2034: A Novel of the Next War

Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis, 2021 Date Read: 4/14/22

So, I've just ordered a battery-operated radio from Amazon so when major US cities get nuked and the internet is cut off, we can get emergency notifications.

This book scared me, as you can guess. Essentially, this is like if John Grishman or Tom Clancy could write. A war novel. But it is based in the year 2034 (if you didn't guess already) which, if you do basic math, you know is only 12 years in the future. One of the authors is a retired US Admiral. He's projected what he knows about the world today into the future - only 3 presidential administrations - and demonstrated quite clearly that the America we think we are no longer exists.

I know this, of course. My husband is European. I know the reality of the world. The America we were at the end of WWII doesn't exist anymore. Like Athens, like Rome, like England - our Empire days are over.

America is now like my Uncle Bob was. In high school he was the football star, the Quarterback. But he got old and out of shape and smoked too much. He was no longer fit, he was no longer the biggest star on the block. But he still thought he was. That's America today.

I think this was a good read, though not enjoyable (as an American, I found it frightening and likely prescient). This one came from the recommendations of Azar Nafisi in Read Dangerously and I get why.

Length: 302 pages (hardback)

Rereadability: it's scary lol but I saw that it is listed as Book 1 and I would like to read more if they are written

Classic: it's new so I'm not sure. I suppose that will depend on how accurate it ends up being.