Book Review: Manufacture Local

John Gardner, an entrepreneur with two decades of experience in American manufacturing, shares in his new book about America's future as a service economy and the hidden costs of the U.S. reliance on the service sector.

The book, "Manufacture Local: How to Make America the Manufacturing Superpower of the World," explores the question of, what happens when a nation loses its ability to produce the goods it relies on? Gardner's perspective sheds light on a crucial realization: when manufacturing declines, so too does middle-class job creation, wage growth and innovation. He argues that the service economy cannot function without the products of manufacturing, yet much of the country seems to have accepted this post-industrial fate without recognizing the risks.

Gardner explains the issue clearly: a barista cannot serve coffee without an espresso machine. A nurse cannot administer treatment without medicine. A realtor cannot sell a house until it is built. Many have become accustomed to thinking of services as the cornerstone of the modern economy, but services are nothing without production. If America continues to rely on other nations for critical goods, it risks becoming economically and strategically dependent. As Gardner warns, "postindustrial really means preindustrial," a dangerous regression for any country seeking to maintain its global standing.

A few critical insights Gardner shares include:

• The service sector pays lower wages and fosters less innovation than manufacturing, making it unsustainable for robust middle-class job growth.
• Global trade is driven by goods, not services-80% of world trade is in merchandise, meaning a service-based economy will struggle to compete on the global stage.
• National security and economic independence are at risk when a country can no longer produce its own goods and is vulnerable to supply chain disruptions from foreign adversaries.

In "Manufacture Local," Gardner discusses how a strong manufacturing base fuels innovation, economic security and national resilience. His book presents a call to action for policymakers and citizens alike to rethink the notion of a post-industrial America and to revalue local production.

The book is available on Amazon.