Breakneck by Dan Wang (2025)

I picked up Breakneck after reading a few excerpts online, drawn by Wang's reputation for cross-cultural analysis. The book delivers on that promise.

Wang offers a deep, objective, and nuanced view of the United States and China. He explores their similarities and differences in sensibilities and cultures with clear insights. He unpacks the attitudes, values, and policies that shape each government's actions. He also explains why and how citizens in both nations behave as they do.

Wang brings his own minor biases to the table—value judgments and occasional gaps in empathy for alternative viewpoints on citizen motivations. These are small flaws in an otherwise sharp work. On the positive side, his analysis of causal links between values, cultures, and resulting policies stands out. He connects the dots with precision.

The core thesis—that an engineering mindset defines all Chinese leadership and drives their policies, while a lawyer mindset shapes all American leaders and their decisions—holds up well. It simplifies complex systems but supports the argument with strong evidence. Wang weaves in the enduring bureaucracies of both governments effectively, showing how they reinforce these mindsets over time.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in global politics or cultural comparisons. It clarifies much without oversimplifying; 5/5 stars.