Business, Finance & Law Books

Book SynopsisMalcolm Hornby is a highly experienced HR consultant and a management trainer and a coach. He works with many companies and organisations, is a regular speaker at numerous meetings and conferences for both large and small corporations such as the CMI and CIPD, and has taught Human Resources as part of The Open University's MBA programme.Table of Contents About the author Introduction to the fourth edition 1 How to find your new job 2 How to make the most of your network 3 How to use e-mails and letters of application 4 How to write your CV 5 How to complete application forms and on-line applications 6 How to sell yourself 7 How to do your homework on the organisation and on the job 8 How to be a better listener 9 How to win the interview 10 How to create a positive image 11 How to give a great presentation 12 How to succeed in assessment centres 13 How to win in recruitment tests and evaluations 14 What if you didn’t get the job you want? 15 What if you DID get offered the job you want? Thank you - share these lessons with others Appendix 1: Sources of help for job hunters Appendix 2 Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisRobert Ashton is an entrepreneur, speaker and author. After being made redundant in 1990 he set up his own business and has never looked back. He now works with entrepreneurs of all kinds, advising growing businesses, social enterprises and evolving charities. This is his 15th book and as well as being a popular and entertaining business speaker and TV presenter, he also writes for a number of business magazines.   Robert would love to hear from you if you think he can help you become more successful. You can contact him at Robert@RobertAshton.co.uk visit his website at www.robertashton.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @robertashton1.Table of ContentsAbout the author Introduction to the second edition Introduction to the first edition How to use this book Part One: Before You Start 1. See your future as an entrepreneur – crystal clear 2. How to find your biggest business opportunity 3. How to be really sure your business idea will fly 4. Business type – what’s possible 5. Business structure - building in room to grow 6. Finding the perfect place – business premises 7. Starting up or taking over an existing enterprise Part Two: Planning To Succeed 8. How to write a convincing plan 9. Where to find the money you need 10. Advisers and mentors and why they’re important 11. Timing is everything – how to decide when to start Part Three: Finding Customers 12. Where to look for the best customers 13. How to develop the right brand and image 14. Marketing in a nutshell &nbs

Read more less

Book SynopsisGraham Yemm moved into consultancy after a career in the corporate arena which included several management positions. Graham now has his own business training company, Solutions 4 Training Ltd. www.solutions4training.com. He has been involved with developing and delivering a wide range of training programmes for clients in Europe, Russia, Malaysia and USA has run a variety of leadership, teambuilding and team working programmes, both in the UK and internationally. Table of ContentsPart 1 Planning Chapter 1 – Facing the challenges of leading your team Chapter 2 – What is a Team? Chapter 3 –Understanding of team roles and balance Chapter 4 – Your role as a leader Part 2 Doing it Chapter 5 – Setting the direction for your team: Chapter 6 – Monitoring and controlling performance: Chapter 7 – Communicating with your team: Chapter 8 – Getting the most from your team: Chapter 9 –Handling challenges within the team: Part 3 Reviewing it: the coaching part Chapter 10 – Pulling it all together

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents1 The practice of market and social research 2 Types of research 3 Defining the problem 4 Writing a research brief 5 Secondary research 6 Qualitative research 7 Quantitative research 8 Sampling 9 Designing questionnaires 10 Writing a research proposal 11 Doing qualitative research 12 Managing a research project 13 Analysing qualitative data 14 Understanding quantitative data 15 Analysing quantitative data 16 Communicating and reviewing the findings

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMarianne Abib-Pech is the Founder of Leaders! a leadership consulting firm operating in Europe and Asia.  She started her own leadership journey in Arthur Andersen and rose from analyst to Global CFO of Shell Aviation, a multi billion turnover business, in the short span of 10 years. She acquired and further honed her leadership skills through the High Potential programme at General Electric and more generally by experiencing four different industries, working in five different countries and with more than 45 different nationalities. Marianne has always been passionate about finding and developing talent in her own teams. She designed and implemented a programme for emerging leaders while at Shell Finance. The success of the programme laid out the foundations of Leaders! In her spare time, she sits on several boards of start-ups and is a regular columnist for Global Corporate Venturing, The Huffington Post and The Independent <Trade Review"I found the book exceptionally readable and easy to relate to personal practice and behaviours. It encourages the reader to ponder and consider possible alternative ways of engaging the team and improving the business. It is a great read and I would recommend it to both new leaders and those with more experience." Jacqui Mason, Nursery Management Today Table of ContentsAbout the author Author’s acknowledgements Publisher’s acknowledgements Foreword Introduction How to use this book Part 1 What is leadership? 1 A definition of leadership Leadership in history The pathways to leadership The five key things leaders do Summary 2 Leadership today A fast-changing world New conundrums … new leaders Summary Part 2: Finding the leader inside you 3 Building your self-awareness Finding the keys to your self Defining your personal leadership style Creating your own performance card Summary 4 Gaining self-confidence The three cornerstones of self-esteem Letting go of your fears Summary 5 Developing your leadership brand Building a powerful leadership brand Brand accelerators: charisma and gravitas Summary Part 3: Leading and influencing – bringing others on the journey 6 Building your credibility as a leader Mastering career management Living by your values Authenticity and remaining true to yourself Summary 7 Leading teams Building rapport Motivation and setting objectives – getting the best out of your team Reward and recognition Summary 8 The art of influence Stakeholders, group dynamics and you Building networks and alliances Summary Part 4: Building and executing your vision – from ideas to results 9 Building your vision Mission, vision, ideas and strategy: making sense of the melting pot How to create your vision Saying what you’ve got to say Summary 10 Cultivating your strategic thinking From vision to strategy – the translation exercise The pathway to superior strategic thinking Summary 11 Boosting your execution capabilities Better personal decision making Empowerment, accountability and change: the key concepts for delivering through others Summary Conclusion The leadership reading list Appendix 1: Examples of an individual development plan and goals and objectives Appendix 2: The basics of body language Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover everything you want to know about Microsoft's newest version of Windows in this easy-to-use guide; from the most essential tasks that you'll want to perform, to solving the most common problems you'll encounter.Table of ContentsTop 10 Windows 8 Tips for the Over 50s 1. Shut Down Windows 2. Turn Live Tiles Off or On 3. Move Among Apps Quickly 4. Make icons easier to see in File Explorer 5. Back up data quickly and easily 6. Connect to a Free Wireless Hot Spot 7. Pin a Website to the Start Screen 8. Email a Photo 9. Install a digital camera, web cam, or smart phone 10. Install Anti-Virus Software 1 Learn Windows 8 Basics Know What Kind of Device you have Set up Windows 8 Consider a Microsoft Account Log In to Windows 8 Explore the Start Screen Open and Close an App Access Charms Understand Charms Access the Traditional Desktop Explore File Explorer Switch to a Microsoft Account Shut Down Windows 2 Make Windows 8 Easier to Use, See, and Navigate Change the Volume Change the Screen Resolution Personalize the Color of the Start Screen Background Turn Live Tiles Off or On Make App Tiles Larger or Smaller Reposition Apps on the Start Screen Add a Tile to the Start Screen Remove a Tile from the Start Screen Log In with Fewer Keystrokes Create Shortcuts on the Desktop Pin Items to the Taskbar Explore Accessibility Options Explore Touch Techniques 3 Use Apps to Be More Efficient Check Your Local Weather Throw Away your Physical Maps Travel without Leaving your Home Get the Latest Sports News and Follow a Team Switch to a Digital Personal Calendar Create a New Event in Calendar Explore your Piece of the Cloud Upload a File to Sky Drive Access Your Files on Sky Drive from Anywhere Shop the Windows Store Use your Free App Move among Open Apps Quickly 4 Use desktop Applications Find the desktop Applications Write a letter with Notepad Save a letter with Notepad Print a letter with Notepad Use the calculator Take a picture of what’s on the screen Share a screen shot Record and save a sound clip Play a sound clip Explore other desktop apps 5 Locate and Manage the Data you keep and Acquire Explore your Libraries Save data to a library Create a Folder or Subfolder Copy or Move a File or Folder Delete a File or Folder Explore your personal folders Search for a File Browse for a file from a desktop app Change the Size of an Open Window Use Snap, Peek, and Shake Make icons easier to see Move data to Public Folders Back up data quickl

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Prices in the open economy: purchasing power parity 3 Financial markets in the open economy 4 Open economy macroeconomics 5 Flexible prices: the monetary model 6 Fixed prices: the Mundell–Fleming model 7 Sticky prices: the Dornbusch model 8 Portfolio balance and the current account 9 Currency substitution 10 General equilibrium models 11 Market efficiency and rational expectations 13 The risk premium 14 Target zones 15 Crises and credibility 16 Optimum currency areas, monetary union and the eurozone 17 Heterogeneous expectations and scapegoat models 18 Order flow analysis 19 A certain uncertainty: nonlinearity, cycles and chaos 20 Conclusions

Read more less

Antonio E. Weiss is a writer and management consultant.  His previous book, Key Business Solutions, also published by Financial Times Press, was shortlisted for the Chartered Management Institute Book of the Year Award 2013, featured as a WHSmith Business Bestseller, and has been translated into several languages across the globe.  He also writes regularly for publications such as theGuardian and Prospect, presents at conferences on economic, business and political issues, and has been featured on international media including ABC Radio Australia and BBC Radio 4.  As a consultant, he has advised leading public and private sector bodies on major strategy, capability building and performance improvement issues.  Antonio is also a board member of one of the largest Further Education colleges in London.  He holds a Bachelor's degree (First Class) and Master's degree (Distinction) in History from the Un

Read more less

Book SynopsisMike is a professional speaker and facilitator working with business people at all levels.  He is an author, a blogger and, he likes to believe, a thinker.  Mike's job is to speak so people listen. The book is based on Mike's experience in political debate, international consultancy, team leadership, business development, training, volunteering and committee work, and professional speaking.Trade Review'Great communication is at the heart of all business; Mike’s approach makes this accessible to everyone.' Mike Ames, founder of Flair Business Growth Consultancy Table of Contents Part 1 The way we speak Chapter 1 Thinking about speaking Chapter 2 Getting started Part 2 The four steps Chapter 3 Get something to say Chapter 4 Get attention Chapter 5 Get your message across Chapter 6 Get results Part 3 The four situations Chapter 7 Focus on conversations Chapter 8 Focus on complicated conversations Chapter 9 Focus on meetings Chapter 10 Focus on public speaking Part 4 Final insights Chapter 11 The 25 core concepts of How to Speak so People Listen Closing words Who else needs to speak so people listen? Mike can speak so your audience listens Also by Mike Clayton Learn more Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisRichard Koch is the author of 15 highly acclaimed books, including the The Financial Times Guide to Strategy and the bestselling 80/20 trilogy. As well as lecturing and broadcasting, he is an extremely successful entrepreneur and investor.    Table of ContentsPart One: Strategy for the individual investor 1. Why the stock market? 2. Should you try to out-perform the market? 3. David versus Goliath 4. Rules to stop you losing 5. Record-keeping for fun 6. Why you need your own approach 7. How to pick your own approach Part Two: Ten ways that work Way I Follow the rainmakers Way II Backing winners Way III Specialisation Way IV Detecting earnings acceleration Way V Outsider information Way VI Good businesses Way VII Value investing Way VIII Emerging markets Way IX Contrarian investing Way X Star businesses

Read more less

Book SynopsisGlen Arnold has deftly crossed the HE/professional/consumer divide and has had success at all levels. He's the author of Corporate Financial Management, now 4th edition; The FT Guide to Value Investing; The Handbook of Corporate Finance; the bestselling The FT Guide to Investing; The Great Investors; Get Started in Shares.Table of Contents Preface Part 1: An Overview Chapter 1 – Introduction to Bond and Money Markets Part 2: Bond Markets Chapter 2 – Government Bonds Chapter 3 – Government Bonds around the World Chapter 4 – Corporate Bonds Chapter 5 – Credit Ratings for Bonds Chapter 6 – High-yield and Hybrid Bonds Chapter 7 – International Bonds Part 3: Money Markets Chapter 8 – Interbank and Euro Currency Chapter 9 – Treasury Bills and Commercial Paper Chapter 10 – Repurchase Agreements and Certificates of Deposit Chapter 11 – Bills of Exchange and Banker’s Acceptances Part 4: Valuing Bonds and Money Market Instruments Chapter 12 – Financial Concepts and Mathematics Chapter 13 – Bond Valuation Chapter 14 – Money Market Securities Valuation Part 5: Some Variations on a Bond Theme Chapter 15 – Securitisation Chapter 16 – Central Banking Influences on Interest Rates

Read more less

Book SynopsisGlen Arnold is the author of Corporate Financial Management, Financial Times Guide to Value Investing 2e, The Handbook of Corporate Finance,  FT Guide to Investing, 2e, The FT Guide to the Financial Markets and The Great Investors. FT Guide to Investing is the most successful book in the personal finance section of Total Consumer Market.Table of ContentsAbout the author Preface Author's acknowledgements Publisher's acknowledgements PART 1 DIFFERENT TYPES OF BANKING Chapter 1 What is banking? Chapter 2 An overview of different aspects of banking Chapter 3 Retail banking Chapter 4 Transferring money and other retail bank services Chapter 5 Corporate banking: lending Chapter 6 Corporate banking: key activities Chapter 7 How a bank operates Chapter 8 Asset and liability management Chapter 9 Bank financial statements Chapter 10 Investment banking: services to companies and governments Chapter 11 Investment banking: market trading activities Chapter 12 The mutuals Chapter 13 Finance houses PART 2 INTERNATIONAL BANKING Chapter 14 Banking across borders Chapter 15 UK banking Chapter 16 European banking Chapter 17 Banking in the Americas Chapter 18 Banking in Asia and Australasia Chapter 19 Banking in the Middle East and Africa PART 3 INSTRUMENTS AND MARKETS Chapter 20 Debt markets Chapter 21 Futures markets Chapter 22 Swaps and options Chapter 23 Foreign exchange markets PART 4 CENTRAL BANKING AND REGULATION Chapter 24 Monetary policy Chapter 25 Central banking: other functions Chapter 26 Regulation Notes to chapters Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents 1. Introduction 2. The firm and Its Goals 3. Supply and Demand 4. Demand Elasticity 5. Demand Estimation and Forecasting 6. The Theory and Estimation of Production 7. The Theory and Estimation of Cost 8. Pricing and Output Decisions: Perfect Competition and Monopoly 9. Pricing and Output Decision: Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly 10. Special Pricing Practices 11. Game Theory and Asymmetric Information 12. Capital Budgeting and Risk 13. The Multinational Corporation and Globalization 14. Government and Industry: Challenges and Opportunities for Today’s Manager 15. Managerial Economics in Action

Read more less

Book SynopsisGraham Yemm has worked in consultancy, training and coaching for over 20 years after a career in sales management in the corporate arena. He now owns his own business training company, Solutions 4 Training Ltd and works with clients in Europe, Russia, Malaysia and USA.  He is the author of the FT Essential Guide to Leading Your Team.Trade Review'An excellent book for those new to the profession and for those wanting to improve their sales management skills.' Frank Salisbury, Chairman of Business & Training Solutions International Table of Contents Introduction Part 1 – Fundamentals for selling Part 2 – Starting the sale Part 3 – Making the sale Part 4 – Setting the sales strategy Part 5 – Managing the sales operation Part 6 – Managing sales people Part 7 – Managing and growing performance Conclusion – Pulling it all together

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides a study of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the high technology industries of newly industrializing countries. Concentrating on cases in India and Brazil, State-Owned Enterprises in High Technology Industries covers such factors as the economic and political impact of SOEs both at home and abroad;Table of ContentsForeword by Raymond Vernon Acknowledgments Part I:Introduction The Phenomenon and the Issues Part II: India's Experiences in Heavy Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Creating Two Giants--BHEL and HEC BHEL: The Gamble that Paid Off HEC: An Unchanging Enterprise in a Changing World Part III: Brazil's Experiences in Light Aircraft and Computers Embraer: Combining Public Power and Private Initiative Cobra: Caught Between Strategic and Commercial Goals Part IV: Conclusions and Implications Strategic Behavior of Performance High-Tech SOEs in High Technology Industries Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Reporting for China is a fascinating and imaginatively conceived study of Chinese correspondents who work abroad. . . . Readers beleaguered by recent US sparring over fake news and alternative facts will find in this study a refreshingly concrete exploration of the tension, unblinkingly relayed by Nyíri. . . . The book offers, in a very accessible style, a nuanced and vivid account of a domain that has long been subject to overly facile assumptions about what freedom of speech actually entails and how it comes to be curtailed." -- Louisa Schein * American Ethnologist *"As the pioneering work in this field, Nyiri’s vibrant and important book opens up a lot of new questions about China’s global media expansion and soft power attempts. It spearheads an exciting new direction in the analysis of Chinese media and cultural studies." -- Maria Repnikova * China Review International: A Journal of Reviews of Scholarly Literature in Chinese Studies *"The first extensive, systematic study of Chinese journalists who work as foreign correspondents for Chinese audiences. . . . A must-read for those interested in the machinations of Chinese politics and the Chinese state. . . . A fine example of how anthropologists study the media . . . valuable not just for anthropologists but also for scholars and students in the fields of media, communications, and journalism." -- Wanning Sun * The China Journal *"This is an original, nuanced, and informative study that deserves a wide audience." * Pacific Affairs *"Reporting for China: How Chinese Correspondents Work with the World is a fascinating account of the expanding ways the Chinese are engaging with the world. . . . [and] is successful not only in revealing the hidden dynamics and tensions that compel Chinese foreign correspondents to report the way they do, but also in shedding light on the Chinese government’s intentions and influence as these pertain to the news media." * Anthropology of Work Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: China and the World 1. The Worldwide Expansion of China’s Media 2. How Stories are Made 3. How Correspondents Work 4. Finding the “China Peg” Epilogue: Cosmopolitan Professionals in the Service of the Nation

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A richly-layered overview of the journalistic landscape in Malaysia and Indonesia." -- Peter Gordon * Asian Review of Books *"Steele’s study is well situated within the literature on Islam and politics in Southeast Asia. It provides an important corrective not only to simplistic assumptions that Islam cannot allow for free expression, balance, or critique but also to superficial understandings of how religious values shape people’s public activities." * Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia *"Steele’s book presents a landmark work, setting the stage for more nuanced engagements with contemporary Muslim practices of journalism in a world of contested religious ideals, social values, and political projects." * Journal of Islamic Studies *"Janet Steele’s book really is an eye-opener for anybody interested in comparative perspectives on journalism ethics. She skillfully deconstructs any possible assumption that ethical reflections in modern media organization is a privilege of the West." * Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly *"Janet Steele’s new book on Islam and journalism in Southeast Asia is a refreshing tour de force of qualitative research, grounded in years of in-depth interviews and participant observation at five influential print publications. . . . this is an extremely important book that sets new standards for qualitative research on the internal workings of newsrooms, and the world views that prevail there." * Journal of Press Politics *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] fascinating and exhaustive study...An excellent storyteller, Fleischman has produced a very well-written book that will be useful togeneral readers and specialists alike." * Choice *"[D]escribe[s] the shifting, meaningful relationship between hogs and humans, a relationship worthy of our attention." * Ohio Valley Review *"Communist Pigs gives historians in many fields much to think about: the German Democratic Republic, the Eastern Bloc, Cold War diplomacy, late-twentieth-century capitalism, German reunification, industrial agriculture, environmentalism, and the pig. Fleischman convincingly argues that pigs' centrality to the GDR's trade with foreign nations, organization of internal priorities, and creation of challenges for the regime to grapple with makes them an effective lens for studying these histories, and succeeds in challenging ideological interpretations of the Cold War's outcome and of global capitalism's legacies." * H-Net *"[A] remarkable first book... Communist Pigs makes a major contribution to the ongoing efforts to reframe East Germany’s environmental history." * American Historical Review *"[P]acked with original insights. It represents a significant contribution to the intersecting histories of the environment, technology and science, and animals, and fills animportant gap in our knowledge about the relationship between communism, technology, and animals." * Technology and Culture *

Read more less

Book SynopsisPresenting a synthesis and interpretation of the work undertaken at the Copenhagen Seminars for Social Progress in Denmark, this book makes a contribution to the international dialogue on social progress. It is useful to economists, planners, aid agencies, and all students of international studies.Trade Review"No public body or group, I speak seriously, has undertaken a more important and germane effort in our time." - John Kenneth Galbraith

Read more less

Book SynopsisInvestigates the discourses of aesthetics and philosophy alongside economic thought, arguing that their domains are not mutually exclusive. This book documents the extent to which economics influenced literature and philosophy and the surprising degree to which literature and philosophy participated in the creation of modern economic paradigms.Trade Review"Gray's book Money Matters is the work of a voracious and yet rigorously disciplined intellect, and points to the way to a sustained engagement of the humanities with three centuries of political economy. Unfortunately, books like Gray's . . . are all too rare. In an age where finance capital continues to make good use of liberal arts graduates . . . the liberal arts must continue to speak directly to the historic of economics, and attest to a cultural memory that can counterbalance the rush of amnesia between the screens of global monetary systems. In short, more people should read and think and write this way—and therefore, more people should read what Richard Gray offers in this volume." * Monatshefte *"Among many other things, this is a timely book. As the global financial crisis has shattered the myth of a self-regulating market economy . . . Gray's study makes a point that threatens to get lost in the prevailing atmosphere of moral indignation: money does matter—even, and perhaps especially . . . in the lofty realms of what Germans like to call the 'breadless' arts, that is, in cultural imagination. . . . [There are] rich and manifold interactions between the literary and the monetary economies that Gray has explored in a fascinating book." * Modern Language Quarterly *"In short, Money Matters is a book that matters. In concert with the likes of Beiser, Lenoir, and Richards, Gray does help to pen a different, but more accurate and far more comprehensive, picture of one of the most crucial phases of the history of German culture and European science and society. Gray does us the indispensable favour of providing not only an insightful and convincing book, but also one that is well-crafted and even fun to read…. I can say that Money Matters is one of those books that will remain on my desk among that small selection of well-worn books that I always keep in reach and use very frequently. I have never given higher praise to a book, and it is not likely that I ever will again." * Canadian Journal of History *"Gray's approach, combining meticulous and penetrating case studies with broader theoretical and historical considerations… is again utilized to great advantage, elegantly melded with Gray's expansive learnedness in philosophy and cultural and literary theories." * German Quarterly *"…in Money Matters Richard T. Gray uncovers significant episodes of a productive interplay between economics and culture that, at least in the case of Germany, constituted a foundational moment in the history of both…. Gray's discovery of such enthusiasm for modern economics on the part of characters who have been consistently vilified as antimodernists is supremely illuminating, worthy of further study-representing intellectual history at its best" * Business History Review *"What makes Gray's writing so interesting is the fact that he reads the two social arenas, economics and literature, together, through each other, and posits as his central thesis that the move from a substantialist economy (i.e., an economy based on substances such as gold) to a functionalist economic system (i.e., one based on the exchange of promissory notes such as paper money) was mirrored in the period's literature. This approach yields interesting insights . . . . [and] informed by the writings of Marx, Freud, Bataille and Althusserl, elicits remarkable results and will no doubt add valuable insights to existing scholarship." * Journal of Contemporary European Studies *"It is relevant and most instructive for us today that Gray demonstrates the close connection between economics and the imagination in the theory of paper money. Gray describes this connection on the examples of thinkers such as Hamann and Herder, Fichte and the Romantics Novalis or Adam Müller, and ultimately in the case of Goethe." * Frankfurter Allgemeine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One: Economics and Intellectual Culture Chapter 1 / Buying into Signs: Money and Semiosis in Eighteenth-Century German Language Theory Chapter 2 / Hypersign, Hypermoney, Hypermarket: Adam Muller's Theory of Money and Romantic Semiotics Chapter 3 / Economic Romanticism: Monetary Nationalism in Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Adam Muller Chapter 4 / Economics and the Imagination: Cultural Values and the Debate over Physiocracy in Germany, 1770-1789 Part Two: Literary Economies Chapter 5 / Counting on God: Economic Providentialism in Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling's Lebensgeschichte Chapter 6 / Deep Pockets: The Economics and Poetics of Excess in Adelbert von Chamisso's Peter Shlemihl Chapter 7 / Red Herrings and Blue Smocks: Commercialism, Ecological Destruction, and Anti-Semitism in Annette von Droste-Hulshoff's Die Judenbuche Chapter 8 / The (Mis)Fortune of Commerce: Economic Transformation in Adalbert Stifter's Bergkristall Conclusion / Limitless Faith in the Limitless: Money, Modernity, and the Economics/Aesthetics of Mediation of Goethe's Faust II Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisLooks at the ways the global form of capitalism affects our lives. This book analyzes how changes in work ethic, in our attitudes toward merit and talent, and in public and private institutions contributes to 'the spectre of uselessness'. It concludes with suggestions to counter this disturbing culture.Trade Review"packed with thought... profound and challenging... Sennett is here opening up a fascinating debate about how modern institutions, with their constant restructurings and delayerings, are generating ever-sharper inequality." Madeleine Bunting, New Statesman "Sennett has been observing for some years how modern work patterns make self-respect ever harder to achieve. Now, he has brilliantly pushed his thinking to a remorseless conclusion... a triumph" Will Hutton, The Observer "Hardly any social thinkers have given serious thought to the drastic changes in corporate culture wrought by downsizing, 're-orging', and outsourcing. Fortunately, the exception - Richard Sennett - is also one of the most insightful public intellectuals we have. In The Culture of New Capitalism Sennett addresses the new corporate culture with his usual vast erudition, endlessly supple intellect, and firm moral outlook. The result is brilliant, disturbing, and absolutely necessary reading." Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream "Reflective, studded with sharp insights, moving with grace between big ideas and specific cases. This is vintage Sennett." Douglas W. Rae, author of City: Urbanism and Its End"

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe exploding cost of health care in the United States is a source of widespread alarm. Similarly, the upward spiral of college tuition fees is cause for serious concern. In this book, the author explores the causes of these seemingly intractable problems and offers a surprisingly simple explanation.Trade Review"A provocative and timely critique of the fallacies in the conventional wisdom that we can no longer afford good education and decent health care."—Sir Harold Evans, author of They Made America -- Sir Harold Evans“It’s a testament to Professor Baumol’s lucid prose, though, that economists and noneconomists alike will find it easy to grasp his surprisingly comforting argument for why we shouldn’t panic. . . .This book is a quick read, packed with charts and case studies. But it is the author’s command of storytelling that makes it not just digestible but also enjoyable.”—Amy Wallace, The New York Times -- Amy Wallace * The New York Times *“Health-care costs are huge, and still rising. Based on current trends, in 2105 US health care will consume 62% of our national income. And this is nothing to worry about. How can this be? Relying primarily on simple logic and storytelling, NYU economist William J. Baumol lays out the answer in his new book.”—Kyle Smith, New York Post -- Kyle Smith * New York Post *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“A well-written and thought-provoking book.”—Economist"[Grave New World] sets out the argument strongly and clearly. . . . King correctly takes aim at the very idea that there is a single international community with an agreed set of aims and ideas, or even a united west when it comes to important issues such as foreign policy and projecting 'Western values' in the Middle East. . . . The truth is, as usual, somewhere between despair and ebullience."—Alan Beattie, Financial Times"Where it succeeds is the ease with which the reader can digest complex ideas. King is a clear, confident guide, weaving his way through history and joining the dots with panache. This story of our time has a cliff-hanger ending. Will it be a grave new world?"—Philip Aldrick, Times"No economist ever lost his reputation by erring on the side of pessimism. In this book, the already much-lauded, HSBC-based thinker, Stephen D. King, warns the West of a host of political-economic horrors on the horizon. . . . This is a book to open that debate, not close it."—Andrew Marr, Sunday Times"A well-argued and credibly pessimistic book."—Martin Wolf, Financial Times"The era of globalisation might be over, warns this gripping and clearly argued guide to the possible future."—Sunday Times, "Summer Reading 2017"“Well-argued and credibly pessimistic.”— Martin Wolf, Books of the Year 2017: Economics, Financial Times"A timely book, Grave New World is an excellent guide to this new global landscape. The combination of up to the minute economic analysis with a long look back at the lessons of economic history is written in an easy to follow and (mostly) jargon free manner."—Duncan Weldon, ProspectLONGLISTED FOR THE FT-MCKINSEY BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017"In a powerful and well-written book that draws on important historical insights, Stephen King explains why globalization is not as secure as many would have led you to believe – especially in a world where old and new political forces, as well as disruptive technologies, are aggressively competing to re-shape relationships, institutions and ideas. This is a must-read book for those wondering about the future functioning of the world economy and what it could entail not just for the global economic order but, also, the well-being of individual countries."—Mohamed El-Erian, Chief Economic Adviser, Allianz SE and author of The Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Instability and Avoiding the Next Collapse"Prophetic, brilliant and disturbing. Required reading to prepare for the world of the (very near) future."—Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads: A New History of the World"King reminds us both that over millennia there have been previous waves of globalization and that, whilst they may have had different drivers, they fall as well as rise. And the falls have not been pretty. As a world , we have benefited greatly from the current wave over the last seven decades, and would if it continued. But that is far from inevitable and we must understand the longer history and the forces which are now putting this wave in serious question. King's analysis is fascinating and fun in its story telling and profoundly important in its substance."—Lord Nicholas Stern, President of the British Academy, I.G.Patel Professor of Economics and Government at the LSE, and cross-bench member of the House of Lords"What will replace the rules-based order of the past seven decades, as the era of globalization – and of prosperity and relative peace – shudders to an end? Stephen King's compelling and sobering exploration of recent trends makes it clear that the most likely outcomes of the crisis of globalization are deeply troubling. A world without a strong EU, WTO, NATO, and without American leadership, is going to be uncertain, dangerous and impoverished."—Diane Coyle, professor of economics, University of Manchester and author of GDP: A Brief But Affectionate History"Stephen King has written a very important book at a crucial time. His vital historical perspective provides a unique contribution to current debates and his arguments deserve broad consideration."—Lawrence H. Summers, former US Treasury Secretary

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Since the ‘Great Game’ emerged in the nineteenth century, Eurasia has long been seen as the focal point for geopolitical competition, and Gresh’s study breaks new ground in its focus on the naval dimension. . . . This intriguing study will be of interest to naval experts as well as scholars with a research interest in international relations in Eurasian, Chinese, Indian, or Russian foreign policy.”—Elizabeth Wishnick, Slavic Review“It is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in the great power competition.”—Yongzheng Parker Li, Pacific Affairs“Inspired by the grand tradition of geo-strategists such as Alfred Thayer Mahan and Nicholas J. Spykman, Geoffrey Gresh’s To Rule Eurasia’s Waves wanders the seas in search of signs of competition between China, Russia and India. . . . Gresh traveled widely for his study, allowing him to enliven the narrative of great-power jousting with first-hand anecdotes from outside China’s first overseas garrison in Djibouti or the infamous Chinese port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.”—John Delury, Global Asia“To Rule Eurasia’s Waves is extremely thought-provoking and well researched.”—Bruce A. Elleman, Russian Review“[T]his is a well-researched, useful and thought-provoking book. The methodology used to examine the growing great power competition at sea is excellent.”—Mark Bailey, Australian Naval Institute“[To Rule Eurasia’s Waves] repeatedly shows the importance of Eurasia’s narrow, strategic maritime choke points, and how this may increase the possibility of future conflicts in a globalised world. Thus, the major importance of the book is its focus on considering the Eurasian landmass as a whole and linking it to the maritime potential of various political actors in a vast and highly complicated region. With so much of the world’s trade reliant on maritime routes—along with the multidimensional nature of seapower and its impact on international relations and politics—it is certainly an important research topic.”—Mihai Murariu, Europolity“Gresh’s thoughtful and important book . . . focuses on the recent engagement by China in particular in a more assertive maritime capability system and ethos, and provides a geopolitical way to consider the resulting dynamics, one in which India and Russia are other key players.”—Jeremy Black, Erasmus Forum“Geoffrey Gresh’s lucid examination of great power competition for the world’s oceans makes clear that a once-romanticized idea of ‘Eurasia’ merits contemporary understanding in geostrategic terms.”—Alexis Dudden, University of Connecticut“To Rule Eurasia’s Waves is well written, clear, and filled with factual detail and strategic insights. Perhaps most importantly, it addresses an enduring issue for both scholars and policy makers not only in the U.S. but across the world.”—Peter Dombrowski, U.S. Naval War College“This is a superb look at the emerging competition between international maritime peers for sea control and power projection—which will be central to national destiny for the U.S., China, India, and Russia. This unfolding ‘great game’ at sea will deeply influence the geopolitics of the twenty-first century.”—Admiral James Stavridis, U.S. Navy (retired), 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and author of Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans“A comprehensive, fresh, and penetrating analysis of a changing Eurasia, using its surrounding seas to project economic and strategic influence for the first time in its history.”—John Curtis Perry, author of Singapore: Unlikely Power

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“The healthiest impact from Unfinished Business, Tamim Bayoumi’s well-written polemic, could be to give [the financial crisis] a new name. For him, this was the north Atlantic financial crisis. Created jointly in the US and western Europe, it also had its worst effects in these areas.”—John Authers, Financial Times“A worthwhile and occasionally bracing analysis of all that went wrong, of the terrible cost and of all that remains to be done.”—Paschal Donohoe, Irish Minister for Finance, Irish Times“This book about the causes and possible cures for the Great Financial Crisis has many excellent parts. . . Lots of fresh, sensible thinking about what went wrong and on international monetary economics.”—Charles Goodhart, Financial World“Bayoumi has succeeded in saying something both new and true about the financial crisis of 2007-12 in this important book.”—Martin Wolf, Books of the Year 2017: Economics, Financial Times"While much has been written on the U.S. Subprime Crisis and the European Debt Crisis, Tamim Bayoumi's important book is the first to show that the two crises were of a piece. Both stemmed from the influence of a powerful anti-regulatory lobby in the United States, exported to Europe via the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. And neither crisis would have been as grave and costly absent its interaction with the other. Bayoumi's encompassing view reminds us that the problem is far from fully solved, and that now is not the time for regulators and policy makers to relax."—Barry Eichengreen, George C. Pardee and Helen N. Pardee Professor of Economics and Political Science, Berkeley, University of California."Tamim Bayoumi’s Unfinished Business is an important corrective to much of the received wisdom coming out of the North Atlantic Financial Crisis. Bayoumi convincingly argues that intellectually blinkered and politically driven policy decisions long before 2007 set up the crisis – notably in European bank practices. This root cause is all too often overlooked in the rampant but shallow arguments that blame the bubble and bust on monetary ease, savings gluts, or Minsky moments. It also gives more hope for future crisis prevention, and thus a policy agenda to finish."—Adam S. Posen, President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics "Tamim Bayoumi, one of the International Monetary Fund's most respected economists, has achieved something I would not have thought possible. He has written a book on the "North Atlantic Financial Crisis" that is both original and persuasive. In particular, he explains how the failings of the European currency union led to a surge in lending by banks in the euro area's core that drove destabilizing property-related booms in both the US and the euro area's periphery. This book demonstrates that we need to learn more lessons from this devastating crisis."—Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times"Tam Bayoumi has brought off the near-impossible – telling us something new about the financial crisis. By illuminating the episodes of the past decade from the viewpoint of monetary finance, one of the IMF’s most seasoned practitioner-economists has provided a fresh way of assessing what went on –and how the world can avoid a repetition."—David Marsh, Managing Director, OMFIF and co-author of Six Days in September – How Britain lost the reserves and saved the economy "Tamim Bayoumi has written a deeply researched history of the 2008 North Atlantic crisis, explaining how regulatory decisions and intellectual blind spots entwined the US and Europe in a single financial meltdown. Essential reading for those seeking to understand where are have been and where we are going."—Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Full of insight and informed judgment, former diplomat Anders Åslund takes aim at the ‘authoritarian kleptocracy’ and the inner circles of power.”—John Lloyd, Financial Times“[A] superb book.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times“There are many books already on the Russian oligarchy, but Åslund’s is unique. He does not hesitate to name names and to identify Russian and foreign banks, financial institutions, and government agencies which have facilitated this massive and arguably historically singular episode”— Oleh Havrylyshyn, Atlantic Council“An interesting book.”— Ayse Dietrich, International Journal of Russian StudiesFinalist for the Hayek Prize, sponsored by the Manhattan Institute “An insightful and authoritative guide to Russia’s economy since the fall of communism by the foremost Western expert on the subject.”—Daniel Treisman, Professor of Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles“Anders Åslund’s economic analysis is impeccable. This is a hard-hitting, fact-based account of Putin’s Russia.”—Paul Gregory, University of Houston and Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University“No one in the outside world has followed and analyzed Russia’s economic policies and trajectory since the demise of the Soviet Union as thoroughly as Anders Åslund. From the early radical reforms to today’s stagnating kleptocracy, it’s a huge story, and no one tells it better.”—Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden“Anders Åslund has tracked Russia’s economy since perestroika and has written the definitive assessment of Putin’s kleptocratic system—how it functions and why it needs authoritarianism and xenophobia to survive.”—Alexander Vershbow, former US Ambassador to Russia“After a decade, Anders Åslund has returned to the subject of Russia and produced an interesting, well-written and challenging analysis of where the economy stands, how it got here, and where it and President Putin may be heading.”—Stanley Fischer, Former First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“As an introduction to forecasting for those interested in how economists typically think about forecasting, this book is excellent. Although framed as a non-technical introduction to forecasting, even experienced forecasters and econometricians would find joy in reading it.”—Leif Anders Thorsrud, Economic Record“For a non-technical guide to economic forecasting, there could be nothing better than Forecasting: An Essential Introduction by Jennifer Castle, Michael Clements and David Hendry. It is a crystal clear and intuitive explanation of what macroeconomic forecasts can and can’t do” – The Enlightened Economist"Very welcome and much needed." — Philip Hans Franses"A tidy and beautiful introduction to opportunities, pitfalls, and new directions in economic forecasting, reflecting the distilled wisdom of researchers at the frontier of their field." — Professor Francis X. Diebold, author of Elements of Forecasting"It's a topsy-turvy world, but we all must have a view on where it is headed: from the business owner hiring a new employee to the renter becoming a homeowner. Of course, there are accurate forecasts and off-base ones. Forecasting may not turn you into Warren Buffet, but it will ensure that you avoid a forecasting blunder." — Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics and author of Financial Shock and Paying the Price

Read more less

Book SynopsisA major contribution to the field of comparative state formation and the scholarship on long-term political development of Latin AmericaTrade Review“This book delivers what Max Weber never did—an empirically convincing positive theory of state formation. You’ll never think about Latin America in the same way again.”—James A. Robinson, University of Chicago “A pathbreaking account of why trade-led state formation in Latin America produced weaker states than those generated by military conflict in Europe and a powerful explanation of divergent trajectories within Latin America. Empirically rich and beautifully written, Latecomer State Formation will be required reading in comparative politics. It is the most important book on state development I have read in many years.”—Steven Levitsky, Harvard University “In this dazzling and conceptually innovative book, Mazzuca distills the core logic of state formation in Latin America. Latecomer State Formation illuminates how global historical forces shape the very size and capacity of modern states. Magisterial and incisive, it is indispensable reading for any comparative scholar of state-building in the post-colonial world.”—Maya Tudor, University of Oxford “Each page explodes with intellectual energy and new insights. It teaches a profound lesson: forming a state is not the same as state-building. Historically rich and conceptually innovative, this is the best book I have read on state-building in over a decade.”—Daniel Ziblatt, Harvard University “Trade makes states, but it makes weaker states than war. Mazzuca sheds new light on why Latin American politicians formed states that were territorially solid yet institutionally incapable. In our collective quest to understand non-European states, Mazzuca’s far-reaching study helps us draw lessons from Latin America as much as from Europe.”—Dan Slater, University of Michigan

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehensive history of the creation and growth of Lincoln Center, exploring the interconnections between politicians, financiers, and performing artistsTrade Review“Masterful. . . . A powerful work of nonfiction with the drama of a novel.”—Jaap van Zweden, Wall Street Journal“Written by a scholar, musician and arts executive, Polisi’s superb work is an authoritative yet eminently readable account of the creation and growth of the world’s most important performing arts center.”—Nathan Leventhal, president emeritus, Lincoln Center“Joseph Polisi has written an indispensable and detailed account of Lincoln Center’s complex history, from its iconic Cold War founding to the cultural uncertainties of classical performance in America today.”—Robert Marx, president, Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation“A superb history about one of the world’s most important cultural centers. The narrative is compelling and besides providing a history of the Lincoln Center, is about leaders, leadership styles, and leadership effectiveness.”—Jamal J. Rossi, Eastman School of Music“The public deserves such an eyewitness account as this. Joseph Polisi welcomes readers to a historic glimpse of a noble venture that envisioned the arts as a pillar of democracy. In it we see the courage and frailty of humanity reflected by leaders whose tenacity established Lincoln Center as a ‘beacon to the world.’”—Robert Blocker, Yale University

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA blueprint for creating sustainable businesses, emphasizing the power and potential of cooperative modelsTrade Review“If we are going to transform our energy systems at the pace physics requires, nothing could be more important than replacing turbo-charged hyper-individualistic capitalism with some of the cooperative schemes explored in this revealing book."—Bill McKibben, author Deep Economy “Melissa Scanlan's pioneering book begins with a powerful vision and then shows us how to achieve it, highlighting the cooperative and other alternative business forms as we navigate big transitions ahead.”—Gus Speth, co-editor of The New Systems Reader and author of Red Sky at Morning “Combining a critique of current business law with her deep understanding of environmental law, Melissa Scanlan successfully argues that cooperative business structures can and should be looked to as a route for social entrepreneurs.”—Dana Brakman Reiser, Brooklyn Law School “Melissa Scanlan powerfully demonstrates that new principles are needed—and are eminently practical and possible—to move beyond the ecologically destructive and inequality generating economic structures of our challenged era.”—Gar Alperovitz, author What Then Must We Do? and CoFounder, The Democracy Collaborative “At a time when calls for a democratic, sustainable, and equitable economy grow ever louder, this book challenges corporations to shift away from maximizing profits for shareholders, and provides best practices and proposals to promote this change.”—Alexandre Peñalver i Cabré, University of Barcelona

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“[A]n important and fundamentally correct critique of the core methodology of economics: individualistic; analytical; ahistorical; asocial; and apolitical.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times“This impassioned critique aims to show how economic laws have limited scope compared with the laws in natural science. To be effective, Skidelsky argues, economics must include institutions and their power, and move towards social sciences such as politics and sociology.”—Andrew Robinson, Nature“[T]his book is a staple for trying to quench curiosity and a great bridge from a bachelor’s in standard economics to economic methodology and the philosophy of economics.”—Ella Needler and Maria João Pimenta, Erasmus Journal for Philosophy and Economics“[Skidelsky] argues that the insights of behavioural economics, and other heterodoxies, are either ignored or treated as special cases of only limited relevance. All of this has resonance.”—Bridget Rosewell, Society of Professional Economists“Skidelsky’s book is a much-needed contribution to the ongoing debate of the shortcomings of mainstream economics and its economic policy suggestions. . . . I think that the book should be essential reading not only for all students of economics but for everyone who is interested in a deeper understanding of major contemporary economic and political issues.”—Stavros A. Drakopoulos, History of Economic Ideas“Robert Skidelsky has written the book that anyone who wants to learn economics—and anyone who thinks that they know economics—should read.”—Meghnad Desai, author of Hubris: Why Economists Failed to Predict the Crisis and How to Avoid the Next One“This is a cogent and highly readable exposure of economics as a discourse, often free from the constraints of history and politics, and therefore free to inhabit an imaginary world underpinned by the seductive verities of logic and mathematics. It also helps to explain why 2008 took the whole world by surprise.”—Gareth Stedman Jones, author of An End to Poverty?“Skidelsky gives a wonderfully readable, compelling and compassionate account of where economics goes wrong. This is an urgent message for all sides to hear.”—Nancy Cartwright, professor of philosophy, Durham University

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new history of English trade and empire—revealing how a tightly woven community of merchants was the true origin of globalized BritainTrade Review“Wonderfully wide-ranging and deeply-researched.”—William Dalrymple, Financial Times“An assured study of the merchants who changed England’s relationship with the world in the century after 1550. . . . Edmond Smith’s analysis of merchant activity has clear relevance for contemporary debate about Britain’s role in the world, and how to understand global economic change.”—Times Literary Supplement“A very welcome book. . . . The argument that merchants’ cooperation, skills, and adaptable corporate structures were essential to England’s global trade and nascent empire is both compelling and important.”—Eleanor Hubbard, Journal of Modern History“This exceptional, scholarly book is written with verve and style and will immerse readers in a vibrant world glimpsed only occasionally in plays and histories. It will widen their scope of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries not just geographically but culturally and socially. . . . A colourful, witty treat, from the pages of which waft exotic spices and sea salt.”—Steven Veerapen, Aspects of History, “Books of 2021”“Merchants is a fine book, full of humanity and insight. . . . This excellent new book . . . is not economic history as we know it [and] Smith uses his vivid reconstruction of the lives of merchants to make an important point about the birth of capitalism: it depended on culture, on institutions, on people getting together and doing things. The blind force of the market was just one part of the story; the meeting, greeting, schmoozing, learning, counting and thinking undertaken by the merchants themselves were integral to the birth of England as an international trading power.”—Literary Review“This scholarly yet highly readable—indeed, page turning—text is certainly timely. . . . Throughout, Smith demonstrates an exemplary handling of sources, weaving together an enormous variety (both printed and manuscript) into a delightful narrative. The resultant history of the trade—or art—of merchandising becomes a wide and compelling picture of innumerable interesting personalities trading, arguing, and organising their communities across place and time.’”—Aspects of History“The book sets out its stall to demonstrate how the contacts, community, and astonishing confidence of the merchant class were so central to the development of early modern England and its subsequent role on the world stage.”—Helen Tovey, Family Tree Magazine“Packed with detailed archival evidence and brimming with palpable stories of the lives of English merchants, this is a vivid and telling account of what it meant to be a merchant in sixteenth and seventeenth century England, and how that simple fact changed not only England but also the world forever.”—Business History“An invaluable addition to scholarship of the early modern period. Merchants gives a fresh and vital insight into the human relationships behind the vast networks of trade and diplomacy which drove England’s development as a global force.”—Emily Stevenson, Cultural and Social History“Smith makes an important contribution to the field of early modern trade and trading companies, and Merchants should be read by any scholars interested in the history of capitalism, globalization, and corporations.”—Jason C. White, Journal of British Studies“At last an account of early modern merchant communities that balances the cold, hard reality of profit and investment with the intangible capital of trust, sociability and human connection that drove English trade in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Sharply observed, innovatively analysed, and always accessible, this is a book that demands the attention of anyone who is interested in the traffic between English trade and imperialism in this early, foundational period.”—Nandini Das, University of Oxford“A terrific achievement. Written with pace and panache, Merchants shows how in the space of 100 years England’s merchants went from a group of largely irrelevant traders on the fringes of Europe to international empire builders. Managing to combine intricate detail of mercantile innovations within a broad sweep of English commercial relations from the Americas to Japan, Smith is brilliant at recording the credits and debits of this most decisive period in English commercial history. A superb book.”—Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps“‘Mere merchants’ as individuals, but as a class they shaped modern English history. This is a rich and deeply fascinating account which addresses fundamental questions about England’s rise to commercial power.”—James Evans, author of Merchant Adventurers“Merchants is an important new study of the men who, for better or worse, laid the foundations of England’s first commercial empire. Drawing on impeccable research, Smith shows how it was corporate institutions and collaborative practices that turned England from European backwater into global power.”—Phil Withington, author of Society in Early Modern England

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first global history of the epic early days of the iron railwayTrade Review“One does not have to be a train-spotter to read it: it tells a crucial story of our social and economic history, and does so with recourse to exceptional scholarship.”—Simon Heffer, The Telegraph“Written with great confidence and considerable aplomb, The Coming of the Railway is a must for the train enthusiast.”—Jeremy Black, New Criterion“The iron railway truly made the modern world. . . . [An] authoritative, superbly footnoted account.”—Jack Watkins, Country Life“Even for those who have a library of books on railways this is a good addition. It is strongly recommended.”—Rev Dr Peter Howson, Methodist Recorder"This is the sort of book for which the word 'masterly' was coined.”—Roger Backhouse, Welsh Railways Research Circle“The nineteenth century was defined by the railway. In this compelling new book David Gwyn weaves together the disparate strands that led to its emergence as the singular new technology of its age; a monumental study, erudite, authoritative, and full of wider historical insights.”—Sir Neil Cossons, former director of the Science Museum London“This book is a real eye-opener for rail enthusiasts and scholars with a detailed and well researched account of the dawn of the railways. The rapid advancement in technology in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that the railways brought our society is truly astounding.”—Siddy Holloway, historian and presenter“A fresh perspective on the early railway story across time and world space, with a wealth of intriguing details. Gwyn ably demonstrates the role played by overlapping technologies, harmonising under the influence of shaping forces.”—Susan Major, author of Early Victorian Railway Excursions“The railways were the most important invention of the nineteenth century, but they only emerged thanks to a series of technological developments. This book documents these in a thorough and revealing way which makes it essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this great invention.”—Christian Wolmar, author of The Great Railway Revolution

Read more less

Book SynopsisA chronicle of recent events that have shaken the world, from the author of Capital in the Twenty-First CenturyTrade Review“What makes this manifesto noteworthy is that it comes from . . . an economist who gained his reputation as a researcher with vaguely left-of-center sensibilities but was far from a radical. Yet the times are such . . . that even honest moderates are driven to radical remedies.”—Robert Kuttner, New York Times“The ideas propounded are influential and represent a stream of thought which has considerable resonance both in Europe and the UK.”—Bridget Rosewell, Reading Room for the Society of Professional Economists“Lively, thought-provoking, grounded in facts, and resolutely optimistic—these essays grapple with the big questions of our time, from the rise of Trumpism and Brexit, to gender inequality and wealth taxation.”—Gabriel Zucman, University of California, Berkeley“Thomas Piketty’s personal journey from liberalism to socialism, at a time when socialism was in retreat, is a mark of the man’s ethos but also evidence of the soul-crushing inhumanity of our post-2008 hypercapitalism. Reading this volume of collected essays offers important glimpses to the parallel evolution of our political economy and of one of its most renowned scholars.”—Yanis Varoufakis, author of Another Now and leader of MeRA25 in Greece’s Parliament

Read more less

Book SynopsisA concise history of “just price,” from Aristotle to the present dayTrade Review“The notion of ‘just price’ is not only a matter of concern for scholars studying the past but still inspires many social and political thinkers of our time. In this respect, Charles Geisst brings a major contribution to the field.”—Alain Bresson, author of The Making of the Ancient Greek Economy: Institutions, Markets, and Growth in the City-States“Geisst offers a sweeping historical tour of the idea of just price that should benefit scholars and students alike. But he does more than that. If in a market, online, or when opening a bill, you’ve ever thought, ‘this shouldn’t cost this price,’ this book will help you understand that sentiment and the rich and important intellectual history behind it.”—Ian Klaus, author of Forging Capitalism: Rogues, Frauds, Swindlers, and the Rise of Modern Finance“Lucid, assured, and scholarly, Geisst’s new book is an education for anyone interested in economics or finance. It maps expertly how prices have shaped, and been shaped by, the discourse of philosophers and intellectuals, as well as developments in banking and trade.”—Rory Naismith, author of Making Money in the Early Middle Ages“An incredibly important and erudite history of thought on prices, interest, credit, and market transactions across the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, early Islam, medieval Christianity, and early modern Europe.”—Jared Rubin, coauthor of How the World Became Rich: The Historical Origins of Economic Growth

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first international history of the emergence of economic sanctions during the interwar period and the legacy of this developmentTrade Review“Valuable . . . offers many lessons for Western policy makers today.”—Paul Kennedy, Wall Street Journal“Lucidly written, scholarly and thought-provoking.”—Gideon Rachman, Financial Times“Mulder . . . looks at sanctions over the three decades after the First World War—and reaches unsettling conclusions. . . . The lessons are sobering.”—The Economist“Mulder charts how the rise of economic sanctions and blockade during the interwar years, as a tool to enforce peace, drove the autarkic policies of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, ultimately destabilising the international system rather than fortifying it.”—Robin Harding, Financial Times“Mulder argues in his impeccably well-researched and, because of its timeliness, gripping book that ‘sanctions did not stop political and economic disintegration but accelerated it’ in the interwar period. . . . Mulder’s book provides an uncomfortable warning that while sanctions have sometimes worked, they have also been contentious, ineffective and counterproductive.”—Emma Duncan, The Times“This revelatory history of ‘economic warfare’—blockades and sanctions—reminds us that up to 400,000 people died of blockade-induced malnutrition in Central Europe in the First World War, plus 500,000 in the Ottoman Middle East. You will look at twentieth-century history with fresh eyes.”—Noel Malcolm, Daily Telegraph, “Perfect Holiday Reads”"A fortuitously timed history of the use of economic sanctions during the interwar period of the 20th century. Their mixed success cautions against hoping that the West’s sanctions against Russia can bring about an end to war in Ukraine."—The Economist, "Best Books of 2022"A Foreign Affairs Best Book of 2022“As Nicholas Mulder shows in The Economic Weapon, a much longer history lies behind the invention of modern sanctions.”—Tom Stevenson, London Review of Books“A fascinating new book. . . . Taken as a superbly researched work of history, it lights up key aspects of the twentieth century in a deeply thought-provoking way.”—Noel Malcolm, Daily Telegraph“Original and persuasive analysis. . . . For those who see economic sanctions as a relatively mild way of expressing displeasure at a country’s behavior, this book, charting how they first emerged as a potential coercive instrument during the first decades of the twentieth century, will come as something of a revelation.”—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs“[A] superb study of sanctions during the interwar era. . . . Mulder’s fascinating story weaves together politics, economics and law [and] provides invaluable insight into the experience of sanctions one hundred years ago.”—Max Harris, Times Literary Supplement“An excellent historical study. . . . Western countries have directed an unprecedentedly severe battery of punitive economic measures against Russia. . . . For those of us seeking better to understand this reaction and gauge its likely efficacy, there is no better place to turn than Cornell historian Nicholas Mulder’s erudite and uncannily timely book on the origins of economic sanctions."—Alexander Watson, Literary Review“Mulder’s examination of the details of economic diplomacy in the interwar era makes for fascinating reading, and at the least it will remind us that, in the case of determined dictators, something more than sanctions may be needed.”—Matthew Partridge, Money Week, “Book of the Week”“There are few books that can be said to be timely like Nicholas Mulder's The Economic Weapon . . . [it is] an important contribution to the history of economics and international relations in the interwar period.”—Roman Köster, sehepunkteWinner of the Stuart L. Bernath Book Prize for best first book by the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR)“The Economic Weapon is a superb account of the history of sanctions, and their profound impact on international politics. Although sanctions were once heralded as a force for peace, Mulder shows they often fail and sometimes make war more likely or even produce a humanitarian nightmare.&rdquot;—John Mearsheimer, author of The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities“This is a tour de force of historical research and argument. With great subtlety and richness, Nicholas Mulder transforms our understanding of twentieth-century global and international history.”—David Edgerton, King’s College London“Mulder reveals the history of liberalism’s ultimate weapon. An essential contribution both to scholarship and to the present-day debate on economic sanctions.”—Adam Tooze, author of Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World’s Economy"A fortuitously timed history of the use of economic sanctions during the interwar period of the 20th century. Their mixed success cautions against hoping that the West’s sanctions against Russia can bring about an end to war in Ukraine."—The Economist, "Best Books of 2022" * Economist *

Read more less