Winning the Long Competition: The Key to the Next American Century

by Alan Pentz

For the first time since the Space Race, the United States is facing a serious competitor with a plan to achieve technological dominance: China. Between China 2025 and the Belt and Road Initiative, it's become clear that the Chinese government is determined to capture the economic power that new technologies like AI, automation, 5G, and the cloud represent.

And with economic power comes military power, and then political power.

To win this competition, the US must return to the historical model it used to build the interstate highway system, put a man on the moon, and build the computer and the Internet—but has become an afterthought over the past few decades.

In Winning the Long Competition, Alan Pentz lays out a roadmap for increasing our investment and innovation in core areas. He shows government managers where to invest and points innovators to areas where the funding will be plentiful. As we move into the next American century, the only way forward is to harness all the resources and creativity of both our public and private sectors.

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2020

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly easy to digest, the author walks readers through the historical competition between the US and China, to where both economies stand today. Ultimately, Pentz proposes incredibly smart strategies for the US government and private sector to implement, in order to get ahead in the 'long competition' with China. Would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject matter.

[Marshal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved this as an ARC from Goodreads and finished it rather quickly. Was an easy read, informative, and made many good points. Basically outlines the rise of China's technological might and it's threat to American dominance. I feel this is all pretty easy to comprehend and understand without the need of a book. The expression "stating the obvious" comes to mind.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a clear and concise overview of American's history of innovation and technical leadership and what the country needs to do if it doesn't want to be superseded by other nations.

[Lucille Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and nuanced take on how to restore American innovation in the face of Chinese competition. Thoughtful and historically informed.

[Megan Hoffmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent overview of 5G. No finite detail about PRC goals/capes WRT broadband, but does provide investment ideas and incentives for gov-to-private-sector enterprise.

[Megan McSherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

good comparison of innovation in the us & china and how the us can be more competitive (combining private sector & gov funding to become best at r&d)

quick read and very easy to understand