The Measure of a Nation

""Friedman presents a thorough, unbiased analysis of how America compares with the rest of the developed world in health, safety, education, democracy, and other quality-of-life indicators. It's a must-read for anyone interested in seeing their country achieve greatness.”-Steven Hill, Author of Europe's Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Way in an Insecure Age “An eye-opening and revealing analysis of what America needs to do to remain great. This fact-based examination is grounded in unbiased data.”-Rom Brafman, Coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior“This book is a wake-up call to anyone who wishes our country to prosper.”-Paul Pierson, Professor of political science, University of California, Berkeley, and coauthor of Winner-Take-All Politics“A thorough assessment of how the United States stacks up in comparison with other affluent democracies, Measure of a Nation provides a sober picture of today and a wealth of evidence and ideas to contribute to a brighter tomorrow. Studying the successes, as well as the failures, of America's ‘peer nations' can give us fresh ideas for the social and economic challenges of the twenty-first century.”-Sarah Burd-Sharps, Coauthor of the Measure of America series and codirector of the American Human Development Project“A persuasive and pointed analysis that holds up a mirror to America's entrenched interests and capacity for self-deception. It exposes directly how much error and plain falsehood is found in current political and media discourse on matters of fundamental importance.”-Ambassador Richard Butler, Distinguished Scholar of International Peace and Security, Pennsylvania State University “Friedman has assembled a provocative set of data that will help policy makers, business leaders, and others interested in America's future better understand America's relative strengths and weaknesses. I hope Friedman's analysis will spark a clear-eyed, less ideological conversation about the many policy choices that lay ahead.”-Peter Schnall, Chief risk officer, Capital One“[T]his book is not just another one of hundreds of books making recommendations about what the U.S. should be doing. … Friedman explains clearly and convincingly, writes engagingly and laces his text with personal examples. … Friedman's recommendations are specific and feasible. …it's thought-provoking, and good reading.” --Jared Diamond, author of The World Until Yesterday; Guns, Germs, and Steel; and Collapse