By: P. W. Singer, August Cole
Narrated by: Rich Orlow
Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins

This was an interesting read—not quite what I expected. One of the hardest parts for me was the portrayal of the Zumwalt-class destroyer. I’ve followed its real-world development, deployment, and costly decline, so seeing it elevated to heroic status in the book felt unrealistic. Reconciling its fictional capabilities with its actual limitations was a challenge.

The book’s statements on geopolitics and macroeconomics were enjoyable but struck me as implausible, especially given the current state of Xi Jinping’s China. This is where my appreciation for Tom Clancy’s work stands out—his knack for prescience and crafting plausible futures sets a high bar that I didn’t feel was met here. Still, the ideas presented were engaging, even if they required more suspension of disbelief than I anticipated.

Once I accepted the premise, I found the story more enjoyable. The other elements were decent, though the ending felt abrupt—just as I was really getting into it, the story reached its conclusion. While the multiple storylines were wrapped up satisfactorily, I couldn’t help feeling unsatisfied with how we got there. I kept wanting more, though I’m not sure if that “more” would have added fulfillment or just highlighted other shortcomings.

Overall, it’s a decent book but not an excellent one. The phrase status quo ante bellum comes to mind—it leaves things in a state of balance but without a sense of resolution or fulfillment.