2018
Recommend by Peter Thiel I found it interesting but nothing more than that. Describing europe as an american (economic) colony might be very fitting though and the challenges we europeans face economically are also pretty well described.
to-keep-reference
January 30, 2019En 1956 la inversión privada de Estados Unidos en Europa sumaba tan sólo 4.150 millones de dólares. A partir de entonces empezó a incrementarse espectacularmente, despegó en 1960 (especialmente en Gran Bretaña) y alcanzó los 24.520 millones de dólares en 1970, momento en el que ya había provocado una oleada de publicaciones que advertían del ascenso del poder económico estadounidense, como el célebre ensayo de JJ Servan-Schreiber de 1967 titulado Le Défi Américain (El desafío americano).
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Posguerra Pág.456
May 20, 2018
Mah... sono passati tanti anni da quando fu scritto questo libro e da quando lo lessi, non ricordavo,a 50 anni circa dalla prima lettura cosa mi avesse colpita. Fa previsioni che arrivano agli anno 80... qualcosa ha azzeccato, qualcosa di meno. Il computer ovviamente , e l'organizzazione americana. Ora le grandi ditte americane sono sostituite dalle multinazionali, ecco è la globalizzazione che forse non ha previsto. Per ora però leggendolo ci trovo un'affermazione che direi sia sempre più valida: se vogliamo non diventare , noi europei, francesi , italiani, tedeschi, britannici, dei piccoli comprimari o una colonia americana, dobbiamo unirci come europei, federarci economicamente e culturalmente. All'epoca l'UE era lontana...
February 27, 2021
Pretty bad, hard to read
Read
December 13, 2022This book is old (published in the 60s i think). Shows how and why the American economic model despite its flaws has out innovated what is now the EU
November 25, 2024
Interesting. Going back in time to Europe in late 60’s to understand their position toward innovation and competing with the US.
Read
January 2, 2015El libro está sin firmar pero estoy seguro que lo he leído.
La edición es de 1.969 y en esa epoca yo no firmaba los libros que leía.
No recuerdo muy bien su contenido y solo puedo acordarme que se trataba de un ensayo comparando la pujanza americana con el discurrir un poco pasotista de la sociedad europea.
Creo que el tiempo le ha dado la razón al autor del libro, aunque posiblemente fuera bueno releerlo para tener una idea mas clara de lo que está tratando.
La edición es de 1.969 y en esa epoca yo no firmaba los libros que leía.
No recuerdo muy bien su contenido y solo puedo acordarme que se trataba de un ensayo comparando la pujanza americana con el discurrir un poco pasotista de la sociedad europea.
Creo que el tiempo le ha dado la razón al autor del libro, aunque posiblemente fuera bueno releerlo para tener una idea mas clara de lo que está tratando.
November 21, 2018
Este librazo lo pillé en el persa bio-bio a un precio ridículo ($2.000), libro que hasta el día de hoy, (publicado en 1967) sigue siendo el mayor éxito editorial de Francia en libros de ensayo político. Ese nivel.
El autor asume el rol de EE.UU como principal inversor y sostenedor tano de tecnologías e industrias en suelo europeo: “entre Estados Unidos y Europa se estaría llevando a cabo una guerra económica silenciosa en la que Europa estaría totalmente superada, tanto a nivel de los modernos métodos de gestión como en cuanto a equipamiento tecnológico y capacidad de investigación”, y desde ahí plantea su hipótesis de regular de manera adecuada su economía, y adaptarla a las necesidades reales de Francia, y de la misma forma, a las necesidades reales de cada país europeo. Plantea la importancia de aglomerarse en una entidad europea única (que luego se transformaría en la UE) y de propagar políticas sociales de alto impacto, así como también generar las condiciones apropiadas para que se produzca el desarrollo tecnológico postindustrial necesario para poder contrarrestar el poderío que ya en esos años preveían para el EE.UU de 1980. Fue un visionario absoluto: logró predecir la caída de Concorde, el triunfo de EE.UU en la carrera espacial, la caída de la URSS, y por sobre todo, la importancia que tendría la electrónica, la computación, los servicios, la investigación y la ciencia por sobre la producción e industrialización en bruto.
Librazo.
El autor asume el rol de EE.UU como principal inversor y sostenedor tano de tecnologías e industrias en suelo europeo: “entre Estados Unidos y Europa se estaría llevando a cabo una guerra económica silenciosa en la que Europa estaría totalmente superada, tanto a nivel de los modernos métodos de gestión como en cuanto a equipamiento tecnológico y capacidad de investigación”, y desde ahí plantea su hipótesis de regular de manera adecuada su economía, y adaptarla a las necesidades reales de Francia, y de la misma forma, a las necesidades reales de cada país europeo. Plantea la importancia de aglomerarse en una entidad europea única (que luego se transformaría en la UE) y de propagar políticas sociales de alto impacto, así como también generar las condiciones apropiadas para que se produzca el desarrollo tecnológico postindustrial necesario para poder contrarrestar el poderío que ya en esos años preveían para el EE.UU de 1980. Fue un visionario absoluto: logró predecir la caída de Concorde, el triunfo de EE.UU en la carrera espacial, la caída de la URSS, y por sobre todo, la importancia que tendría la electrónica, la computación, los servicios, la investigación y la ciencia por sobre la producción e industrialización en bruto.
Librazo.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews