Since the financial collapse in 2008, Americans have become accustomed to hearing grim news about the state of the economy. First it was the financial meltdown, followed by massive bailouts to the banks, a housing foreclosure crisis, high unemployment rates, and now a prolonged period of economic recovery. On the international stage, there are worries that America may soon be overtaken by emerging markets like China. But author and economics editor Daniel Gross has a more optimistic take. In his new book, “Better, Stronger, Faster: The Myth of American Decline and the Rise of a New Economy,” Gross argues that the country’s initial reaction to the economic hardships have paved the way for a brighter, stronger future.