Earlier this fall, I read America’s Secret War by George Friedman, founder of Stratfor.com, and absolutely loved it—so much so that I bought it for my fellow blogger for Christmas. Meanwhile, Sir Younghusband was reading Tom Barnett’s The Pentagon’s New Map and sent me a copy for Christmas. This exchange took place at maximum convenience and minimal cost thanks to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.jp.

I think Sir Younghusband would agree with me that these two books have to be the must-reads of 2004. And they aren’t echos—both have a wholly unique viewpoint. Friedman is a neo-realist who puts the global struggle into stunning perspective, outlining the strategic goals, successes, and miscalculations of nation-states and transnational actors since the War on Terror began. Meanwhile, Barnett’s vision for the future is a tour de force hard-hitting take on how the US should utilize its military over the next few decades.

Robert D. Kaplan also had a book out this year, but it was a travel book, not a book on world politics. Neither of us have read Mediterranean Winter, but I for one look forward to his next book due in late 2005 on US Special Forces across the globe.

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