Why America Is Not A New Rome by Vaclav Smil

This book presents a detailed comparison between the United States and ancient Rome, debunking the popular notion that America is following the same trajectory as the Roman Empire towards decline and fall. The author meticulously examines various dimensions including military power, political systems, social structures, and economic dynamics to highlight the fundamental differences between the two entities. Through a rigorous analysis, it is argued that simplistic analogies between Rome and the United States overlook significant dissimilarities, particularly in terms of resilience, adaptability, and global influence, ultimately making the case that America's path is distinct from that of ancient Rome.

The 9212th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 69

Since this book was first published in 2010, there is a penalty of 57.6%. The age adjusted score is 29.26.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.