Breakneck - by Dan Wang
ISBN: 1324106034Date read: 2025-08-25
How strongly I recommend it: 7/10
(See my list of 430+ books, for more.)
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China is an engineering state, relentlessly pursuing megaprojects, while the United States has stalled because it’s transformed into a lawyerly society, reflexively blocking everything, good and bad.
my notes
I didn’t take notes, but the gist is:
(1) China is run by engineers. USA is run by lawyers. Therefore: China makes things and USA obstructs development.
(2) CCP is scared of its citizens so it takes an engineering approach to them, which is harmful when applied to people.
(3) China will thrive more if it stops fearing its people and gets out of their way.
(4) USA generally gets out of your way. Lawyers protect the wealthy so they can go make things without fear of being thwarted.