Best Political Trades and Tariffs Books of 2025

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan is a New York Times Bestseller that maps out the collapse of globalization and the next world. Zeihan suggests that countries or regions will have no choice but to make their own goods, grow their own food, secure their own energy, fight their own battles, and do it all with populations that are both shrinking and aging. This book is an illuminating and a bit terrifying ride, packed with foresight, wit, and Zeihan's trademark irreverence. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of our interconnected world.

The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter by Shannon K. O’Neil is a thought-provoking book that challenges the conventional wisdom about globalization. O’Neil argues that regionalization, not globalization, has been the biggest economic trend of the past forty years. She details the rise of three major regional hubs in Asia, Europe, and North America and explains how current technological, demographic, and geopolitical trends look only to deepen these regional ties. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in international economics and the urgent implications of regionalization for the United States.

The Decisive Decade by Dr. Jonathan D.T. Ward provides a comprehensive framework for the United States to defeat China on the world stage. The book offers practical strategies in the economic, diplomatic, military, and ideological arenas that can be utilized by the government, businesses, and citizens. Ward's expert analysis of the history of US-China relations and insight into the Russia-Ukrainian war make this book unique. The book is cautionary and optimistic, showing a path for America and the Free World to win the contest with China. Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in international diplomacy and the future of global power.

The book "Trade Wars Are Class Wars" by Matthew C. Klein and Michael Pettis provides a thought-provoking challenge to mainstream views on trade disputes. The authors trace the origins of today's trade wars to decisions made by politicians and business leaders in China, Europe, and the United States over the past thirty years. The book argues that rising inequality and class wars are a threat to the global economy and international peace. The authors' insights into the history of trade and finance are worth reading. Overall, this book is an important and unique contribution to the understanding of the global economy.

Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel is a captivating and insightful book that takes readers on a journey through the drug trade and its 250 million customers. From the Andean cocaine fields to the online drug dens of the Dark Web, Tom Wainwright offers a fresh and innovative look into this exotic and brutal industry. Not only does he investigate how drug cartels do business, but he also provides a blueprint for how to defeat them. Narconomics is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the inner workings of the illegal drug trade and how to combat it.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is a gripping exposé of international corruption and its impact on America's military buildup, environmental impact, and foreign policy. Author John Perkins takes readers behind the scenes of the current geopolitical crisis and offers bold solutions to our most pressing problems. Drawing on interviews with other EHMs, CIA operatives, and activists, Perkins reveals a conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anti-Americanism around the globe. Highly recommended for those interested in business, politics, and global affairs.

Wireless Wars: China's Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We're Fighting Back is an eye-opening account of how China has come to dominate the 5G market and the potential risks associated with it. Author Jon Pelson draws on his extensive experience in the telecommunications industry to reveal how China has managed to undercut and destroy competing equipment makers, and purchase the support of leading political, business, and military figures in their effort to control rival nations' networks. He also offers insights into how innovative companies can take on the Chinese threat and work with counterintelligence and cybersecurity experts to prevent China from closing the trap. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the security of our nation's networks and the impact of 5G on businesses and national security.

The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy is an insightful book that takes readers on a journey tracing the life of a T-shirt from a Texas cotton field to a Chinese factory and back to a U.S. storefront before arriving at the used clothing market in Africa. The book explores the political and economic forces at work in the global economy while addressing complex issues related to globalization, trade, economics, ethics, and the impact of history on today's business landscape. The revised preface and new epilogue with updates through 2014 make this second edition a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of international trade and business.

Backfire: How Sanctions Reshape the World Against U.S. Interests by Agathe Demarais is a timely and insightful book that explores the unintended consequences of using sanctions as a foreign policy tool. The author draws on interviews with experts, policy makers, and people in sanctioned countries to reveal how sanctions impact multinational companies, governments, and millions of people around the world. Demarais argues that sanctions often fail to achieve their intended goals and can even harm American interests. This eye-opening book provides a counterintuitive perspective on how sanctions are transforming geopolitics, diminishing U.S. influence, and pushing countries closer to Russia and China. A must-read for anyone interested in international economics and foreign policy.

Has China Won? explores the defining geopolitical contest of the twenty-first century between China and the US. The author, Kishore Mahbubani, a diplomat and scholar with unrivalled access to policymakers in Beijing and Washington, provides a clear-eyed assessment of the risk of any confrontation and a bracingly honest appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of both superpowers. Mahbubani's astringent advice may be unwelcome to Americans, but he suggests casting away illusions about eternal U.S. primacy and exceptional virtue. Instead, he proposes a long-term international strategy anchored in balance and cooperation. Overall, this book is a must-read for those interested in international diplomacy and the future of global power dynamics.