Us vs. Them by Ian Bremmer Summary
Overview of Us vs. Them
In "Us vs. Them," Ian Bremmer dissects how globalism's broken promises fuel today's polarization. Why are tech CEOs studying this book? Because it predicted our fractured world before it happened - and offers solutions when most experts only see chaos.
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Key takeaways
When Throwing Rocks Becomes the Only Language Left
A young Palestinian stands before Israeli soldiers, a rock in his hand. He knows this stone won't change anything. He knows the risk. But when every legitimate channel for being heard has closed, when your existence itself feels erased, that rock becomes a voice. Now look around. Rust belt factory workers who voted for Trump, French citizens donning yellow vests, Brexit supporters reclaiming sovereignty-they're all throwing metaphorical rocks at a system that stopped listening. This isn't happening in isolated pockets. It's a global uprising against the very forces that promised to unite us. When globalization swept across the world, it came with dazzling promises: prosperity through connection, progress through open borders, wealth through free trade. And for many, those promises materialized. Billions in China and India rose from poverty. Technology connected distant corners of the planet. Yet simultaneously, something darker emerged. Factory towns in Ohio became ghost communities. European workers watched jobs migrate eastward. The speed of change outpaced people's ability to adapt, and the elites engineering this transformation consistently dismissed the human wreckage left behind. The 2008 financial crisis crystallized this betrayal-bankers received bailouts while homeowners faced foreclosure. The message became unmistakable: the system serves those at the top.
The Great Unraveling of Shared Prosperity
The Automation Reckoning Nobody's Prepared For
When Identity Becomes the Battlefield
Building Walls in a Borderless World
Rewriting the Rules Before It's Too Late
The Choice That Defines Our Future
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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