The Jungle Grows Back

America and Our Imperiled World

By: Robert Kagan

Narrated by: Jason Culp

Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

"An incisive, elegantly written, new book about America’s unique role in the world." (Tom Friedman, The New York Times)

A brilliant and visionary argument for America's role as an enforcer of peace and order throughout the world - and what is likely to happen if we withdraw and focus our attention inward.

Recent years have brought deeply disturbing developments around the globe. American sentiment seems to be leaning increasingly toward withdrawal in the face of such disarray. In this powerful, urgent essay, Robert Kagan elucidates the reasons why American withdrawal would be the worst possible response, based as it is on a fundamental and dangerous misreading of the world.

Like a jungle that keeps growing back after being cut down, the world has always been full of dangerous actors who, left unchecked, possess the desire and ability to make things worse. Kagan makes clear how the "realist" impulse to recognize our limitations and focus on our failures misunderstands the essential role America has played for decades in keeping the world's worst instability in check. A true realism, he argues, is based on the understanding that the historical norm has always been toward chaos - that the jungle will grow back, if we let it.

©2018 Robert Kagan (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A devastating riposte to [Trump's] careless, cynical and destructive approach to diplomacy.... [Kagan] is right to detect a crisis of confidence in the democratic world. He sets out his case with characteristic brilliance and conviction." (The Economist)

"[S]o important... In clear and forceful language, [The Jungle Grows Back] makes the case for America continuing its role as the guarantor of a liberal world order." (Eli Lake, Bloomberg)

"The Jungle Grows Back displays the characteristic Kagan virtues of lucid writing and thought - and a strong sense of history that adds drama and sweep to his argument." (Gideon Rachman, The Financial Times)

Worth listening

A good perspective on about America actions on the world stage has impacted the past and present.

Dr. Sereseres option

I picked up this book after a professor at my uni was reading it. I believe it was in preparation for a U.S. upcoming foreign policy course. I truly enjoyed this book, tons of great information and new perspectives that I haven’t seen before. Would recommend!

The Jungle does Grow Back

This is an important look at the state of the world order under which we all live. is a historical informed view that everyone should read/hear.

Excellent review of US foreign policy choices

In his excellent review of US foreign policy choices, Kagan cautions against overweighting the preference for an “error free” foreign policy as an unrealistic and potentially dangerous self deception.

Balanced and thought-provoking

This is quite a considered narrative of the current state of geopolitics which also provides deep insights into the decades preceding WW2.
This audiobook has opened my eyes to the pivot role America has played in securing a prosperous second-half Twentieth century.

Evidence based history

Helps to understand how everything in conflict during all human history relates to every nation and Kingdom, describes how our sinful nature corrupts even free societies into lawleness and disorder that lead to conflicts and wars. When justice don't act then chaos reigns.

History of US foreign policy for dummies

This is a quick read, but it was tremendously edicational for someone like me who knew little to nothing about the history of American foreign policy. This book helps explain how the current world order came to be and the differing schools of thought that the US has to consider when figuring out its role in the geopolitical landscape of today.

Out of date: covid, Trump nobel nominations etc

DEMOGRAPHICS! China is demographically evaporating because one child policy. Reed Beter Zehan: only USA has healthy demographics.

The author worries over the constitution. I remind him a lower judge in Hawaii siezed American immigration policy (Trump was upheld). Further, the author seems indifferent to the de-industrialization of the Great Lakes Region. Perhaps the author is a 'global cosmopolitan' who routinely flies over WI, MI, OH, and PA etc? Just asking.