Whether in the USA, Asia, or Europe: The world is reorganizing itself. No one can foresee where it is headed during this phase of upheaval. This makes an author like Timothy Garton Ash all the more important, as he analyzes the significant, often contradictory movements of the last ten years. The crisis of the financial and economic system, shifting power dynamics between continents, fundamentalism, and the return of religion to the political arena—Garton Ash provides the first current assessment of the 21st century, which is essential for understanding the present. He illustrates how urgently we need thoughtful insights into how societies and global politics are being reshaped in times of rapid news.