The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism

A sharp, unflinching examination of the myths that have shaped—and distorted—America’s role in the world. In this essential work, historian and former Army officer Andrew J. Bacevich traces how a culture of exceptionalism, endless consumption, and military overreach has pushed the United States toward a breaking point.

With clarity and moral force, Bacevich argues that America’s greatest challenges are not imposed from abroad but grown from within—habits of excess, illusions of limitless power, and a political system unable to confront its own contradictions.

For readers seeking to understand the deeper roots of America’s foreign policy crises, The Limits of Power offers a sober, compelling, and necessary reckoning. A vital addition for anyone drawn to contemporary history, political thought, or the shifting shape of American influence.