In the last hundred years, the international monetary system has collapsed three times, each time with drastic consequences such as war, unrest, and massive damage to the global economy. However, the next collapse will be unprecedented in human history. James Rickards explains why the anchor of the world economy, the American dollar, is in danger and why its downfall will drag all other currencies into an unprecedented catastrophe: currency wars, deflation, hyperinflation, market crashes, chaos. While the United States struggles to address its long-term problems, China, Russia, and the oil-rich nations of the Middle East are seeking an end to the hated hegemonic power. Yet Rickards also sees light at the end of the tunnel: "It is not too late to prepare. Nations and individuals who prepare will.".