 I'm Levi Tilliman, author of The Great Race. The Great Race is a story about the past, present, and future of the world's largest manufacturing economy. It's a story about innovators, entrepreneurs, politicians, and dreamers, women and men with an unquenchable desire to change the world and the way we move. It's also a story about the global economy and a contest between nations for markets, technology, fortunes, and leadership. And it takes place amidst the watershed events of our times. The Great Recession, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and China's emergence as a global economic power. This book is propelled forward by a cast of unforgettable characters. Some of them are international superstars. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a missionary for the Humvee before turning into a staunch advocate for California's electric cars. Elon Musk served as the inspiration for Tony Stark in Hollywood's Iron Man movies before turning Tesla and SpaceX into international icons. History has shown that government has an important role to play in spurring innovation, promoting economic growth, and also ensuring that socially beneficial advances are rewarded. California showed how a plucky group of regulators and technologists were able to accomplish this and became the driving force for innovation in the global automotive economy. The Great Race is a gripping and illuminating story. It's a winding steeple chase through the annals of the world's three largest economies. It also tells us something about how to plan better for the future. It's about us, who we are, how we'll move, how we'll drive, how we'll work, and the kind of world we'll leave for our children. It's quite a ride, and I hope you'll join me for it.