The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream

Editorial Reviews. From Publishers Weekly. As head of the Consumer Electronics Association, first time author Shapiro might be described as a high-tech.
Table of contents

I enjoyed this one. However, I think that it may be a little too late to implement some of the ideas presented here.


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I hope not, as implementing this program, even half of it, could restore American to the land of opportunity and entrepreneurialism. The Sarbanes-Oxley law has penalized investments in start-up businesses. That is a definite blow to innovation. The author also thinks that we should allow ANY company to fail! What would have happened if the government bailed out all the horse and buggy companies back in the day????

Students from around the world long to come to the US to study at our universities. However, once they are done, they are sent home, where they start up innovative new companies there, instead of here. He advocates more immigration, as immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to start businesses. A growth economy requires an expanding population. The fact that we have long ignored our aging infrastructure will make this impossible.

The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream

So corporations respond by keeping billions in cash and not returning it to the United States. Clean coal is the way to go, in my humble opinion as all that comes out of coal fired plants smokestacks is carbon dioxide, which the government wants you to think is NOT safe. I take issue with this. If we can get enough green power, clean coal is the next best alternative.

However, our current President has publicly stated that he will tax any new coal fired plant into bankruptcy! Definitely a good read! I hope that we can implement these strategies! Dec 17, Brad Dunn rated it it was ok. You know that republican friend you have who has an answer to every issue and non-issue currently facing the US?

Well, this is kind of a list of all those solutions, backed up by stats and studies. But, to make the book a little more neutral, he does hang just enough shit on the republicans to make it fairly objective. The intro by Cuban is the best part of the book. After that, you feel like you're at a dinner party with a terrible guest.

by Gary Shapiro

The problem of course is you read some of the studies a You know that republican friend you have who has an answer to every issue and non-issue currently facing the US? The problem of course is you read some of the studies and just know its bullshit. The number and data just doesn't add up. The fact there is also no conflicting or alternative views presented is also a little telling. When the facts start lacking credibility, the book gets a little challenging. For example, to illustrate how governments again, remember its Obama here poorly invest in bad companies, he uses the example of when the US government loaned a silly electric car company million dollars that was only producing 15 cars a year.

Well, that company was Tesla, and presumably this book was released before that company became the crown jewel in the US automative industry, and made a lot of money on wall street for everyone. Tesla has become the very example of innovation, the very subject of this book. A friend of mine once said to me, be careful looking for answers, because you just might find them. This is a book with all the answers. I just suspect some of them oversimplify, what are in some cases, very complicated problems. I liked this book because it was simple to read, the chapters were short, it was a layman's explanation of how to get the economy working again.

The author is the president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association and he draws many of his examples from his knowledge of that industry, which is helpful because that's the industry with which most Americans are familiar. Just as a contrast, in "The World is Curved" a much more complex read--by a Democrat there's a great chapter that addresses the protectionist reaction that occurs in a bad economy and a retreat from globalization.

Very indepth, good material. In "The Comeback" there's a chapter on Free Trade that discusses the same subject, with less detail, but in a coffee table, understandable fashion. This book is an easy, thought-provoking read. Nov 22, David Foreman rated it it was ok. There aren't many new ideas here about the role of innovation in the American economy. Conservatives will find a lot to reinforce their ideas about government, trade, and health care.

The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream

Most other folks will wonder about what is missing. I was disappointed that the only comments about education were 1 an attack on our public education system and the teachers unions and 2 a plea for automatic citizenship for all foreign citizens who obtain doctoral degrees at US universities. What about the edu There aren't many new ideas here about the role of innovation in the American economy. What about the educational role our colleges and universities play in training scientists and engineers?

What about the enormous government-supported basic research infrastructure in our research universities that lead to new ideas and new businesses? What about the arts? I was disappointed that these issues were not adequately addressed. As an entrepreneur I agree with about half of the ideas presented to encourage innovation.

The other half read like corporate favoritism. I understand Shapiro's point that the government cannot create jobs by overly hampering private enterprise, but many of the concessions would only favor large corporations and stockholders. Yes, somebody has to take the risk to get a profitable start-up going, but he focuses less on small business and its contribution to the economy than making the leap from s As an entrepreneur I agree with about half of the ideas presented to encourage innovation.

Yes, somebody has to take the risk to get a profitable start-up going, but he focuses less on small business and its contribution to the economy than making the leap from small business to burgeoning large business. Jun 25, Vincent rated it did not like it. This book is a vanity project Gary Shapiro, without much pretense of really being an interesting book. The book is filled with the legislative agenda of that trade association. Shapiro makes all the familiar arguments about why free trade will be great for Americans, etc.

And any sentence with the word "innovation" in it sounds good, even if the guy writing it has nothing new This book is a vanity project Gary Shapiro, without much pretense of really being an interesting book. And any sentence with the word "innovation" in it sounds good, even if the guy writing it has nothing new to say.

Nov 29, Matt Swaffer rated it liked it. This book is a relatively quick read and contains some interesting ideas. If you can get past some of the blatant bias in the book you will see there are really some well-balanced thoughts here with regard to innovation and how to stimulate not just innovation but the economy through innovation.

The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream (Unabridged) by Gary Shapiro on iTunes

Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. When the speeches ended and the entertainment hadn't yet begun, the top Chinese official at the event turned to Gary, pointed his thumb in the air and said in English "China going up. This book sets out to frame those problems by describing what America does best: Gary provides data and examples of the problems and then outlines some solutions for the problems in practical and political terms. During one of the first days I saw him moderate a forum with a number of high profile executives about the problems they see operating in the world and within the U.

It was an interesting global perspective and I figured this book would elaborate on that perspective. Gary sites some interesting statistics to backup his positions on fixing America. For example he believes foreign students, who come here to get the best college education in the world, should be given citizenship. He references a study that says people who immigrate to the U.

That's a pretty incredible figure. He also proposes that most of the students in America's top medical schools are foreign born and that we are dumb for forcing these bright minds to leave. We educate them and we should keep their talent. However most of the issues brought up aren't new. The majority of solutions he provides are middle of the road in political terms. He takes a typical business point of view to politics: In my opinion he greatly overuses the newest buzz word "Innovation".

Overall this book is a quick and interesting read but not earth shattering. Gary Shapiro uses common sense and non-partisan arguments to provide a framework on how our nation can resurge as a superpower. I agree with Mr. Shapiro's comments and full-heartedly believe that the only way to maintain our competitiveness and wealth is through private industry and innovation.

The Comeback is one of those rare looks at our political economy that is simultaneously well researched, balanced, engaging, educational and accessible to a wide range of audiences.

The author utilizes the totality of his deep and rich set of personal and business experiences, along with a number of well chosen historical examples and anecdotes, to illuminate the issues and put creative prescriptions on the table. When it comes to prescriptions, The Comeback provides the most comprehensive set of directions for policy makers and regulators, and also gives business leaders a playbook for pushing the offensive to create a better America, a more innovative America.

The narrative is infused with energy, stories and recognition of actors along the way who are making a difference. I would encourage you to read both. The publication of The Comeback by Gary Shapiro couldn't come at a more critical time in our nation's history. While our country "appears" to be on the road to an economic recovery, it's foundation and infrastructure remain in rapid decline as we grow our national debt beyond already perilous levels.

The Comeback underscores the importance of our nurturing an environment where entrepreneurship and innovation can not only thrive, but also enhance our welfare and standing in today's global economy. Through his long-standing position as CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association and its annual International Consumer Electronics Show, Shapiro has had a cat-bird seat on how technology and innovation have improved our lives and productivity.

In The Comeback, Shapiro builds upon these experiences, laying out a roadmap of common sense recommendations that should be "must reading" by our government officials and policy makers, tackling such challenges as reducing our deficit, empowering small businesses, promoting greater emphasis on math and science education, relaxing immigration restrictions on scientists and engineers, reallocating U. While one may not agree with every one of Shapiro's recommendations, each of these issues must be tackled as soon as possible, and Shapiro's views should at minimum help shape the debate and foster consensus solutions.

Delay simply is no longer an option. Like the automotive industry, the consumer electronics industry lives or dies by its ability to respond quickly to global markets and emerging consumer wants and needs. Gary Shapiro's treatise is an honest and personal appraisal of the opportunities facing US product designers and developers in responding to this challenge. Having worked with Gary over much of the past decade, I can personally attest to his consuming passion and detailed knowledge and understanding about what factors drives this key global 'wealth creating' industry.

Restoring the 'American Dream'

The continuing success and global standing of the annual CES trade show in Las Vegas remains an enduring testament to his personal commitment to the future growth of consumer electronics and ICT applications, underpinned by creative innovation. This book is well worth reading because it reflects the views not of a commentator, but of someone working at the 'coal face' of innovation in the US.

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