Numerous column inches attest to the fact that the 21st century is “Asian”.

Since the juggernaut that is China emerged, western dominance of the global economy has begun to shift.

Now the largest economies hail from the Asia region; China, India and Japan.

This book factually documents how the global economic influence is tilting towards the east.

It explains how the West should accept this changing pattern as the shit, and trend, occurs. Even now the West seems more actively involved in influence through politics; still unable to overcome their centuries old imperialistic impulse.

In earlier centuries western countries dominated the Asian and Africa regions with their power; even smaller nations in the West have been able to dominate larger ones in Asia.

This book traces incidents of how the West’s involvement has not yielded the best result in conflict areas – where the West has miscalculated and thus consequently where it has been difficult for peace to take hold.

I have two key areas I find difficult to agree with Dr. Mahbubani on.

1. I don’t think it was the West who taught us to stand against feudalism and tyranny. Maybe they have shown us to stand up to it in an organized fashion, however it's the renaissance in Europe that lead towards the West standing against tyranny – by courtesy of Islamic invaders.

2. An assertion that’s made in the books is that the largest economies in Asia, China and India, had not invaded other countries, like the western countries. What China and Indian did were different in the sense that they annexed, or actively manipulated, territories close to them. Like China with Tibet and India when it comes to Nepal, while also paying total disregard to Sri Lanka; having crossed the nation’s territory by air five times without consent.

Dr. Mahbubani gives due credit to the West for making the world a better place – with the likes of the UN teaching us democracy and encouraging the eradication of deadly diseases.

This was an easy read. The Phrasing is light and everything is explained in 90 pages.

Those in diplomacy, development, politics and business will find this useful, if not insightful.