After the Fall: Being American in the World We've Made

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In 2017, as Ben Rhodes assisted former president Barack Obama in transitioning to a new chapter, the legacy they built over eight years was under threat. To grasp the unfolding situation in the U.S., Rhodes turned his gaze outward to the global landscape. Over the next three years, he journeyed to numerous countries, engaging with politicians, dissidents, and activists facing similar challenges that led to the Trump presidency: rampant nationalism, authoritarianism, and disinformation. His travels included encounters with former Mossad operatives and Chinese spies, meetings with Hong Kong protesters and Russian opposition figures, and discussions with individuals worldwide grappling with their identities amid their leaders' crude nationalism—all while seeking effective strategies to resist these trends. Blending memoir and reporting, this work is an ambitious exploration. Rhodes contemplates how the 2008 financial crisis eroded public trust in America, globalization, and democracy, paving the way for strongman leaders like Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. He examines how the desire for identity and belonging has been exploited by nationalists and learns from a diverse array of figures—from Obama to activists—about crafting a more hopeful narrative for the future.