by Steven Grant

A review of Startup Nation by Dan Senor and Saul Singer

This book is about Israel’s “economic miracle,” and how much of it depends on the training Israeli citizens receive in the military. Everyone is required to do two years, and what they learn from it transfers effectively to the civilian world, considering that most all the people you see that are your age have been through the same thing.

The book shows how the military philosophies differ; the authoritative design of the United States and the questioning, authority challenging style that the Israeli military uses. In their version, it is ok for a low ranking person to ask their superior why they are being asked to do something. In our military, I personally know that this is the opposite. In ours, you do what you are told if a higher ranking person gives you an order. I think that their style has worked for them and ours for us.

Israel’s military has provided effective citizens who know how to get the job done, and more importantly, to think outside the box. The two guys that wrote the book have very biased positive feelings towards the country, but they make points about innovation that are hard to ignore. Anyone interested in global economic relations and competition should take a look.