Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World Summary | Fareed Zakaria

Life gets busy. Has Ten Lessons For a Post-Pandemic World been gathering dust on your bookshelf? Instead, pick up the key ideas now.

We’re scratching the surface here. If you don’t already have the book, order it here or get the audiobook for free on Amazon to learn the juicy details.

DISCLAIMER: This is an unofficial summary and analysis.

About Fareed Zakaria

Fareed Zakaria is an Indian-American author and journalist. He also works as a political commentator. He is the author of several books, including The Post-American World and In Defense Of A Liberal Education. Several of his books have been New York Best Sellers, and he has also won the National Magazine Award. Zakaria writes a column each week for The Washington Post and has worked as a columnist for Newsweek. He hosts CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS and has worked as an editor of Newsweek International and an editor at large of Time.

Zakaria has a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University and was born in India. He won the India Abroad Person of the Year in 2008. He holds honorary degrees from multiple universities, including the University of Miami and Johns Hopkins University. 

Introduction

Ten Lessons For a Post-Pandemic World foresees the nature of a post-pandemic world. It considers the upcoming political, social, technological, and economic consequences. In his ten “lessons,” Fareed Zakaria invites us to think about how we are social animals with community and cooperation embedded in our nature. He concludes by considering the degree to which nothing is written in stone and that the future is in our own hands.

StoryShot #1: The First Lesson is to Buckle Up

“Everyone is connected, but no one is in control. In other words, the world we live in is open, fast — and thus, almost by definition, unstable.”

— Fareed Zakaria.

Technology has advanced considerably over the last few decades, but instead of stopping and thinking about how to keep ourselves safe, we have continued to expand. Zakaria describes this as humans having built the fastest sports car ever imaginable. However, we are driving it into the unknown with no seatbelts on. We haven’t equipped any airbags, and we haven’t purchased any insurance. Driving this sports car makes us feel innovative, modern, and powerful, but we experience crashes along the way. These crashes are getting worse with time.

Despite these crashes, we still haven’t stopped to consider the safety precautions we need. Instead, we pull the vehicle over, tune up the suspension, and fix the engine. We continue to make our cars faster and faster, and yet we put ourselves in more profound danger. Zakaria believes the pandemic is an example of a massive crash. He quotes Larry Brilliant’s idea that “Outbreaks are inevitable but pandemics are optional.” We can’t stop the crashes, but we can control their impact. We should not continue our unsustainable expansion after the pandemic. Instead, we should use this as an opportunity to contemplate the necessary safety precautions. We need to buckle up.

StoryShot #2: The Second Lesson is to Improve the Quality of Government

America believed it was too powerful to collapse financially and politically, but the pandemic has proven us all wrong. Many people have started to associate COVID-19 with political polarization and economic dysfunction. Businesses are in turmoil and there are major debates on both sides about the best way to handle the situation. America may remain the most powerful nation for military personnel, but this means nothing if America’s lives are in danger. 

America is becoming more inward-looking and obsessed with being patriotic. It is missing the opportunity to influence world politics and stand at the forefront of innovation. Most of the world has regarded America as a beacon of knowledge for many years, but America now needs to learn from the rest of the world. It needs to improve the quality of its government and incorporate political stability. This allows it to protect its citizens and their quality of life.

StoryShot #3: The Third Lesson is That Markets Do Not Dictate Happiness

“You could choose to live in either America or Denmark. In high-tax Denmark, your disposable income after taxes and transfers would be around $15,000 lower than in the States. But in return for your higher tax bill, you would get universal health care (one with better outcomes than in the US), free education right up through the best graduate schools, worker retraining programs on which the state spends seventeen times more as a percentage of GDP than what is spent in America, as well as high-quality infrastructure, mass transit, and many beautiful public parks and other spaces. Danes also enjoy some 550 more hours of leisure time a year than Americans do. If the choice were put this way—you can take the extra $15,000 but have to work longer hours, take fewer vacation days, and fend for yourself on health care, education, retraining, and transport—I think most Americans would choose the Danish model.”

— Fareed Zakaria.

Zakaria accepts that markets with appropriate regulations ensure a relatively level playing field. However, the market performing well does not mean society is performing well. Currently, science, technology, and education in America lack crucial funding. Therefore, Zakaria suggests America needs to take a leaf out of the Nordic countries’ economic policies. This is the only way America can continue to compete with worldwide technological and economic development. America should continue to accept the importance of markets and understand that some fields need more support. This does not mean we should adopt a carbon copy of Denmark’s economic policies. Instead, America needs to adopt some of these foundations and apply them to America’s reality.

StoryShot #4: The Fourth Lesson is that Experts and People Need to Develop Mutual Respect

The pandemic and recent American elections have highlighted that people are starting to trust experts less. Part of the problem is that experts have become an elite group who develop power and authority based on their knowledge. Certain countries have pushed back against this elitism, including America and Brazil. This has led to governments built on celebrations of ignorance rather than knowledge. These governments form policies based on populism rather than facts. 

America and Brazil’s COVID-19 responses show that rejecting experts’ opinions does not produce good results. However, the responsibility also lies with the experts. Experts must learn to connect with people and avoid an elitist bubble. The most destructive thinking is believing that your success makes you superior in your society. After all, in democracies, at least, the wishes of the population are the ultimate source of authority. 

StoryShot #5: The Fifth Lesson is That The Digital World Is Here to Stay

“The movement to digital is fast and broad and real. But perhaps one of its deepest consequences will be to make us cherish the things in us that are most humans.”

— Fareed Zakaria.

The pandemic pushed us closer to our technology. It has encouraged people to consider the possibility of us becoming completely dependent on computers and artificial intelligence. However, Zakaria argues that we are already practically at this point. A phone in our pocket has greater access to information than any person could possess, and can solve complex tasks in nanoseconds. Many of our systems depend on technology. 

Despite this, Zakaria doesn’t believe we are at a stage where we mistake our technology for our friends. Instead, technology has the potential to make us value our human companions even more. The pandemic has highlighted that humans are more than problem solvers. Humans are brave, loyal, generous, faithful, and loving. At the moment, technology is none of these things.

StoryShot #6: The Sixth Lesson is That We Are Social Animals

Aristotle described humans as social animals. As humans, we built cities to socialize and help each other. Whether economic, social, or political, almost every significant movement in history began in cities. This was where the individuals responsible could organize and gather to become a force for change. Even though our cities have reached a standstill due to lockdown, the human hard-wiring to socialize will always remain. 

The lockdown has brought out many people’s tendencies to participate in more significant things than themselves. It has pulled together communities and inspired socialization and cooperation among neighbors. We have seen enormous acts of generosity, kindness, and empathy. We need this connectivity to remain after the pandemic.

StoryShot #7: The Seventh Lesson is That Inequality Will Get Worse

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted inequality within our society, and it has decreased it in some areas. The most obvious way inequality has narrowed is between the healthy and the ill. Many people who were used to being healthy all the time have crossed the divide and experienced severe illness. Subsequently, many people have changed their views of individuals who are often ill. This has helped form a better understanding of illness and increased empathy in society as a whole. 

However, pandemics generally make other inequalities more significant. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and reinforced the disparity between the rich and poor. Many who could not afford to stop working have been unable to isolate themselves, even if they are considered at-risk. The wealthier members of society have the luxury of isolating themselves correctly and in better conditions. Their working conditions are also likely to be pleasanter, with more work-from-home spaces and better equipment available. It is highly likely that we will have another pandemic in our lifetimes. Therefore, we need to learn how to keep everyone safe, including those who are poor, during a future pandemic.

“This should remind us to value the many people whose jobs do not generate huge incomes but are worthwhile, essential, even noble—from scholars and teachers to janitors and street cleaners. The market may not reward them, but we should respect them.”

— Fareed Zakaria.

StoryShot #8: The Eighth Lesson is That Globalization Is Not Dead

The new age of technology has connected all the world and created mass globalization. We are more interconnected than ever before, and our economies heavily depend on other economies. Although many countries talk of deglobalization and improved self-sufficiency, there are many areas where this isn’t currently feasible. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on trade and will continue to do so, it’s unlikely to end globalization.

However, Zakaria highlights that hard-edged realpolitik is still lurking. With the rise of China and growing tensions with America, a conflict could be around the corner. Therefore, although globalization has offered fantastic opportunities, it has the potential to create conflict based on economics.

StoryShot #9: The Ninth Lesson is That The World Is Becoming Bipolar

“America is, in its DNA, an anti-statist country. The Right comes at it by defunding government. The Left does it by encumbering it with so many rules and requirements that it has a similar dysfunctional effect.”

— Fareed Zakaria.

There are many divisions in our world, and these seem to be becoming stronger, both nationally and internationally. The US-China battle is a form of bipolarity. The two countries are different in many ways, and the sense of division is increasing. Both countries are striving for trade, technological, and political dominance. China has begun challenging the US for power. The US’s decline on the global stage has caused many forms of tension. Its poor approach to the COVID-19 pandemic increased these problems. Some experts are concerned about the potential for another Cold War.

We can see this same bipolarity across large parts of the world in various contexts. For example, the political divide between the right and the left is becoming starker in America and parts of Europe. Zakaria believes this bipolarity is inevitable. However, we can decide whether these differences in opinion lead to violence. This will require collaboration from the whole world, not only China and the US.

StoryShot #10: The Tenth Lesson is That Liberalism is Idealist

The movement worldwide toward liberalism has improved more people’s lives than any previous system. Zakaria believes the success of liberalism is not due to the expectation that the world will one day be perfect. Instead, liberalism is underpinned by idealism. Liberalism is simple and practical. If people cooperate, they will achieve better outcomes and more durable solutions than if they act alone. If nations avoid war, their citizens will live longer, more prosperous, and more secure lives. If they become economically intertwined, they can elevate the quality of life for all their citizens.

Although the connectedness of many countries allowed the pandemic to spread, it also brought advantages. The connectivity and ability to problem-solve at a global level had a huge impact. Our ability to distribute test kits, share medical knowledge, and develop solutions together saved countless lives. We need to build these collaborative techniques further and lean away from isolation and nationalism to combat future global threats.

Final Summary and Review of Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World

Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World aims to explore how the world could evolve. It looks at which problems we need to focus on before we get back in the racecar. The pandemic has highlighted many of the existing divides between people. These include medical, economic, social, and political divides. The world is becoming more bipolar, but we can challenge this by minimizing the inequalities. We can seek common ground and focus on cooperation. For example, we can use our social nature to connect more globally through the advancement of technology. This will allow individuals and experts to develop mutual respect. It will help societies tap into the knowledge that experts can offer.

Rating

We rate this book 4.3/5.

Editor’s Note

This article was first published in 2021. It was updated and improved in May 2022.

Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World PDF, Free Audiobook, and Animated Book Summary

Comment below and let others know what you have learned or if you have any other thoughts.

New to StoryShots? Get the audio and animated versions of this summary and hundreds of other bestselling nonfiction books in our free top-ranking app. It’s been featured by Apple, The Guardian, The UN, and Google as one of the world’s best reading and learning apps.

This was the tip of the iceberg. To dive into the details and support the author, order the book or get the audiobook for free on Amazon.

Related Book Summaries

Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark

Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari

21 Lessons For the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

AI Superpowers by Kai-Fu Lee

On Tyranny by Timothy D. Snyder

Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson

Factfulness by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Rönnlund

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

12 Rules For Life by Jordan Peterson

• Save