America Second

A timely, provocative expose of our political and business leadership's deep ties to China: a network of people who believe they are doing the right thing-at a great often hidden cost to our society.

The past few years have seen a shift in the relations between China and the United States, from enthusiastic economic partners to wary frenemies to open rivals. And China's successful handling of its pandemic will undoubtedly exacerbate this dynamic in the years to come.

In America Second, Isaac Stone Fish traces the evolution of this all-important relationship. He makes clear how America's leaders initially welcomed China's entry into the global economy, believing that trade and engagement would lead to a more democratic China. And he explains how, though this belief has proved misguided, our businesspeople and politicians have become too dependent on China to challenge them.

America Second exposes a deep web of Chinese influence in America, built quietly over the years through prominent figures from Henry Kissinger to Robert Iger, Hillary Clinton, and George H.W. Bush. It is a lucid, authoritative, and important story of good but misplaced intentions, with serious implications not only for the future of the United States, but for the world at large.