In this trenchant and provocative examination of the American way of empire, acclaimed author and historian Niall Ferguson ranges across the entire history of America's foreign entanglements, and delves into all the different dimensions of American power-military, economic, cultural, and political. The end result is a book whose conclusions are as convincing, and troubling, as they are original. Ferguson demonstrates that America has always been an empire in denial, and shows the fateful consequences of its special brand of imperialism. He also examines the challenges to the United States from its principal rivals for hegemony, the European Union and China, and-perhaps most importantly-offers a compelling analysis of the interconnection between the country's domestic economic health and its foreign affairs-the bottom line of imperialism, American style. "Colossus" is a peerless reckoning with American power that should be read by any thinking citizen of this unspoken empire.

Part I. Rise. The limits of the American empire -- The imperialism of anti-imperialism -- The civilization of clashes -- Splendid multilateralism / Part II. Fall? The case for liberal empire -- Going home or organizing hypocrisy -- "Impire": Europe between Brussels and Byzantium -- The closing door / Conclusion: looking homeward / Statistical appendix.