The World's Worst Bet
How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (and What Would Make It Right)
PublicAffairs · Print & ebook · September 9, 2025
“A singularly—thrillingly—persuasive chronicle of globalization’s spectacular rise and fall.” ―Evan Osnos, National Book Award–winning author of Age of Ambition The triumphant globalization that began in the 1990s has given way to a world riven by conflict, populism, and economic nationalism.
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- Who it’s for
- A layered look at where the globalization gamble went wrong, and what repair might look like.
- Genres
- Globalization, Trade & Tariffs
- Published
- PublicAffairs, September 9, 2025
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“A singularly—thrillingly—persuasive chronicle of globalization’s spectacular rise and fall.” ―Evan Osnos, National Book Award–winning author of Age of Ambition The triumphant globalization that began in the 1990s has given way to a world riven by conflict, populism, and economic nationalism. In The World’s Worst Bet, David J. Lynch offers a trenchant, fast-paced narrative of the rise and fall of the greatest engine of prosperity the world has ever known.
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Lynch explains what went right, what went wrong, and what needs to change to preserve the benefits of global integration and to build prosperity for all Americans. Lynch brings a deep understanding of the forces affecting Americans’ lives to his portrayal of a fascinating cast of characters: presidents and policymakers; factory workers whose anger over lost jobs reshaped a nation’s politics; and the anti-globalization warriors of the right and left. Their stories show how the United States made a bad bet on globalization, gambling that it could enjoy its benefits while ignoring its costs: dislocated workers, vulnerable supply chains, and the rise of a powerful rival. With trillions of dollars now at stake, The World’s Worst Bet explains the failings of the past and offers an insightful guide to the opportunities of the future.
The Globalization Bet
A layered look at where the globalization gamble went wrong, and what repair might look like.
Come here for
- globalization as a live policy argument
- trade, tariffs, and world politics in one frame
Expect
- policy critique with classroom use
- big-picture framing over tidy certainty
Where it sits
| Globalization | 70% |
|---|---|
| Trade & Tariffs | 26% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Economic Trends
- Globalization
- Political Economy
- Authors
- David J Lynch
- Publisher
- PublicAffairs
- Published
- September 9, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Economic Trends