Forthepasteightdecades,wehavelivedin“theAmericanCentury“-aperiodduringwhichtheUShasenjoyedunrivalledpower-beitpolitical,economicormilitary-ontheglobalstage.Bornonthecuspofthisnewera,JosephS.NyeJr.hasspentalifetimeilluminatingourunderstandingofthechangingcontoursofAmericapowerandworldaffairs.Hismanybooksonthenatureofpowerandpoliticalleadershiphaverightlyearnedhimhisreputationasoneofthemostinfluentialinternationalrelationsscholarsintheworldtoday.Inthisdeeplypersonalbook,JosephNyeshareshisownjourneylivingthroughtheAmericancentury.FromhisearlyyearsgrowinguponafarminruralNewJerseytohistimeintheStateDepartment,PentagonandIntelligenceCommunityduringtheCarterandClintonadministrationswherehewitnessedAmericanpowerupclose,shapingpolicyonkeyissuessuchasnuclearproliferationandEastAsiansecurity.After9/11drewtheUSintowarsinIraqandAfghanistan,NyeremainedanastuteobserverandcriticoftheBush,ObamaandTrumppresidencies.TodayAmericanprimacymaybechanging,butheconcludeswithafaintrayofguardedoptimismaboutthefutureofhiscountryinaricherbutriskierworld.
