Niall Ferguson has a strong predilection towards making many small points seem like they prove his broader arguments. They rarely do, and his books amount to imperialist propaganda, pushing for a greater likelihood that his fantasy of having the U.S. pick up the imperial torch from the UK will some day come true. Well Niall, with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, you got your wish. You were dead wrong. The book can be seen as a case for war in Iraq, even before 9/11. Check out the final chapter/last paragraphs. You were wrong, Niall. And you were wrong about the benefits the British Empire provided for the broader world.

Niall essentially tries to cover up the dark side of the British Empire, making a new imperialism seem like it might be useful...and fun. Readers wanting to get something more than old 19th-century assumptions repackaged for the 21st century need to look elsewhere. His numbers hide disgusting unreformed racism and brutal imperial violence. He downplays the negatives, and creates the impression that the world needs more American-style imperialism. Iraq. Good call.

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