Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance--and Why They Fall

In this sweeping history, bestselling author Amy Chua explains how globally dominant empires-or hyperpowers-rise and why they fall. In a series of brilliant chapter-length studies, she examines the most powerful cultures in history-from the ancient empires of Persia and China to the recent global empires of England and the United States-and reveals the reasons behind their success, as well as the roots of their ultimate demise.

Chua's analysis uncovers a fascinating historical pattern: while...