Clear and Present Safety
“This excellent and timely book refutes the lazy assumption that mongering fear and dread is necessary to prevent complacency and to spur reform. On the contrary, Michael Cohen and Micah Zenko show, the fact-free pessimism sown by journalists and politicians alike leads to reckless decisions and diverts resources from efforts that are bringing genuine good to the world. Cohen and Zenko make a strong case for an evidence-based look at the bright side, not to lift our moods (though that can be a happy by-product) but to realign our priorities.”
Steven Pinker, New York Times bestselling author
An eye-opening look at the history of national security fear-mongering in America and how it distracts citizens from the issues that really matter
What most frightens the average American? Terrorism. North Korea. Iran. But what if none of these are probable or consequential threats to America? What if the world today is safer, freer, wealthier, healthier, and better educated than ever before? What if the real dangers to Americans are noncommunicable diseases, gun violence, drug overdoses, and even hospital infections?
In this compelling look at what they call the "Threat‑Industrial Complex," Michael A. Cohen and Micah Zenko explain why politicians, policy analysts, academics, and journalists are misleading Americans about foreign threats and ignoring more serious national security challenges at home. Cohen and Zenko argue that we should ignore Washington's threat‑mongering and focus instead on furthering extraordinary global advances in human development and economic and political cooperation. At home, we should focus on that which actually harms us and undermines our quality of life: substandard schools and health care, inadequate infrastructure, gun violence, income inequality, and political paralysis.
Praise