American dominance over technology and electronics is slipping, the product of a complacent federal government and misguided business practices. At least that's the thesis of a new book, "Winner Take All: How Competitiveness Shapes the Fate of Nations," by Silicon Valley executive Richard J. Elkus Jr.

Elkus maintains that the United States has given up its leadership in numerous markets and technologies, and has lost its competitive edge. The biggest threat, he says, is Asia. He calls for a national competitiveness strategy singling certain technologies as crucial to the nation's future, and championed by the President and by industry. His model is former President John F. Kennedy's 1960s pledge to put a man on the moon. BusinessWeek calls the book "timely," and adds, "The next President must envision a better future and inspire the nation to make the sacrifices and investments to achieve it. Elkus' book provides a blueprint for getting started." The book raises some important issues, and there is no doubt that leadership and innovation in technology is certainly crucial to America's economic future.The book may well be worth the read. - Judi

For the more on this book:
- see this businessweek.com article