I'm getting more and more into economics. Saw this book and it captured my interest. The book argues for Germany's economic decline. I found it interesting to learn more about Germany and some of its recent history.
I really disliked the author's writing. It's repetitive and dives into unnecessary politicians' details. I think that was added to boost the number of references. Speaking of which, I don't like them per chapter and not per sentence. It diminishes the credibility, as very few people would read all chapter references to find the sources.
The authors' opinion is biased in places and the book fails to argue some points well. And yes, the argument is usually one-sided and fails to explain and paint the full picture. It's easy to argue when the choice is made, but it's much harder to reason about the choice itself.
Speaking of a big picture. I'd like to see some suggestions or examples of how those issues were addressed in other countries. Just because things are bad, doesn't mean they could be much better given many external factors. That would give some perspective to the prediction.
The book was released last month in November 2024. I think the book won't age well and will become dated quickly. However, I think it can offer one perspective while it's fresh.