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The Titanium Economy: How Industrial Technology Can Create a Better, Faster, Stronger America
A Wall Street Journal bestseller
The future of the American economy is hiding in an unlikely the manufacturing sector
While Silicon Valley titans dominate headlines, many of the fastest-growing, most profitable companies in the United States are firms you’ve likely never heard of, such as HEICO, Trex, and Casella. These booming companies belong to a burgeoning sector—industrial tech—that offers surprising hope to workers, consumers, and investors alike.
Their to make a range of products—aerospace parts, for example, or recycled plastic lumber—that quietly form the backbone of America’s biggest industries.
In an age of instability, industrial tech is a cornerstone of our economic future. In this book, McKinsey veterans Asutosh Padhi, Gaurav Batra, and Nick Santhanam reveal the “titanium economy,” a modern, reinvented industrial sector complete with high-paying, domestic jobs;, soaring stock prices;, and critical infrastructure. They dispel the myth that the best of American manufacturing is behind us and illuminate an opportunity for a brighter future—if we can seize it.
The future of the American economy is hiding in an unlikely the manufacturing sector
While Silicon Valley titans dominate headlines, many of the fastest-growing, most profitable companies in the United States are firms you’ve likely never heard of, such as HEICO, Trex, and Casella. These booming companies belong to a burgeoning sector—industrial tech—that offers surprising hope to workers, consumers, and investors alike.
Their to make a range of products—aerospace parts, for example, or recycled plastic lumber—that quietly form the backbone of America’s biggest industries.
In an age of instability, industrial tech is a cornerstone of our economic future. In this book, McKinsey veterans Asutosh Padhi, Gaurav Batra, and Nick Santhanam reveal the “titanium economy,” a modern, reinvented industrial sector complete with high-paying, domestic jobs;, soaring stock prices;, and critical infrastructure. They dispel the myth that the best of American manufacturing is behind us and illuminate an opportunity for a brighter future—if we can seize it.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2022
11 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 9, 2022
My review is of the first chapter of this book because that is where I gave up on it.
My synopsis, “let’s make the industrial sector of our economy dependent on a government controlled R&D process like they’re doing in Germany, South Korea and Singapore!”
Perhaps I’d have been surprised if I continued on, but, this book seems to be mostly hype with little genuine research support. Adam Smith argued convincingly close to 250 years ago that government intervention rarely achieves its goals in the economy, but apparently many have yet to learn and continually yearn to leap back on the horse as if academics and politicians know better than the business people themselves.
If you were drawn to this book’s catchy title and haven’t yet read Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom, pick up the latter and don’t waste your time here. As for McKinsey, I highly recommend every employee drop what they’re doing and pick up a copy of Vivek Ramaswamy’s Woke, Inc. it’s time to dismantle the cool-aid vending machine and get back to the pursuit of genuine value.
My synopsis, “let’s make the industrial sector of our economy dependent on a government controlled R&D process like they’re doing in Germany, South Korea and Singapore!”
Perhaps I’d have been surprised if I continued on, but, this book seems to be mostly hype with little genuine research support. Adam Smith argued convincingly close to 250 years ago that government intervention rarely achieves its goals in the economy, but apparently many have yet to learn and continually yearn to leap back on the horse as if academics and politicians know better than the business people themselves.
If you were drawn to this book’s catchy title and haven’t yet read Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom, pick up the latter and don’t waste your time here. As for McKinsey, I highly recommend every employee drop what they’re doing and pick up a copy of Vivek Ramaswamy’s Woke, Inc. it’s time to dismantle the cool-aid vending machine and get back to the pursuit of genuine value.
March 21, 2023
A good book on the attributes of 21st-century automation and manufacturing.
It's the innovation on America's factory floors, not in your car or smartphone, that offers the best opportunities for investors, America's defense, sustainability, workers and America's overall greatness.
Here Is What I'm Thinking (HWIT)
The authors are right. We are on the verge of another industrial revolution, and at this critical time, America has to step up to retain and increase its edge. The Milwaukee region is well situated to take advantage of the new Titanium Economy. We have more manufacturing per capita than any other state. We also have leaders in automation, including, but not limited to, Rockwell Automation and Johnson Controls. We have the nation's best tech colleges and premier engineering schools like MSOE, UWM, Marquette and Carroll University.
It's the innovation on America's factory floors, not in your car or smartphone, that offers the best opportunities for investors, America's defense, sustainability, workers and America's overall greatness.
Here Is What I'm Thinking (HWIT)
The authors are right. We are on the verge of another industrial revolution, and at this critical time, America has to step up to retain and increase its edge. The Milwaukee region is well situated to take advantage of the new Titanium Economy. We have more manufacturing per capita than any other state. We also have leaders in automation, including, but not limited to, Rockwell Automation and Johnson Controls. We have the nation's best tech colleges and premier engineering schools like MSOE, UWM, Marquette and Carroll University.
December 23, 2022
Well written book. The authors have followed a pattern taking up good examples across several industries and explaining how we use their products in our day to day lives wherever applicable. With less than 63% workforce participation and faltering economy, I am not totally convinced by their argument that US manufacturing is thriving; however, I do see their point that manufacturing does not just mean building cars or equipments.
February 23, 2023
Interesting read. Improves my confidence that we can rebuild manufacturing in the U.S through adoption of more technology innovation in our operations and product improvement. Toughest part will be drawing young talent into industrial space rather than the high-tech companies.
April 2, 2023
Kinda like "The millionaire next door". Thriving businesses, driving economic growth and gdp, may not be the glossier companies making the news. Firms in waste management and recycling... Firms that make equipment for pumping cold peanut butter into jars...
April 20, 2023
This book covers the "Titanium Economy", a phrase I think the author made up entirely. Each chapter covers a different slice and different companies, many of which I've never heard of. I think it's an alright book overall, kinda short, and you quickly get the gist of things.
January 22, 2023
Books like this help me find new companies to invest in. They’ll never be talked about on CNBC or written up in WSJ, yet they compound and are underappreciated. Great book.
February 15, 2024
The author does a great job by bringing up under the radar industrial companies but there is lack of insight and details into why they are so successful.
May 19, 2024
Really disappointed, ended up functioning as an advertisement for a some publicly-traded companies
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April 9, 2025
It is a very interesting read with great stories. It made me rethink what I thought I knew about manufacturing.
September 17, 2025
I expected more
February 25, 2023
Great idea but the book suffers from disturbing difference in writing quality and style from one chapter to the next. Also, the conclusions are less for managers but more for policy makers. The actual research was a lot more insightful and the mostly anecdotal ‘evidence’ lacks concrete ideas for smaller companies. Overall, very high level but easy read on a very timely subject.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews