Popular economics Books

Book SynopsisNOW WITH NEW PROLOGUE ABOUT DEMYSTIFYING CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS, DONALD TRUMP AND WHY STATISTICS MATTER MORE THAN EVER'The Number Bias combines vivid storytelling with authoritative analysis to deliver a warning about the way numbers can lead us astray - if we let them.' TIM HARFORDEven if you don't consider yourself a numbers person, you are a numbers person. The time has come to put numbers in their place. Not high up on a pedestal, or out on the curb, but right where they belong: beside words.It is not an overstatement to say that numbers dictate the way we live our lives. They tell us how we're doing at school, how much we weigh, who might win an election and whether the economy is booming. But numbers aren't as objective as they may seem; behind every number is a story. Yet politicians, businesses and the media often forget this - or use it for their own gain. Sanne Blauw travels the world to unpick our relationship with numbers and demystify our misguided allegiance, from Florence Nightingale using statistics to petition for better conditions during the Crimean War to the manipulation of numbers by the American tobacco industry and the ambiguous figures peddled during the EU referendum. Taking us from the everyday numbers that govern our health and wellbeing to the statistics used to wield enormous power and influence, The Number Bias counsels us to think more wisely.'A beautifully accessible exploration of how numbers shape our lives, and the importance of accurately interpreting the statistics we are fed.' ANGELA SAINI, author of SuperiorTrade ReviewThe Number Bias combines vivid storytelling with authoritative analysis to deliver a warning about the way numbers can lead us astray - if we let them. * Tim Harford *Statistics and data can tell the truth, but they can also lie, as this valuable book explains . . . you can never read the points Blauw makes too often. -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *If you don't consider yourself a numbers person, then this is the book for you. It is an intriguing and accessible exploration of how digits can shape our lives, be it measuring academic progress, election results or economic growth. Sanne Blauw, the numeracy correspondent for Dutch news outlet De Correspondent, provides startling insight about how manipulated figures can lead us astray, laying bare the perils of blindly buying into the hyperbole of peddled statistics * Herald *A beautifully accessible exploration of how numbers shape our lives, and the importance of accurately interpreting the statistics we are fed. THE NUMBER BIAS will give even the most maths-averse reader the tools they need to navigate our data-rich world. * Angela Saini, author of SUPERIOR *From Covid-19 to the tobacco industry to the climate crisis . . . a punchy, amusing history of the deliberate misuse of statistics . . . The digestibility of Blauw's offering is also a public virtue in itself, if it encourages more people to read it and immunise themselves against the virality of numerical disinformation. -- Stephen Poole * Guardian *Aware that many readers are likely to be daunted by a book about numbers, Blauw soothes such anxieties through her accessible style, brevity (the book runs to 170 pages) and, particularly, by focussing on stories rather than statistics . . . Using a calm, unshowy approach, Blauw convincingly argues that numbers should inform our choices, but they cannot make decisions for us. * Sunday Business Post *provocative . . . playful . . . necessary work, delivered with a light touch * Irish Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA persuasive manifesto for a better Britain.' Observer Book of the DayBritain needs a fresh start. This timely book by one of the stars of the new government shows how to achieve it.In this brilliant and accessible intervention, Lisa Nandy reveals how Britain can leave behind the mess in which we find ourselves. All In charts a course towards a fairer, more equal, more prosperous country by drawing on the greatest asset we have each other.Rapid global changes, political division and economic crisis have left Britain reeling. For decades, large swathes of the country have been shut out, condemned to low productivity, underinvestment and managed decline, and stripped of their voice. With most major cities now beset with high housing costs, air pollution and congestion, even the winners' are losing.All In shows how, by handing power and resources to people with a stake in the outcome, Britain can draw on the talent, assets and potential in every part of the country and start firing on alTrade Review‘Nandy makes a powerful argument for rethinking politics.’ New Statesman ‘A much-needed intervention. … This fast and accessible read [offers] a deceptively radical vision and one that Labour should embrace.’ Observer, Book of the Day ‘Gives a clear sense of Nandy’s ambitions for the Labour party’s future policy. … Bang on the political zeitgeist.’ The Sunday Times ‘Brilliant, brave and bursting with ideas.’ Jess Phillips MP ‘A humane and decent personal manifesto that does not shirk the challenges and dangers we face. Powerful and deeply authentic.’ Philippe Sands ‘Clear-eyed and compassionate, but caustic about the people and ideas that have let Britain down so badly, Lisa Nandy is a new kind of politician and a new kind of thinker. We have never needed voices like hers more urgently.’ Stuart Maconie ‘Nandy is a big thinker and a gifted story teller. A must-read.’ Frances O’Grady, former General Secretary of the TUC ‘Original, thought-provoking and exciting.’ Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark ‘A positive agenda for change and renewal rooted in the best traditions of the Labour movement.’ Jon Cruddas MP ‘Informative, perceptive and at times inspiring. This is the kind of political vision the country so badly needs.’ Anand Menon, Director, UK in a Changing Europe ‘Wide-ranging, imaginative, practical and believable.’ Danny Dorling ‘A tour de force. All In outlines what a better world might look like.’ Professor Will Jennings ‘With a sharp eye for illustration, Nandy offers one of Labour’s more radical routes out of neoliberalism in her accessible book.’ The House

Read more less

Book Synopsis''It is going to change the way in which we understand many modern debates about economics, politics, and society'' Ha Joon Chang, author of 23 Things They Don''t Tell You About CapitalismOver the past fifty years, the way we value what is ''good'' and ''right'' has changed dramatically. Behaviour that to our grandparents'' generation might have seemed stupid, harmful or simply wicked now seems rational, natural, woven into the very logic of things. And, asserts Jonathan Aldred in this revelatory new book, it''s economics that''s to blame.Licence to be Bad tells the story of how a group of economics theorists changed our world, and how a handful of key ideas, from free-riding to Nudge, seeped into our decision-making and, indeed, almost all aspects of our lives. Aldred reveals the extraordinary hold of economics on our morals and values. Economics has corrupted us. But if this hidden transformation is so recent, it can be reversed. LiceTrade Review[A] fascinating assault on modern economic orthodoxy... It is a call for us all to put aside our prejudices - some of which have been invented for us, decades ago - and ask, is this what we need? Is it even what we really want? -- Tim Stanley * Daily Telegraph *In this highly enlightening and hugely entertaining book, Jonathan Aldred guides us through the badlands of modern economics, revealing its pitfalls, quicksand, and quagmires. It is going to change the way in which we understand many modern debates about economics, politics, and society. -- Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, author of 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism and Economics: The User's GuideThis an important and timely book, the best I have recently read on the subject of 'whither economics?' -- Lord Robert SkidelskyAn entertaining, wide-ranging and often challenging argument. Aldred writes exceptionally well and there is much here to agree with ... It's impossible to do justice to the sheer range of issues tackled. -- Paul Johnson * Literary Review *Illuminating ... an unusual approach to critiquing the modern economic canon. -- Paul Collier * Times Literary Supplement *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Naomi Klein''s work has always moved and guided me. She is the great chronicler of our age of climate emergency, an inspirer of generations'' - Greta Thunberg For more than twenty years Naomi Klein''s books have defined our era, chronicling the exploitation of people and the planet and demanding justice. On Fire gathers for the first time more than a decade of her impassioned writing from the frontline of climate breakdown, and pairs it with new material on the staggeringly high stakes of what we choose to do next. Here is Klein at her most prophetic and philosophical, investigating the climate crisis not only as a profound political challenge but also as a spiritual and imaginative one. Delving into topics ranging from the clash between ecological time and our culture of ''perpetual now,'' to rising white supremacy and fortressed borders as a form of ''climate barbarism,'' this is a rousing call to action for a planet on the brink. With dispaTrade ReviewNaomi Klein's work has always moved and guided me. She is the great chronicler of our age of climate emergency, an inspirer of generations -- Greta ThunbergThe greatest theorist of climate change. -- Amitav GhoshNaomi Klein applies her fine, fierce and meticulous mind to the greatest, most urgent questions of our times. . . . I count her among the most inspirational political thinkers in the world today. -- Arundhati RoyNaomi is like a great doctor - she can diagnose problems nobody else sees. -- Alfonso CuarónNaomi Klein is a precious gift: every time I read her words, my heart leaps from sadness and anger to action. She takes us deep, down to the roots of what is wrong - and then up, up to a height from which we can see what must be done. Everything we love is at stake now: these writings are our best and brightest hope. -- Emma ThompsonA critically important thought-leader in these perilous times, a necessary voice as a courageous movement of movements rises from the ashes. -- Michelle Alexander, author of THE NEW JIM CROWAn invigorating message of climate hope through social transformation. Bring on the revolution. -- Fred Pearce * New Scientist *In On Fire, the longstanding critic of corporate globalisation argues for a much more comprehensive economic reboot ... a long-lensed critique about humanity's relationship to nature. -- Jonathan Ford * Financial Times *A hopeful vision of the future ... In these extraordinary times it should appeal to a new set of readers looking for extreme solutions to match the extremity of the crisis. This is Klein doing what she does best: 'not being polite and not playing by the rules'. -- Harriet Constable * Geographical Magazine *A powerful and righteous blast against defeatism. -- Andrew Lynch * Business Post *

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 SynopsisWho really benefits from a cashless society?Many of us rarely use cash these days. And the reach of corporations into our lives via cards and apps has never been greater. But what we're told is inevitable is actually the work of powerful interests: the great battle of our time is for ownership of the digital footprints that make up our lives.Cloudmoney tells a revelatory story about the fusion of big finance and tech, which requires physical cash to be replaced by digital money or 'cloudmoney'. Diving beneath the surface of the global financial system, Brett Scott uncovers a long-established lobbying infrastructure waging a covert war on cash under the banner of progress but at the cost of our privacy, politics and individual freedom.'A wonderfully revolutionary text' YANIS VAROUFAKIS'Scott has struck an important vein that is vital in a digital age' FINANCIAL TIMES'Brilliant, fascinating and utterly accessible' KATE RAWORTH, author of Doughnut EconomicsTrade ReviewIf people could see clearly how their money is created, they would rebel - especially now that it is digitised. Brett Scott's highly readable and topical Cloudmoney is, in this sense, a wonderfully revolutionary text -- Yanis VaroufakisCloudmoney is a brilliant, fascinating and utterly accessible book - a pioneering and political guide to the fast-evolving web of global finance... If you want to understand what money is - and what it is in danger of becoming - start right here -- Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut EconomicsA fascinating and readable guide to the future, and how we can reclaim that future from the clutches of Big Finance and Big Tech -- Grace BlakeleyThe rush to a cashless society isn't about convenience. It is about power. Brett Scott cuts through the hype with this brilliant critique of digital money and the rise of fintech empires, while offering a compelling alternative vision. Don't miss this book -- Jason Hickel, author of Less Is MoreYour head has been deliberately filled with falsehoods and confusion about money. This brilliant book helps you understand how that happened, who profits from our collective financial ignorance, and how we might best fight back. Filled with dazzling insight and admirable clarity, this is a book you'll soon be recommending far and wide -- Raj Patel, author of Stuffed and StarvedCloudmoney does well to map out how the switch away from cash is being spun as natural progress... Scott has struck an important vein, that is vital in a digital age * Financial Times *An important reflection on the new world of finance. Brett Scott writes with gusto about blockchain, crypto and the power nexus between Big Tech and the banks in a cashless society -- Lionel Barber, author of The Powerful and The DamnedWith this wonderful, lucid and urgently important book, Brett Scott is hunting big game. Get a copy - and make sure you pay with cash -- Nicholas Shaxson, author of Treasure IslandsQuietly radical and unexpectedly beautiful, this is so much more than a book about money. Brett Scott propels the reader to a new understanding of today's capitalism through humour, first-hand reportage, patient explanation, deep political analysis and a lot of heart. Let him change the way you see the world - he has for me -- Sarah Jaffe, author of Work Won't Love You BackArise all data donors from your slumber - and read this book. You - we - have been sucked into the "tech-finance vortex" that is the new, dangerous alliance of Big Finance and Big Tech. Addicted to our apps, we are trapped in a dizzying whirlpool of surveillance, allowing the FinTech vortex to exercise power over, and profit from, every transaction undertaken. Scott, steeped in the sector, guides us through it, and helps readers understand what is happening. He invites us to revolt and jam the Big Fusion. His book is an urgent must-read -- Ann PettiforIn a book that is simultaneously irreverent, hard-hitting and entertaining, Brett Scott blows apart conventional myths about cash, digital money, and crypto, and brilliantly shows us what's at stake in the coming battles for the soul of money -- Stephanie Kelton, Author of The Deficit MythA groundbreaking book * Morning Star *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe more we ponder, the odder the world can seem. How do footballers get their shirt numbers? Why does having daughters make couples more likely to divorce? How do you move a horse from one country to another? What counts as a journey into space? The keen minds at The Economist contemplate all these questions and more in their quest for the globe's most extraordinary quandaries and conundrums, with bizarre facts and headscratchers that show the world is even stranger than we might have thought. From plant-based milk and supermoons to the next Dalai Lama and what really happened at the storming of the Bastille, this collection of the oddest and most mindboggling explanations will amaze and delight in equal measure.Trade ReviewPraise for Tom Standage: 'Uncommonly brilliant * Daily Mail *The Father Christmas of knowledge -- Giles CorenBooks like this make you wary of ever guessing the answer to anything * Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe are told that the future of work will be increasingly automated. Algorithms, processing massive amounts of information at startling speed, will lead us to a new world of effortless labour and a post-work utopia of ever expanding leisure. But behind the gleaming surface stands millions of workers, often in the Global South, manually processing data for a pittance.Recent years have seen a boom in online crowdworking platforms like Amazon's Mechanical Turk and Clickworker, and these have become an increasingly important source of work for millions of people. And it is these badly paid tasks, not algorithms, that make our digital lives possible. Used to process data for everything from the mechanics of self-driving cars to Google image search, this is an increasingly powerful part of the new digital economy, although one hidden and rarely spoken of. But what happens to work when it makes itself obsolete. In this stimulating work that blends political economy, studies of contemporary work, and speculations on the future of capitalism, Phil Jones looks at what this often murky and hidden form of labour looks like, and what it says about the state of global capitalism.Trade ReviewBeneath the noisy sphere of autonomous robots and smart assistants, Jones clearly and patiently reveals the hidden abode of underpaid, overworked, and insecure labourers that underpin our digital society. This is an essential guide to an often invisible world. -- Nick Snricek, author of Platform CapitalismLet Phil Jones be your guide to the darkest underbelly of work under digitized capitalism, where tech barons surveil workers' every move and sell their clicks for profit, and the 'job' falls apart but we work more all the time. A beautifully written call to arms to stop this miserable future before it comes for all of us -- Sarah Jaffe, author of Work Won't Love You BackIn this fast-paced and exciting read, Phil Jones explores the hidden abodes of the digital economy, where the world's surplus workers label images, moderate content, and teach algorithms how to identify common house pets, all for a few cents an hour. /Work without the worker/ explores how dispossessed microworkers might band together to spearhead a global movement for free-time and material security. -- Aaron Benanev, author of Automation and the Future of WorkTakes readers to the hidden abode of production of artificial intelligence: a world of precarious, highly exploited, and onerous microwork increasingly performed in the slums, prisons, and refugee camps of sclerotic post-crisis capitalism. With an incandescent urgency, Jones argues that such digitally fragmented piecework threatens livelihoods of all sorts, but also that it offers a tantalizing potential for a world beyond wage labor -- if we can fight for it. -- Gavin Mueller, author of Breaking Things at Work[Phil Jones] establishes himself as a leading figure in what might be called post-accelerationism. -- John Foster * The Battleground *Striking ... After reading Jones' book, it is difficult to look at computers, or those who promote them as our collective salvation, the same way as before. -- Katjo Buissink * Marx & Philosophy *Microwork is the latest proof that technological development doesn't end work, but only produces new forms of labour - and new ways of concealing it. -- Katrina Forrester * London Review of Books *

Read more less

Book Synopsis”Admirably lucid” - Gillian Tett, FT "What happens when we make a payment is literally a multi-billion dollar question. This is a fascinating and entertaining insight into those seconds between clicking a button and money appearing in far-off accounts – and the changing face of those who profit.” - Dharshini David, author of The Almighty Dollar How we pay is so fundamental that it underpins everything - from trade to taxation, stocks and savings to salaries, pensions and pocket money. Rich or poor, criminal, communist or capitalist, we all rely on the same payments system, day in, day out. It sits between us and not just economic meltdown, but a total breakdown in law and order. Why then do we know so little about how it really works? As you read this, technology is dismantling payment barriers and governments are erecting them; cash is on the way out, and crypto and BigTech are fighting their way in. The Europeans are heavily regulated, the Americans oddly backward, and the Chinese hoping to lead the way forward. Challenging our understanding about where financial power really lies, The Pay Off shows us that the most important thing about money is the way we move it. Leibbrandt and De Terán shine a light on the hidden workings of the humble payment - and reveal both how our payment habits are determined by history as well as where we go from here. From national customs to warring nation states, geopolitics will shape the future of payments every bit as much as technology.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Gripping and fast-moving... the reporting and the level of detail are astounding… a riveting picture of a figure the world does not know very well, but should.” — Washington Post “Rempel assembles a dizzying amount of information about the deals that made [Kerkorian] one of the richest men in America… Now in this most exhaustive biography, he remains as he was in life, a man of great wealth, power, honor, and mystery.” — New York Journal of Books “The book provides a remarkably detailed and fascinating look at the career of an idiosyncratic tycoon.” — Booklist “Chockablock with dialogue and intimate detail assembled by deep research… All sorts of celebrities—in business, sports, and elsewhere—glide through the text… [The Gambler] is the compelling story of a Horatio Alger.” — Kirkus Reviews “an engrossing story of a self-made man.” — Publishers Weekly “I recommend that every Armenian buy a copy of Kirk’s biography and suggest it to their non-Armenian neighbors, friends and colleagues. Kerkorian’s incredible accomplishments bestow a great honor upon Armenians worldwide!” — The California Courier “A fast-moving, dramatic narrative of [Kerkorian’s] larger-than-life business career.” — Washington Times “The Gambler is an excellent tour de force biography of a true rags-to-riches impressario… A class act of a biography! — Seattle Book Review “Informative and entertaining...Rempel’s The Gambler does justice to Kerkorian’s life and legacy.“ — CDC Gaming Reports, Inc. “With The Gambler, Rempel has done Las Vegas and a generation of business entrepreneurs a great service, adding rich detail to the business titan’s deals and controversies. Kerkorian’s life is a reminder of how far Americans can go” — KNPR

Read more less

Book SynopsisThat we need money to live like it or not is a self-evident truism. Right? Not anymore. Drawing on almost three years of experience as The Moneyless Man, ex-businessman Mark Boyle not only demystifies money and the system that binds us to it, he also explains how liberating, easy and enjoyable it is to live with less of it. In this book, Mark takes us on an exploration that goes deeper into the thinking that pushed him to make the decision to go moneyless, and the philosophy he developed along the way. Bursting with radical new perspectives on some of the vital, yet often unquestioned, pillars of economic theory and what it really means to be 'sustainable' as well as creative and practical solutions for how we can live more with less Boyle offers us one of the world s most thought-provoking voices on economic and ecological ideas. Mark's original, witty style will help simplify and diversify your personal economy, freeing you from the invisible ties that limit you, and making you more resilient to financial shocks. The Moneyless Manifesto will enable you to start your journey into a new world.Trade ReviewAn inspiring meditation on the divisive power of money, which also offers excellent practical suggestions for escaping its grip. Tom Hodgkinson, Sunday Times bestselling author of How to be Idle

Read more less

Book SynopsisJohn Lanchester''s Whoops! Why Everyone Owes Everyone and No One Can Pay is the unbelievable true story of the economic crisis. We are, to use a technical economic term, screwed. The cowboy capitalists had a party with everyone''s money and now we''re all paying for it. What went wrong? And will we learn our lesson - or just carry on as before, like celebrating surviving a heart attack with a packet of Rothmans? John Lanchester travels with a cast of characters - including reckless banksters, snoozing regulators, complacent politicians, predatory lenders, credit-drunk spendthrifts, and innocent bystanders to understand deeply and genuinely what is happening and why we feel the way we do. ''Devastatingly funny ... the route map to the crazed world of contemporary finance we have all been waiting for''  Will Self ''Bang on the money''   Independent ''Explains the crisis in a way that actuTrade ReviewThis is what George Bernard Shaw might have called An Intelligent Person's Guide to the Crisis of Modern Capitalism, and everyone ought to read it * Robert Harris, Sunday Times *Original . . . beautifully written . . . both entertaining and profoundly anger-inducing * Chris Blackhurst, Evening Standard *The route map to the crazed world of contemporary finance we have all been waiting for. John Lanchester's superb book is everything its subject - the 2008 crash - was not: namely lucid, beautifully contrived, comprehensible to the reader with no specialist knowledge - and most of all devastatingly funny -- Will SelfWickedly funny . . . Good humor and good company will be the things that'll get us through * Dwight Garner, New York Times *Endlessly witty, but the wit is underpinned by a tremendous, unembarrassed anger and moral lucidity. A superb guide which will turn any reader into an expert within the space of 200 pages. * Jonathan Coe *Explains the madness of modern capitalism with razor-sharp insight, brilliant clarity and a refreshing dose of humour. A great book. * John O'Farrell *Scarier than Thomas Harris * Nicci French *John Lanchester's newfound mission: to explain the world of finance to the general public . . . The result is the perfect read for anyone still wondering what went wrong and why. Unless you'd rather they didn't know * Bloomberg *Literary and profound . . . a master explainer with an excellent grasp of sophisticated finance * Christopher Caldwell, The Daily Beast *Acidic, frightening, and sharply funny . . . a better book about the global meltdown than any other to date * EW.com *[A] sober message lurking among Lanchester's delightful wordplay, and it deserves attention by everyone who cares to understand where we are, how we got here and who is responsible * John Lawrence Reynolds, Globe and Mail *This is a piece of genius . . . It tells a proper story, like a novel, and we're all part of it - which means it is *gripping*. Yes! Gripping! A book about money! I know! But it's true. It is necessary, particularly - but not exclusively - if you're somebody who thinks, 'Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Iceland, um, mortgages, er...' and doesn't want to keep thinking it until the end of time, amoeba-stylee. I humbly posit that it is a masterpiece * India Knight *Lanchester has turned that fascination - coupled with a kind of astonished anger - into a lucid, conversational account of the crisis designed for non-financial types and helpfully leavened with jokes, swearing and interesting asides * Quentin Webb, Reuters *An excellent book for anyone wondering what the hell is going on. Triple A, as the credit rating agencies might say * Irish Times *Or you could simply borrow the book from someone. If they've read it, even better - they won't be expecting you to return it * The Telegraph *For anyone still wondering what the hell those bankers did with our money, try John Lanchester's deliciously escoriating Whoops! Even someone who can't remember their eight times tables comes away feeling wonderfully well informed -- Allison Pearson * summer reading recommendation, Psychologies *This account is by far the most lucid and entertaining explanation of the world banking crisis of 2008 -- Megan Walsh * summer reading recommendation, Times *A lively lay reader's guide to the financial crisis, written by a novelist who sought to educates himself about banking and its failures. Funny and pointed, it exposes the gulf between the two cultures of modern Britain: financial and non-financial -- Ed Crooks * summer reading recommendation, Financial Times *If you want to look like a rock of good sense, a person who is deep and wise and worried, then I suggest Whoops! by John Lanchester ... If only the Queen Mother were still alive, it would make sense even to her -- Colm Toibin * summer reading recommendation, Guardian *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Thrilling, brilliant, radical ... an admirable defence of humans against machines'' GuardianA passionate defence of humanity and a work of radical optimism from the international bestselling author of PostcapitalismHow do we preserve what makes us human in an age of uncertainty? Are we now just consumers shaped by market forces? A sequence of DNA? A collection of base instincts? Or will we soon be supplanted by algorithms and A.I. anyway?In Clear Bright Future, Paul Mason calls for a radical, impassioned defence of the human being, our universal rights and freedoms and our power to change the world around us. Ranging from economics to Big Data, from neuroscience to the culture wars, he draws from his on-the-ground reporting from mass protests in Istanbul to riots in Washington, as well as his own childhood in an English mining community, to show how the notion of humanity has become eroded as never before.In this bTrade ReviewIt has quick wit, vivid prose and makes rapid and stimulating connections. Its subtitle sums up its strengths. Fundamentally, Mason believes in the power of agency - the ability to choose to act and shape your own future.—John McTernan, Financial TimesA very interesting book, wide-ranging, insightful and yet still optimistic...some of his glosses on the history of ideas, and their impact on our troubled present, are alone worth the price of the book: he explains, lucidly and persuasively, how the uncertainty principles of quantum mechanics - questionable in themselves - have bled, via post-modernist theory, into the climate of irrationalism and fatalism that fuels Brexit, Putin and Trump.—Ed O'Loughin, Irish TimesClear Bright Future's account of our political predicament is thrilling.—Eliane Glaser, GuardianPaul Mason is doing something remarkable in this book, though it shouldn't be remarkable: he's focusing on the nature of being human, and how this is affected for better or worse by social, economic, and political forces that might seem overwhelming. It's the best analysis of neo-liberalism that I've seen for a long time, and puts our lives in a richly described context. Best of all, it's written with clarity and passion. I hope it'll change many minds.—Philip PullmanAmid the ruins of many modern ideologies, Paul Mason's consistently bracing book offers a guide to a sustainable future - one that we can still shape with a fresh transformational vision of what it means to be free human being. Everyone should read it.—Pankaj MishraAn unshakable humanist faith runs through this book... with his humane stress on the good life, Mason defies the caricature of the Corbyn left as reheated Soviet Communism. Corbynism is also routinely charged with wanting to "take us back to the 1970s." But here its leading thinker engages with tomorrow's economy with an urgency that's not currently matched on the right.—Tom Clark, Prospect

Read more less

Book SynopsisNFTs cause excitement and skepticism. How much value can a token hold? What drives this value?To properly appreciate NFTs we must first understand what they actually are, how they work and in what contexts they are used.The Everything Token is an essential primer on NFTs (non-fungible tokens), explaining their use, purpose, and how businesses can create and exploit them to develop new product lines, building customer loyalty and increased revenues at the same time.Together the authors have spent much of the past few years embedded in NFT communities and helping launch NFT products. As self-described beta testers of this brand-new technology, they've seen its power first-hand and aim to educate others on the importance, uses and purpose of NFT and surrounding, ever-evolving technologies.Demystifying the complexities, two experts in NFTs show why we should take NFTs much more seriously than their reputation as fun digital art collectibles suggest

Read more less

Book SynopsisDambisa Moyo is the critically acclaimed author of How The West Was Lost and Dead Aid. She was chosen as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009. She holds a PhD in Economics from Oxford University and a Masters from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and has worked at the World Bank and Goldman Sachs. She was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia.Trade ReviewIf Moyo's calculations are correct, we are in big trouble - which makes the central premise of her book all the more arresting...It's not hard to see why Moyo is such a hit as a public intellectual -- Decca Aitkenhead * Guardian *Written to clarify important global questions, this book deserves a wide audience * Kirkus Reviews *With Winner Take All, Dambisa Moyo offers a timely and provocative answer to two crucial questions: How are China's leaders rushing to meet their country's exploding demand for energy, and what does this mean for the rest of us? It's a recipe for conflict-and at a crucial moment for the future of the global economy -- Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and author of 'The End of the Free Market'For anyone longing to make sense of tectonic, eco-political shifts occurring in the commodities market, Winner Takes All is a fascinating and important book. By focusing her razor-sharp mind on China's central role in the new commodities rush, Moyo sheds light on and makes sense of a profound and dramatic moment in our history. Her book is a must-read -- Peter Munk, Chairman and Founder, Barrick Gold Corporation[Praise for How The West Was Lost] Moyo is a very serious lady indeed -- Dominic Lawson * The Times *Moyo's diagnosis of the recent disasters in financial markets is succinct and sophisticated...I applaud her brave alarum -- Paul Collier * The Observer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Times Best Business Book of 2018What can the ideas of history''s greatest economists tell us about the most important issues of our time?''The best place to start to learn about the very greatest economists of all time'' Professor Tyler Cowen, author of The Complacent Class and The Great StagnationSince the days of Adam Smith, economists have grappled with a series of familiar problems - but often their ideas are hard to digest, before we even try to apply them to today''s issues. Linda Yueh is renowned for her combination of erudition, as an accomplished economist herself, and accessibility, as a leading writer and broadcaster in this field; and in The Great Economists she explains the key thoughts of history''s greatest economists, how their lives and times affected their ideas, how our lives have been influenced by their work, and how they could help with the policy challenges that we face today. ITrade ReviewAre you looking to learn about the very greatest economists of all time? Linda Yueh's book is the best place to start, a modern-day version of Robert Heilbroner's classic The Worldly Philosophers. -- Tyler Cowen, the Holbert L. Harris Chair of Economics at George Mason University, and author of The Complacent Class and The Great StagnationEconomics students are not taught the history of economic thought. They, like others, can learn a lot from this book: some of the great economists of the past had insights that could have saved the subject from its recent embarrassments. -- Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Oxford UniversityNot only a great way to learn in an easily readable manner about some of the greatest economic influences of the past, but also a good way to test your own a priori assumptions about some of the big challenges of our time. -- Lord Jim O’Neill, former Chairman at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, former UK Treasury Minister, and author of The Growth MapA fascinating event for anyone interested in economics. For this is a book which, as the title suggests, champions the value of studying the leading economic thinkers of the past ... As an Oxford don and a professor at London Business School, Yueh undoubtedly knows her stuff; and as a former chief business correspondent for the BBC and economics editor at Bloomberg TV, she is a well-known and skilful communicator ... The achievements of modern, scientific economics are significant, and the reader who wants a slick and well-curated tour of its current policy recommendations will profit greatly from Yueh's enjoyable and up-to-date book. -- Felix Martin * New Statesman *An extremely engaging survey of the lifetimes and ideas of the great thinkers of economic history, woven together with fascinating and useful discussions of how their ideas still shape economic policy today. Yueh's book is reminiscent of Heilbroner's marvellous classic The Wordly Philosophers, but more focused on contemporary debates on inequality, trade and productivity. Although targeted at readers interested in economic issues, this book would also make an excellent supplementary reading for undergraduate courses in economics, politics and social studies. -- Kenneth Rogoff, Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics at Harvard University, author of The Curse of Cash and co-author of This Time is DifferentLinda Yueh has had the brilliant idea of, not just describing the theories of each great thinker, but linking each one to a particular problem of today ... I am sure Linda Yueh's original approach will deepen students' understanding of the Great Economists. * Lord Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer *What would the great economists of the past make of today's problems? Linda Yueh takes on this ambitious task in this engaging book, introducing us to the work of each economist and conjecturing how they might have advised us. This book is a very readable introduction to the lives and thinking of the greats, and reminds us that policymakers continue to be, as Keynes wrote, "slaves of some defunct economist". -- Raghuram Rajan, Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and author of I Do What I Do and Fault LinesTo anyone with even a passing interest in the economic problems, large and small, affecting us today, What Would the Great Economists Do? comes at the right time: a highly accessible and acute guide to thinking and learning from the men and woman whose work can inform and ultimately aid us in understanding the great national and global crises we face. -- Nouriel Roubini, author of the New York Times bestselling Crisis Economics: A Crash Course in the Future of FinanceThis well-written book provides more than an engaging discussion of how the "Great Economists" changed the course of economic thinking and history. It links their insights to current economic challenges, assessing how their unique contributions can improve future wellbeing. It concludes by artfully bringing together the economists' individual insights to shed light on the backlash against globalization. Read it not only to learn about the world's great economists, but also to see how consequential thought innovations can be, and have been. -- Mohamed A. El-Erian, Chief Economic Adviser at Allianz, former CEO of PIMCOIs economics a science in which each new generation's discoveries build on those of the old? Or a humanistic study in which old ideas remain valid and relevant today? Linda Yueh's account of the thinking of the great economists demonstrates that both perspectives are true. -- Professor John KayA highly informative and entertaining introduction to the ideas of some of the great economists. -- Robert A. Cord, editor of The Palgrave Companion to Cambridge Economics, co-editor of Milton Friedman: Contributions to Economics and Public Policy, and author of Reinterpreting the Keynesian RevolutionYou can see her journalistic training in the way she makes connections between the lives, characters and thinking of her subjects -- John Lanchester * Sunday Times *Crisp pen portraits and introductions to complex ideas have been melded with an assessment of what a particular dead economist might have advised about a contemporary issue ... The portraits are entertainingly crafted and the details of family lives well deployed. -- Iain Martin * The Times *Would [Adam] Smith's view have changed in modern times? Probably yes. Linda Yueh in her brilliant new book, "The Great Economists: How Their Ideas Can Help Us Today", argues that due to rapid technological advancements since Smith's time, the tune of the musician, which he regarded as ephemeral, now holds tangible value. Also, since Smith believed in the power of the invisible hand of the markets, he would have derided any move towards introducing market distortions like the Trump tariffs to promote manufacturing. * India Times *I certainly wish that [The Great Economists] had been around when I started to study the subject. -- Dr Matthew Partridge * Money Week *The style is engaging and takes the readers through key elements of the economic challenges we currently face, with the support of data and international comparisons ... Readers will certainly enjoy learning about the economists, as many of them lived quite unconventional lives. -- Angela Gallo * Financial Times Adviser *As a broad and accessible overview of the lives and ideas of prominent economic thinkers, Yueh's book is a useful addition to the field. Its strongest sections make important connections between historical figures and modern decision-makers, such as the chapter detailing former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke's interest in Irving Fisher's debt-deflation hypothesis. -- Alasdair Hutchison * Reaction *Readable, informative, and thought-provoking, and deserves a place in all libraries -- David Tyckoson * Booklist *The book is lucidly written... It offers glimpses into the lives of these influential economists, often laced with interesting nuggets of information. -- Ishan Bakshi * Business Standard *An accessible and lively evaluation of the global financial crisis . . . [Yueh] has a way of simplifying the arcane and ferreting out good news - of which we need a lot. -- Mary Kaye Schilling * Newsweek *Awesome yet accessible...recommended! -- Tim HarfordAmazing new book . . . warmly recommend -- NPR Planet MoneyExcellent . . . what makes this book special is that it is simple to read and understand . . . extremely engaging and serves a grand five-star buffet -- Madan Sabnavis * Financial Express *Want to learn about great ideas in economics and the great economists without doing any algebra? Here is an engagingly written book for you by Linda Yueh. She is both a real economist and an experienced journalist, so she knows how and what to write * Richard Baldwin *A great book and Linda Yueh is well worth listening to -- Kevin Watkins, former head of the Overseas Development InstituteYueh's CV - Oxford economics fellow; former editor at Bloomberg TV; ex-advisor to the World Bank - could inspire an inferiority complex in almost anyone. Yet she has written a remarkably accessible primer that profiles 12 of history's greatest economists (from Adam Smith to Joan Robinson), and then asks what they can reveal about the world today. Perhaps its most important lesson is not to take financial advice from economists: many of Yueh's subjects lost fortunes * The Times, Best business books of 2018 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisUntangle the jargon and understand how you're involved in everyday economics If you want to get to grips with the basics of economics and understand a subject that affects British citizens on a daily basis, then look no further than Economics For Dummies.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: Economics: The Science of How People Deal with Scarcity 7 Chapter 1: What Does Economics Study? And Why Should You Care? 9 Chapter 2: Cake or Ice Cream? Tracking Consumer Choices 25 Chapter 3: Producing the Right Stuff in the Right Way to Maximise Human Happiness 39 Part II: Macroeconomics: The Science of Economic Growth and Stability 63 Chapter 4: Measuring the Macroeconomy: How Economists Keep Track of Everything 65 Chapter 5: Inflation Frustration: Why More Money Isn’t Always a Good Thing 89 Chapter 6: Understanding Why Recessions Happen 111 Chapter 7: Fighting Recessions with Monetary and Fiscal Policy 141 Part III: Microeconomics: The Science of Consumer and Firm Behaviour 169 Chapter 8: Supply and Demand Made Easy 171 Chapter 9: Getting to Know Homo Economicus, the Utility-Maximising Consumer 197 Chapter 10: The Core of Capitalism: The Profit-Maximising Firm 217 Chapter 11: Why Economists Love Free Markets and Competition 243 Chapter 12: Monopolies: How Badly Would You Behave If You Had No Competition? 269 Chapter 13: Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition: Middle Grounds 291 Chapter 14: Property Rights and Wrongs 315 Chapter 15: Market Failure: Asymmetric Information and Public Goods 329 Part IV: The Part of Tens 345 Chapter 16: Ten (Or so) Famous Economists 347 Chapter 17: Ten Seductive Economic Fallacies 355 Chapter 18: Ten Economic Ideas to Hold Dear 363 Appendix: Glossary 369 Index 377

Read more less

Book SynopsisJacques Peretti tells the story of the secret history of the deals that are changing our world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Hoodie Economics, Jack Manning Bancroft builds a values system revolution that centres a relational economy, offering urgent and transformative solutions to embrace Indigenous thinking and ideas from outside the margins and pushing the focus from capitalism to relationships – from the people in suits to the people in hoodies. Economics is what we value, and in that way, economics is for everyone. But modern financial empires have shut out the many to instead prioritise ‘limitless’ market growth, attention economies and stock profits for the very few. We have been denied our sense of agency and taught to focus on the self above all, and the biggest stock that is down is our relationships – both with each other and with nature. But we have the powerful tools of imagination and exchange that will allow us to reshape economics for everyone. Hoodie Economics draws on alternative intelligence sources to look at the patterns of money, ownership and reductive thinking that we have inherited, and how we have the potential to create a new (old) foundation of equality – relational economies instead of transactional ones, and networks that are truly social. Just as Jack Manning Bancroft sets out to reimagine economics, Hoodie Economics rethinks the economics book, inviting all readers to find their own way through its narratives and to feel energised by its ideas. In increasingly anxious and tumultuous times, this book offers a mind-expanding economic philosophy that centres unlikely connections, knowledge sharing, custodianship and joy.Trade Review'This book, written with humour and heart, invites society to rethink what we value and transform how we understand our world.' – Coco McGrath, Books+Publishing

Read more less

Book SynopsisYour expert guide to understanding the models, morals, minefields and mechanisms of the modern global marketplace.What with trickle down and level up, boom and bust, stimulus and stagflation, green investment and Black Monday, the modern landscape of economics is an intriguing place to explore. But how are you expected to navigate the means and ends of this turbulent world?Short Cuts: Economics provides the map you need to start exploring seriously big ideas. A wealth of provocative questions prompt 'short cut' answers written by experts in their field, with each one the setting-off point for instructions to help you plot your path through the economic maze.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLonglisted for the FT Schroders Business Book of the Year Award 2023 - A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: GQ, Los Angeles Times, WiredWherever you look, money is being re- placed by tokens. Digital platforms are issuing new kinds of money-like things: phone credit, shares, gift vouchers, game tokens, customer data-the list goes on. But what does it mean when online platforms become the new banks? What new types of control and discrimination emerge when money is tied to specific apps or actions, politics or identities?Tokens opens up this new and expanding world. Exploring the history of extra- monetary economies, Rachel O'Dwyer shows that private and grassroots tokens have always haunted the real economy. But as the large tech platforms issue new money-like instruments, tokens are suddenly everywhere. Amazon's Turk workers are getting paid in gift cards. Online streamers trade in wishlists. Foreign remittances are sent via phone credit. Bitcoin, gift cards, NFTs, customer data, and game tokens are the new money in an evolving economy. It is a development challenging the balance of power between online empires and the state. Tokens may offer a flexible even subversive route to compensation. But for the platforms them- selves they can be a means of amassing frightening new powers.An essential read for anyone concerned with digital money, inequality, and the future of the economy.Trade ReviewAn important addition to the growing blockchain canon, written with wit and generosity. -- Kate Knibbs, Best Books of 2023 * WIRED *Tokens deftly gives the basic concept that animates cryptocurrency - the titular token - the critical and historical treatment. -- Brian Merchant, Best Tech Books of 2023 * LA Times *Rachel O'Dwyer offers an introduction to the politics of modern tech darlings: from cryptocurrency to Web3. [Tokens] explores the future of money, which O'Dwyer points out is increasingly "being replaced by tokens", and questions what it means when digital platforms become the new banks. While these tokens offer new types of relationships, ownership, and governance, O'Dwyer warns that they also usher in novel forms of surveillance and discipline. -- Brit Dawson, All the best books to look forward to in 2023 * GQ *Rachel O'Dywer takes us on a fascinating and important journey into the vast realm of hidden currencies that operate in the shadows of mainstream money systems. She shows how unorthodox tokens have been enlisted by those seeking emancipation, but rather than uncritically praising them as breakthrough innovations, she also skillfully draws out the deep ambiguities inherent within them: powerful corporate players are quick to take advantage of the grey area on the edge of standard monetary systems to accumulate more profit and data. A must read for anyone exploring the politics of Big Tech and Big Finance. -- Brett Scott, author of Cloud MoneyNo one has done more thoughtful research or has more nuanced takes than Rachel O'Dwyer. She mercilessly cuts through the hype and yet leaves room for hope. -- Lana Swartz, author of New MoneyIn this endlessly fascinating book, Rachel O'Dwyer illuminates the deep strangeness and complexity of money. Written with engaging style and deep intellectual rigour, Tokens is a bracing and enriching exploration of the future of techno-capitalism. -- Mark O'Connell, author of A Thread of ViolenceToken economies are not your typical markets. Enabling a recent explosion of digital grey economies, tokens are used to represent belonging, appreciation, fandom and exclusivity mediating identities, access and incomes across the vast peripheries of the formal economy. Read O'Dwyers book immediately for a full spectrum overview of how tokens have facilitated fields of social potential and experimentation that have nevertheless been locked down and exploited by the tech companies who own the underlying rails. -- Jaya Klara BrekkeThere's much food for thought in there, often of the kinds that impact our daily lives...O'Dwyer is an engaging, amusing writer. -- Megan Volpert * Popmatters *A cautionary, comprehensive look at money and its virtual discontents * Kirkus Reviews *A groundbreaking exploration of the evolving landscape of tokens beyond the usual critique of financialisation. Through a captivating exploration of history, O'Dwyer reveals the deeply political nature of tokens, shedding light on their enduring presence and demonstrating how today's digital tokens are simply a continuation of humanity's longstanding use of tokens to facilitate a wide range of social processes. * Blockchain Socialist *A must-read for anyone seeking to navigate this new world and shape a fairer future. * Denizen *A sharp, accessible deep-dive on just what is going on with crypto * The Handbook *[Tokens] raises fascinating questions about the future of money -- Régine Debatty * We Make Money Not Art *Shot through with references to philosophy, credit scores and sociological treatises on the nature of money ... [O'Dwyer] leavens the theory with interviews and stories of people who have been sucked into the digital token economy in different ways -- Brooke Masters * Financial Times *[A] timely panorama. -- Chris Horn * Irish Times *This book offers a deep dive - a very deep dive - into how contemporary tokens work, and the consequences of their use, both for the good and for the bad ... A must-read for anyone who cares about the future of money and what the consequences will be for all of us. * The Arts Fuse *Riveting -- Stuart Jeffries * Prospect *Table of Contents1. A Bit of Cheer2. Money Talks, Tokens Track3. Programmable Butter4. Money, but Let's Make It Social5. Eat the Rich6. Trust in the Code7. Outside of Borders8. A Celestial Cyberdimension9. 'When You Live in a Shithole, There's Always the Metaverse'

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is one of the best ways to successfully predict the future? Winston Churchill believed that the further back you look, the further forward you are likely to be able to see. This intriguing book is testimony to this idea. It looks back two thousand years to the Roman Empire to help us to see into our own future. Pugnare tells the story of a people like us in their capacity for creativity and self-destruction, and in the wisdom and foolishness of those whom they chose to govern them. It tells the story of their success, a prosperity that the world had never seen before. And it tells the story of their failure, the one thousand five hundred year long Great Stagnation that followed the self-induced collapse of their world.Trade ReviewFinancial Times - "Fabulous ... one to give to anyone you would like to be less blase about the resilience of our institutions." The Week -"Top ten business book of 2021." Also featured in The Sunday Telegraph, City A.M., The Express, The Actuary, Moneyweek, America Magazine and Cointelegraph.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Expansion 8 Chapter 3 Peace 29 Chapter 4 Money 57 Chapter 5 Cities 85 Chapter 6 Prosperity 113 Chapter 7 Life 141 Chapter 8 Chaos 165 Chapter 9 Survival 199 Appendix 217 Additional Reading 219 Acknowledgements 227 List of Illustrations 229 Bibliography 233 Index 251

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe are living through a cost of living crisis, with interest rate hikes and the prices of everyday consumables and energy bills sky-rocketing. Why is this happening? Sometimes we are told that wages are too high, or that the government has "printed" too much money or that events far away, such as the war in Ukraine, are solely to blame. The plain argument that high prices go together with high profits, falling wages, and weak production is often distorted and hidden by mainstream commentary in the media and elsewhere. This plain-speaking pamphlet tells it straight: the big businesses dominating production and distribution make huge profits out of high inflation, while working people lose out. It sets out factual evidence to illustrate that the source of record profits is the fall in real wages as inflation rises. A large part of the income of working people is being transferred directly into the profits of big business. The pamphlet shows that the deeper roots of the "cost of living crisis" lie in the very low investment and poor productivity growth for many years. The basic steps to resolving the crisis are simple: prices, especially of essentials, must be brought down, and wages, salaries, benefits, and pensions must be increased.Trade Review[An] excellent little book -- Will Podmore * The Morning Star *A small book with a mighty big punch ... Closely argued in clear, accessible language, [The Cost of Living Crisis] demolishes the decades-old lie that wage rises are the source of inflation, and backs that case with hard facts. * Scottish Socialist Voice *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Common Sense, the New York Times best-selling author Joel Greenblatt offers an investor’s perspective on building an economy that truly works for everyone. With dry and self-deprecating wit, he makes a lively and provocative case for disruptive new approaches.Trade ReviewLike many others, I am deeply saddened by the degree of inequality in our society. In Common Sense: The Investor’s Guide to Equality, Opportunity and Growth, Joel Greenblatt goes beyond documenting the problem to advance a handful of proposals that can contribute to a solution or at least jumpstart the debate. I recommend this book to anyone who cares about these things. It’s not just for investors. -- Howard Marks, cofounder and cochairman, Oaktree Capital ManagementEven Joel Greenblatt, superb investor and lucid stylist, would be shocked if you agreed with each and every one of his ideas for improving the quality of American life. But there's not one idea in these fine and well-wrought pages that won't make you stop and think. -- James Grant, editor of Grant's Interest Rate ObserverThe only thing more appealing than common sense, humor, and brevity is—impact. In this thoroughly engaging tome you will find, among other things, a workable way to break the cycle of poverty (imagine our country without an underclass!) and a bipartisan immigration reform that screams to be enacted. Not bad for twenty bucks. -- Andrew Tobias, author of The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever NeedTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Going to School2. Getting an Education3. Technology, Globalization, and Disruption4. Immigration5. Wall Street6. Saving Time and Social SecurityConclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisPeople tend to be penny wise and pound foolish and cry over spilt milk, even though we are taught to do neither. Focusing on the present at the expense of the future and basing decisions on lost value are two mistakes common to decision-making that are particularly costly in the world of finance. Behavioral Finance: What Everyone Needs to KnowR provides an overview of common shortcuts and mistakes people make in managing their finances. It covers the common cognitive biases or errors that occur when people are collecting, processing, and interpreting information. These include emotional biases and the influence of social factors, from culture to the behavior of one''s peers. These effects vary during one''s life, reflecting differences in due to age, experience, and gender. Among the questions to be addressed are: How did the financial crisis of 2007-2008 spur understanding human behavior? What are market anomalies and how do they relate to behavioral biases? What role does overconfideTrade ReviewBehavioral Finance is a compact and useful overview of this important, comparatively new sub-field of finance and an excellent resource for practitioners wanting to refresh or deepen their understanding. * Enterprising Investor *If you are looking for a book that explains behavioral finance in plain understandable language, then this book is for you. This book adeptly applies the classic Socratic method to explain why the behavioral approach better explains the behavior of normal people than the neoclassical approach. * Hersh Shefrin, Mario L. Belotti Professor of Finance, Santa Clara University *Table of ContentsChapter 1. Foundations and Psychological Concepts Chapter 2. Cognitive Biases Chapter 3. Emotional Biases and Social/Cultural Influences Chapter 4. Investor Behavior Chapter 5. Nudge: The Influence of Frame Dependence Chapter 6. Cognitive Ability Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisBillions of dollars and numerous organizations aim to help the poor, but much of their work is based on untested assumptions. Banerjee and Duflo use randomized control trials to study poverty, challenging common beliefs about aid and investment. Their research sheds light on the lives of the poor and offers new perspectives on poverty alleviation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe environmental crisis under way is unique in human history. It is a true existential crisis. Those alive today will decide the fate of humanity. Meanwhile, the leaders of the most powerful state in human history are dedicating themselves with passion to destroying the prospects for organized human life. At the same time, there is a solution at hand, which is the Green New Deal. Putting meat on the bones of the Green New Deal starts with a single simple idea: we have to absolutely stop burning fossil fuels to produce energy within the next 30 years at most; and we have to do this in a way that also supports rising living standards and expanding opportunities for working people and the poor throughout the world. This version of a Green New Deal program is, in fact, entirely realistic in terms of its purely economic and technical features. The real question is whether it is politically feasible. Chomsky and Pollin examine how we can build the political force to make a global Green New Deal a reality.Trade ReviewThis little book contains a big idea: climate stabilisation that avoids the collapse of organised social life can be achieved, along with more decent jobs, improved living standards and reduced poverty everywhere in the world. Two eminent thinkers present a convincing case for a realistic, feasible Global Green New Deal. * Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi *The project that is the Green New Deal is enriched by the insights of two great minds: those of Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin. Both understand that the GND will fail if it does not protect the jobs and livelihoods of the working class. They explain how a transformation needed to restore the ecosystem can, and will transform the organisations and lives of working people worldwide - for the better. * Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for The Green New Deal *This book is a survival manual for civilization. I want everyone--yes, every person on the planet--to learn its message and to face the challenge it poses: "What am I doing to help bring about a global Green New Deal in the early years of this decade?" For Americans, the first steps are clear: consign all climate deniers to permanent political oblivion and force all other policymakers to match fine words with deeds - i.e.commit to the Pollin-Chomsky global program for climate stabilization, a massive expansion of good jobs, and just transition. -- Daniel Ellsberg, author of The Doomsday MachineBrisk and lucid. -- Lit Hub ("Most Anticipated Books of 2020") * John Freeman *In this compelling read, linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky and progressive economist Robert Pollin present a convincing case for a realistic, feasible Global Green New Deal. * Dazed *A thought-provoking and succinct manifesto. -- Russell Whitehouse * International Policy Digest *[Chomsky and Pollin] argue it is possible to tackle climate collapse over the next 30 years ... A capitalist system that fails to respond does not deserve to survive. * Irish Times *Emphasises the crisis our planet faces but also says 'there is a solution at hand'. * Irish Examiner *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMillion Dollar Maths is an invaluable guide to the straightforward and outlandish mathematical strategies that can make you rich. ____________How can you turn $1000 into $1 million? What is the best way to beat the lottery odds? When is the best time to take out a loan?How did one group of gamblers bet on hole-in-ones to win £500,000? How can maths help you set up a successful tech start-up? What about proving the Goldbach Conjecture for $1 million?Learn the techniques for growing your everyday finances, as well as the common mistakes to avoid. Discover the skills, both fair and foul, that offer an additional edge when investing and gambling. And discover why we often misunderstand probability and statistics - with troubling financial costs. From making the most of special offers to utilising the power of exponential growth in your investments; from the art of card counting, to inventing the next Google, Million Dollar Maths is the quintessential primer to the myriad ways maths and finance intersect.Trade ReviewGreat fun. A clear, original and highly readable account of the curious relationship between mathematics and money. * Professor Ian Stewart – author of Significant Figures *A lively crash course in the mathematics of gambling, investing, and managing. Hugh Barker makes deep ideas fun and profitable. * William Poundstone – author of How to Predict the Unpredictable *Table of Contents1: The Power of Exponential Growth 2: Beating the Casino 3: Gambling Systems and Strategies 4: The Successful Investor 5: Hacking, Cracking and Gaming the System 6: Designing the Next Google 7: Use Maths to Improve Your Performance 8: Proving the Impossible

Read more less

Book Synopsis"I learned much from this book I had not previously known. Its cautions for the future should be required reading for all policy makers." - Warren Buffett 2008 saw one of the worst financial crises in generations, the global implications of which are still being felt today. Ten years later Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geithner and Hank Paulson reflect on the causes of the crisis, why it was so damaging, and what it ultimately took to prevent a second Great Depression. All three had crucial roles in the government's response- Ben S. Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve; Henry M. Paulson, Jr., as secretary of the Treasury under President George W. Bush; Timothy F. Geithner as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the Bush years and then Treasury secretary under President Barack Obama. A powerful, warts and all account told with unprecedented clarity; from the flawed human response to the necessity to learn from the past and help firefighters of the future protect economies from the ravages of financial crises. Firefighting is a vital account of a defining moment in modern history and an inspiring lesson on leadership through crisis.Trade ReviewI'm glad I didn't have to do the job that these three 'fire chiefs' did. I learned much from this book I had not previously known. Its cautions for the future should be required reading for all policy makers. -- Warren Buffett

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe performance of the British economy over the past fifty-odd years does not make for comforting reading. Indeed, the story is a depressing catalogue of misapprehensions, missteps, wasted opportunities, crises and humiliations, with all-too-familiar problems arising time and again and yet never being satisfactorily addressed. All nations and their economic policymakers are to a certain extent prisoners of their history, but this seems to apply more to the UK than to other countries. Nostalgia for the great days of the past has become tyrannical – and is in some sense embodied in the form of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s famous ‘budget box’, made for William Gladstone in the 1850s and only passed over to a museum in 2010. Nostalgia has led to wishful thinking, and this has been the underlying sentiment driving poorly thought through – sometimes even panicky – initiatives that were blindly borrowed from elsewhere, that flew in the face of experience, or that were drawn from theoretical and political extremes. The Tyranny of Nostalgia describes and interprets the economic and political history of the past half a century, examining the challenges confronted by successive governments and their Chancellors, the policies employed for good or ill, and – running through it all – the desperate search for a panacea that could arrest the nation’s relative decline and return the country to its supposed former glories.Trade Review“This powerful and elegant account of the twists and turns in British macroeconomic policy should be essential reading for students and practitioners alike. Russell Jones’s analysis of the past half a century of British economic life – and particularly of the run-up to Brexit and of its subsequent implementation and its disastrous consequences – is absolutely stunning.” (William Keegan, senior economics commentator for The Observer); “For at least half a century, British economic policy has been inept and capricious, with politicians of all parties labouring under the delusion that the country is still a major economic power. For much of that time Russell Jones has had a ringside seat observing their many mistakes and misfortunes. It is hard to read his clear-sighted and highly readable account and remain optimistic about the UK economy’s next 50 years.” (Professor Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and author of GDP: A Brief but Affectionate History); “The complex and persistent woes of British economic developments over the past fifty years are covered in fascinating detail by Russell Jones in this joyously readable book. The book works brilliantly both for those that have, like me, shared Jones’s path through the world of high finance and for those that haven’t but want to try and understand the role of individual politicians and policymakers, and the circumstances surrounding their vain attempts to steer the UK to a more fruitful pasture.” (Lord O’Neill, Chairman of the Council of the Royal Institute of International Affairs)

Read more less

Book Synopsis***SHORTLISTED FOR FT & MCKINSEY BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020*** FT Best books of 2020: Business ''In a world on fire, status quo is not a great option. Henderson rightfully argues for the refoundation of capitalism and offers thought-provoking ideas on what needs to be done to address some of the world''s greatest challenges.'' Hubert Joly, former chairman and CEO, BestBuy ________________ What if business could help solve the greatest problems of our time? Free market capitalism is one of humanity''s greatest inventions, and the greatest source of prosperity the world has ever seen. But it''s also on the verge of destroying the planet and destabilizing society in its single-minded pursuit of maximizing shareholder value. Rebecca Henderson, McArthur University Professor at Harvard University, argues for a new framework; one that can simultaneously make a positive societal impact by confronting tTrade ReviewThis powerful and readable book is a clarion call for reimagining and remaking capitalism. The market economy, which used to generate rapid productivity growth and shared prosperity, has done much less of that over the last four decades. The shifting balance of power in favor of large companies and lobbies, the gutting of basic regulations, the increasing ability of corporations and the very rich to get their way in every domain of life, and the unwillingness of the government to step up to protect its weakest citizens are likely responsible for low productivity growth and ballooning inequality in the US economy. Rebecca Henderson argues that the market system can be reformed and this can be done without unduly harming corporations. We can have a more moral and more innovative capitalism. There is hope! * Daron Acemoglu, coauthor of Why Nations Fail *'If you are unsatisfied with today's economic arguments-which too often seem to present an unappealing choice between unbridled markets and old-school collectivism-you need to read Rebecca Henderson's Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire. Henderson offers a system that rewards initiative and respects the power of free enterprise, but that also recognizes that we have a higher purpose in life than pure profit maximization. This is a book for the realist with a heart' * Arthur C. Brooks, president emeritus, American Enterprise Institute; professor of practice, Harvard Kennedy School; senior fellow, Harvard Business School; and author of Love Your Enemies *Rebecca Henderson is masterful in both elegant articulation of one of society's great challenges and clarity of vision in laying out a roadmap for practical and essential change. Reimagining Capitalism is a great read, full of insights, and a refreshing perspective that is new, practical, and ground-breaking, offering clear steps for transitioning to a capitalism that is both profitable as well as just and sustainable * Mindy Lubber, CEO and president, CERES *Rebecca Henderson is a provocative thinker on the purpose of business in society. In her new book, she advances the dialogue about the role of business in addressing the big social and environmental challenges of our time. Hers is an important voice in an essential conversation * Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Walmart *In a world on fire, status quo is not a great option. Rebecca Henderson rightfully argues for a refoundation of business and capitalism and offers thought-provoking ideas on what needs to be done to address some of the world's greatest challenges * Hubert Joly, former chairman and CEO, Best Buy *A must-read for every person with a stake in our economic system since change or die is the inescapable reality confronting capitalism. The question is how. Rebecca Henderson provides investors and corporate executives with the thought leadership and compelling examples foundational for understanding how to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth * Hiro Mizuno, executive managing director and chief investment officer, GPIF *'Capitalism as we know it has gotten us this far, but to take the next steps forward as a society and species we need new ways of seeing and acting on our world. That's exactly what Rebecca Henderson's book helps us do. This is a smart, timely, and much-needed reimagining of what capitalism can be' * Yancey Strickler, cofounder and former CEO, Kickstarter, and author of This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World *A breakthrough book, beautifully written, combining deep humanity, sharp intellect, and a thorough knowledge of business. It rigorously dismantles old arguments about why capitalism can't be transformed and will reach people who haven't yet connected with the need for deep change * Lindsay Levin, founding partner, Leaders’ Quest and Future Stewards *With great clarity and passion, Rebecca Henderson provides a stellar guide to building a purpose-driven organization, the surest path to success in a time of rising temperatures and declining trust * Andrew McAfee, author of More from Less and coauthor of The Second Machine Age and Machine, Platform, Crowd *Rebecca Henderson weaves together research and personal experience with clarity and vision, illustrating the potential for business to benefit both itself and society by leading on the most challenging issues of our day. Read, and feel hopeful * Judith Samuelson, vice president, the Aspen Institute *Reimagining Capitalism is a breath of fresh air. Written in lively prose, easily accessible to lay readers, and chock full of interesting case studies, Henderson comprehensively surveys what we need to secure a workable future. Some readers may think she goes too far in places, others may think she doesn't go far enough, but everyone will want to think about the economy she urges us to create * Larry Kramer, president of the Hewlett Foundation *'Business it at the start of a sea-change. Rebecca Henderson brilliantly captures this moment when the tide is reversing its flow, from short-term shareholder value to forward-looking common purpose. It will be an essential guide for business strategy in riding these turbulent seas' * Paul Collier, Oxford University, Author of The Future of Capitalism *I loved every bit of Rebecca Henderson's practical, insightful, and engaging book. It's a must read for any leader who wants to be around for the longer term, showing not only how to position a company successfully in this new world but also how to grow personally through the process * Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, co-founder and chair, IMAGINE *A readable, persuasive argument that our ways of doing business will have to change if we are to prosper-or even survive * Kirkus *This accessible and richly detailed call to action offers a clear vision for policy makers and business executives who agree with Henderson that the private sector has an obligation to tackle the world's biggest problems * Publishers Weekly *This powerful and readable book is a clarion call for reimagining and remaking capitalism. The market economy, which used to generate rapid productivity growth and shared prosperity, has done much less of that over the last four decades. The shifting balance of power in favor of large companies and lobbies, the gutting of basic regulations, the increasing ability of corporations and the very rich to get their way in every domain of life, and the unwillingness of the government to step up to protect its weakest citizens are likely responsible for low productivity growth and ballooning inequality in the US economy. Rebecca Henderson argues that the market system can be reformed and this can be done without unduly harming corporations. We can have a more moral and more innovative capitalism. There is hope! * Daron Acemoglu, coauthor of Why Nations Fail *'If you are unsatisfied with today's economic arguments-which too often seem to present an unappealing choice between unbridled markets and old-school collectivism-you need to read Rebecca Henderson's Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire. Henderson offers a system that rewards initiative and respects the power of free enterprise, but that also recognizes that we have a higher purpose in life than pure profit maximization. This is a book for the realist with a heart' * Arthur C. Brooks, president emeritus, American Enterprise Institute; professor of practice, Harvard Kennedy School; senior fellow, Harvard Business School; and author of Love Your Enemies *Rebecca Henderson is masterful in both elegant articulation of one of society's great challenges and clarity of vision in laying out a roadmap for practical and essential change. Reimagining Capitalism is a great read, full of insights, and a refreshing perspective that is new, practical, and ground-breaking, offering clear steps for transitioning to a capitalism that is both profitable as well as just and sustainable * Mindy Lubber, CEO and president, CERES *Rebecca Henderson is a provocative thinker on the purpose of business in society. In her new book, she advances the dialogue about the role of business in addressing the big social and environmental challenges of our time. Hers is an important voice in an essential conversation * Doug McMillon, president and chief executive officer, Walmart *In a world on fire, status quo is not a great option. Rebecca Henderson rightfully argues for a refoundation of business and capitalism and offers thought-provoking ideas on what needs to be done to address some of the world's greatest challenges * Hubert Joly, former chairman and CEO, Best Buy *A must-read for every person with a stake in our economic system since change or die is the inescapable reality confronting capitalism. The question is how. Rebecca Henderson provides investors and corporate executives with the thought leadership and compelling examples foundational for understanding how to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth * Hiro Mizuno, executive managing director and chief investment officer, GPIF *'Capitalism as we know it has gotten us this far, but to take the next steps forward as a society and species we need new ways of seeing and acting on our world. That's exactly what Rebecca Henderson's book helps us do. This is a smart, timely, and much-needed reimagining of what capitalism can be' * Yancey Strickler, cofounder and former CEO, Kickstarter, and author of This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World *A breakthrough book, beautifully written, combining deep humanity, sharp intellect, and a thorough knowledge of business. It rigorously dismantles old arguments about why capitalism can't be transformed and will reach people who haven't yet connected with the need for deep change * Lindsay Levin, founding partner, Leaders’ Quest and Future Stewards *With great clarity and passion, Rebecca Henderson provides a stellar guide to building a purpose-driven organization, the surest path to success in a time of rising temperatures and declining trust * Andrew McAfee, author of More from Less and coauthor of The Second Machine Age and Machine, Platform, Crowd *Rebecca Henderson weaves together research and personal experience with clarity and vision, illustrating the potential for business to benefit both itself and society by leading on the most challenging issues of our day. Read, and feel hopeful * Judith Samuelson, vice president, the Aspen Institute *Reimagining Capitalism is a breath of fresh air. Written in lively prose, easily accessible to lay readers, and chock full of interesting case studies, Henderson comprehensively surveys what we need to secure a workable future. Some readers may think she goes too far in places, others may think she doesn't go far enough, but everyone will want to think about the economy she urges us to create * Larry Kramer, president of the Hewlett Foundation *'Business it at the start of a sea-change. Rebecca Henderson brilliantly captures this moment when the tide is reversing its flow, from short-term shareholder value to forward-looking common purpose. It will be an essential guide for business strategy in riding these turbulent seas' * Paul Collier, Oxford University, Author of The Future of Capitalism *I loved every bit of Rebecca Henderson's practical, insightful, and engaging book. It's a must read for any leader who wants to be around for the longer term, showing not only how to position a company successfully in this new world but also how to grow personally through the process * Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, co-founder and chair, IMAGINE *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a book about how we should address the great, and interconnected, global challenges of the twenty-first century. Our task, Sachs argues, is to achieve truly sustainable development, by which he means finding a global course which enables the world to benefit from the spread of prosperity while ensuring that we don''t destroy the eco-systems which keep us alive and our place in nature which helps sustain our values. How do we move forward together, benefitting from our increasing technological mastery, avoiding the terrible dangers of climate change, mass famines, violent conflicts, population explosions in some parts of the world and collapses in others, and world-wide pandemic diseases? In answering these questions, Sachs shows that there are different ways of managing the world''s technology, resources and politics from those currently being followed, and that it should be possible to adopt policies which reflect long-term and co-operative thinking instead oTrade Review'This is an impressive exercise in presenting complex subject matter in plain English, and relating the practicalities of life- subsistence agriculture and water management, for example - to the biggest ideas of modern science' - Martin Vander Weyer, The Daily Telegraph 'His new book ! bursts with ideas and is suffused with what can only be described as irrepressible optimism' - Ed Pilkington, The Guardian

Read more less

Book Synopsis''The most important book about our economy and society to be published in my lifetime'' Irvine WelshFrom Paul Mason, the award-winning Channel 4 presenter, Postcapitalism is a guide to our era of seismic economic change, and how we can build a more equal society. Over the past two centuries or so, capitalism has undergone continual change - economic cycles that lurch from boom to bust - and has always emerged transformed and strengthened. Surveying this turbulent history, Paul Mason wonders whether today we are on the brink of a change so big, so profound, that this time capitalism itself, the immensely complex system by which entire societies function, has reached its limits and is changing into something wholly new.At the heart of this change is information technology: a revolution that, as Mason shows, has the potential to reshape utterly our familiar notions of work, production and value; and to destroy an economy based on markets an

Read more less

Book SynopsisToday Adam Smith, author of the Wealth of Nations, is associated with the promotion of self-interest and a defence of greed. Yet if Smith is actually read this is more a caricature than a faithful portrait. Berry offers a balanced and nuanced view of this seminal thinker, set against contemporary European history, politics, and philosophy.Trade ReviewThe book certainly delivers on being a "stimulating and accessible account" of Smith's context and work and therefore every library must acquire a copy. * Alex M. Thomas, Indian Journal of Human Development *Christopher Berry provides a clear and thorough guide to all of Adam Smith's major works, as well as their social and intellectual context. The level of detailed attention, to texts and issues, is indeed remarkable, given the brevity of the book. This is a first-rate introduction, which has something to offer to college students and seasoned scholars alike. * Sam Fleischacker, author of On Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations: A Philosophical Companion *Table of Contents1: Life and times 2: Communication and imagination 3: Sympathetic spectators 4: Living virtuously 5: Making and working 6: Trading and spending 7: Legacy and reputation References Further reading Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis''This book will challenge you to rethink some of your assumptions about democracy, capitalism, and globalization.'' - Adam Grant Huge corporations are acting like nations, global wealth is going to billionaires and ordinary people are suffering. It''s set to be a rocky decade - but we can fix it. As the market consolidates under fewer and larger companies, it''s increasingly in the interest of private companies to behave like nations. And when the government is bogged down in bureaucratic negotiations and culture wars, people begin to look to nimble, powerful companies to solve society''s problems - and to be our moral standard-bearers. It shouldn''t be like this. New York Times bestselling author Alec Ross weaves interviews with the world''s most influential thinkers with fascinating stories of corporate activism and malfeasance, government failure and renewal, and innovative economic and political models being implemented around the wTrade ReviewIn The Raging 2020s, Alec Ross... argues that our social contract is broken, that the roles of business, labor, government and foreign countries need to be rethought... An immensely (and unusually) readable account... Like watching a master jewel thief at work, except that this is not the movies, where the transfer is often from rich to poor. Quite the opposite. * New York Times *Government has ceded authority to corporations, which naturally act in their own interest rather than for the common good... A provocative, well-made case. * Kirkus *Alec Ross fearlessly confronts one of the fundamental concerns of our time: fixing the broken social contract between people, business, and government. His book will challenge you to rethink some of your assumptions about democracy, capitalism, and globalization. -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and host of the TED podcast WorkLifeAlec Ross is a keen analyst and brilliant storyteller. The Raging 2020s introduces us to the people whose lives are blighted by unconscionable policies and concentrations of power, helping us understand and indeed share the rage that fuels many 21st century political movements. Best of all, Ross is willing to speak truth to power in recommending a set of bold but realistic solutions. -- Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO, New America, and Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton UniversityA gripping, illuminating chronicle that provides a wonderful birds-eye view from the heights of government and international business, that solidifies Ross's position among the most visionary of global thinkers on the future of technology and its implications, and that also is an amazingly enjoyable, page-turning read! -- General David Petraeus, former Director of the CIA and former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan

Read more less

Book SynopsisCan you turn a hairpin into a house? This is the question Demi Skipper set out to answer in May 2020, when she posted an ordinary bobby pin to trade on Facebook Marketplace. She had two rules: no trading with anyone she knew, and no spending her own money on trades. Twenty months and 28 trades later, she completed the final trade and took possession of a house. How did she do it? It wasn''t luck. Hard work, ingenuity, and a talent for negotiation were essential to executing the series of trades that lead from the hairpin to the house. Along the way she sent around 300,000 messages, enlisted the help of strangers to drive vehicles across the country, and went deep into the world of sneakerheads in pursuit of the perfect trade, all while documenting her progress and amassing an audience of millions on TikTok. From the crushing disappointments to the surprising successes, Demi shares the behind-the-scenes stories of her first successful t

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow do labor markets work? Is it better to aim for inflation or full employment? How can developing countries escape the poverty trap? In this accessible and entertaining guide, readers can explore the key questions and theories that top economists have sought to answer, and gain valuable insights into the complex world of economics.Ranging from demand and supply to globalization and international trade to game theory, and featuring ideas from such esteemed economists as Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes and Milton Friedman, this essential guide will bring you up to speed on the core themes and theories of this great subject and understand how world economies function.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Ideas Unpacked series explores several academic topics through their 50 greatest ideas, giving readers an entertaining and accessible overview of a subjects defining theories and thinkers.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A valuable exploration of the topic and a thought-provoking read.''Financial TimesAn insider''s look into how Generation Z''s focus on ethics, climate change and purpose will change capitalism forever. In the next ten years there will be an unprecedented wealth transfer from the so-called ''baby boomer'' generation to the young. Never before will so much money in housing, land, stocks and cash be shifted so suddenly from one generation to the next, and never before does the next generation feel so differently about the future of the planet and of capitalism.Ken Costa works with this new generation and shows how environmental concerns and anxiety about equality and diversity are more than mere slogans; instead they are driving the future of the markets. So many issues stem from the reality of the financial gap between age groups - from cancel culture and fears about wokeness, to generation rent, protest movements and re-evalTrade ReviewA valuable exploration of the topic and a thought-provoking read. * Financial Times *Everybody in finance and wealth management should read this book – as soon as possible. * Alec Marsh, Contributing Editor, Spear's Magazine *Ken Costa’s provocative and hope-filled book is for anyone who wants a more inclusive capitalism, but it is especially for the leaders who haven’t yet seen the great wealth transfer on the horizon, or who think it won’t affect them. Ken not only shows that we are facing the greatest shift in affluence, influence and values between generations that our world has ever seen. He also sets out a vision for capitalising on this moment in order to reset our economy, our societies and our future. It’s a manifesto for our times. * Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, business leader, campaigner, co-author of Net Positive *Ken Costa’s new book highlights the need for pragmatic cooperation between generations, if we are to shape the future that is already in our hands. The priority of Millennials and Gen Z is no longer amassing as much wealth as possible, but using their influence, values and newly acquired means to end poverty, tackle climate change and create a more equitable society. These may seem like ambitious goals, but I believe human beings are capable of extraordinary things – especially if they learn from the past to chart a clear path for the future with specific policy reform. Costa indicates a sustainable path towards a new form of capitalism, one in which the old and younger generations work in partnership, sharing knowledge and learning from each other, to save our planet. * Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen *“A generation without capital can never be capitalists.” This quote from the book captures well the generation gap that lies at the heart of this timely book that also importantly sets out what can be done about it. * Linda Yueh, author of The Great Crashes: Lessons from Global Meltdowns and How To Prevent Them *Ken’s insights challenge us to realise the huge wealth shifts, value shifts, technology shifts, and age shifts before us as we face up to the enormous inter-generational transfers from Boomers to Zennials. This book helps us bridge these generational gaps. What really matters is ‘CO’, as we co-lead our co-llectives to co-create generational trust towards a shared prosperity and destiny that spans generations. * Professor Michael Mainelli, Chairman, Z/Yen Group, and Sheriff of the City of London 2019-2021 *Ken Costa argues that the great wealth transfer of trillions of dollars from one generation (the Boomers) to the next (the Zennials) may become the defining movement of the 21st century. His book beautifully describes the characteristics of these two generations, and the tensions that have arisen between them and for society. The book is vital reading for anyone who wants to understand more about this momentous financial shift and the dramatic economic and social changes it may trigger. Ken Costa’s insights, arising from years of relevant experience, provide not only incisive commentary and thorough analysis, but also fresh and creative ways that we can (indeed he argues, must) work together to solve these huge societal problems. Many of these creative ideas reflect themes which Ken developed while Professor of Commerce at Gresham College. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a razor-sharp yet compassionate attempt to resolve the clash of generations and to pave the way for what Ken terms a socially energised capitalism fit for the times in which we live. * Professor Martin Elliott, Provost, Gresham College *As an experienced leader, as well as a trailblazer in forging relationships with younger generations, Ken Costa is uniquely positioned to comment, advise and warn on the historic wealth transfer we’ve already begun to see. An illuminating and prophetic exploration, this book convincingly shows how leaders from across the generations must really come together, if we are to thrive as a society as well as a global economy. As Ken Costa shrewdly points out, CO is clearly the way ahead; collaboration, compassion and community are more than just buzzwords – they are the pillars upon which our newly socially energised capitalism must be founded. * John C. Maxwell – NYT Best Selling Author, Leadership Expert and Coach *The 100 Trillion Dollar Wealth Transfer is a gripping and insightful testimony of how intergenerational harmony and wisdom is essential for a thriving world. Ken Costa understands, as younger generations do, that you can create value in a market economy without abandoning your values. A powerful financial, societal and generational transition is occurring. For it to be successful, generations cannot navigate it on their own. In this book, Ken shows that uniting the spiritual hunger and ethical commitment of Zennials with the wisdom and experience of Boomers will guide us all to a more purposeful and prosperous future. * Rick Warren – author of the New York Times international bestseller The Purpose Driven Life *[Ken Costa] makes a convincing case on the need for a change in attitudes and working practices and has some practical advice for how business leaders can adapt their management style and organisations, all backed up with a wealth of data and anecdotes. The arguments considered in this book need to be taken seriously by business leaders, executives and managers who are having problems understanding their younger workers. * MoneyWeek *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 The Generation Game 2 The Crisis in Capitalism 3 The Tech Fissure 4 The Challenge of Individualism 5 The End of Truth 6 Understanding CO 7 CO-Leading 8 CO-Working 9 CO Compassion 10 CO-Creating Conclusion Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThink Freakonomics meets The Undercover EconomistThe Inner Lives of Markets is a journey into the mysterious corners of everyday economics. Who buys, who sells, why it matters, when it works, and what to do when it breaks.Trade ReviewAll of the economics covered in this delightful book is described clearly and with a lovely lightness of touch. * The Enlightened Economist *They start to make the case with a quick, and exceedingly engaging, tour of economic history... the book does a good job of showing the limitations of narrow economic theory, since markets rarely feature rational people with perfect knowledge. -- Gillian Tett, Financial Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book examines the urgent workplace challenges we're facing today with an interdisciplinary and historical analysis that challenges and broadens the scope of existing economic literature. Exploring the current economic proposals to address these issues, it offers ways forward for greater economic social justice and equality at work.Table of Contents1. Introduction Part 1: Through the lens of economics 2. The unfortunate legacies of the 18th and 19th centuries 3. The scope and limits of economics 4. Paid work through the lens of economics 5. Equity, social justice and the ‘efficient economy’ Part 2: The rise and fall of progressive policies 6. From the ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ to the welfare state 7. Enter neoliberalism Part 3: When profit and prejudice reign 8. Profits vs the duty of care 9. Still waiting – gender, race and ethnicity Part 4: Beyond the measuring rod of money 10. Looking at paid work outside the lens of economics 11. Power over others 12. Human rights and democracy in the workplace 13. Confronting climate change and the AI revolution Epilogue

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘A well-reported and researched history of the ways in which plucky economists helped rewrite policy in America and Europe and across emerging markets.’ The Economist ‘A highly readable, exhilaratingly detailed biographical account.’ Sunday Telegraph As the post-World War II economic boom began to falter in the late 1960s, a new breed of economists gained influence and power. Over time, their ideas reshaped the modern world, curbing governments, unleashing corporations and hastening globalization. Their fundamental belief? That governments should stop trying to manage the economy. Their guiding principle? That markets would deliver steady growth and broad prosperity. But the economists’ hour failed to deliver on its premise. The single-minded embrace of markets has come at the expense of economic equality, the health of liberal democracy and of future generations. Across the world, from both right and left, the assumptions of the once-dominant school of free-market economic thought are being challenged, as we count the costs as well as the gains of its influence. In The Economists’ Hour, acclaimed New York Times writer Binyamin Appelbaum provides both a reckoning with the past and a call for a different future. ‘A reminder of the power of ideas to shape the course of history.’ New YorkerTrade ReviewThis thoroughly researched, comprehensive, and critical account of the economic philosophies that have reigned for the past half century powerfully indicts them. * Publisher Weekly (starred) *A marvel of popular historical writing. * New York Times *A highly readable, exhilaratingly detailed biographical account. * Sunday Telegraph *That such sophisticated people presided over a dangerous build-up in financial risk suggests that something larger was at work than a naïve faith in markets. Appelbaum’s strength is that he generally acknowledges these complexities. * Atlantic *The New York Times financial writer maps the advance of economists - from the Kennedy administration onward - out of the academy and into government, elevating free markets in the sausage - making of public policy and sparking the inequity that plagues us today. * O Magazine *Lively and entertaining . . . The Economists' Hour is a reminder of the power of ideas to shape the course of history. -- Liaquat Ahamed * New Yorker *"An entertaining and well-written look at how market-oriented ideas rose from the academy and transformed nations. -- Tyler CowenBinyamin Appelbaum has written a powerful must-read for all those interested in reinvigorating the credibility of economics, especially in policymaking circles. -- Mohamed A. El-ErianWriting in accessible language of thorny fiscal matters, the author ventures into oddly fascinating corners of recent economic history . . . Anyone who wonders why government officials still take the Laffer curve seriously need go no further than this lucid book. * Kirkus *A well-reported and researched history of the ways in which plucky economists helped rewrite policy in America and Europe and across emerging markets. * Economist *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The most explosive, mind-blowing business book I've ever read' – Bradley Hope, New York Times bestselling author of Billion Dollar Whale'Jaw-dropping . . . well-told, well-structured and exquisitely reported' – Financial Times book reviewDiscover the unauthorized, unvarnished story of famed Wall Street hedge-fund manager Ray Dalio.When Ray Dalio, billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund, announced in October 2022 that he was stepping down from the company he founded forty-seven years ago, the news made headlines around the world. Dalio achieved worldwide fame thanks to a mystique of success cultivated in frequent media appearances, celebrity hobnobbing, and his bestselling book, Principles. In The Fund, Rob Copeland draws on hundreds of interviews with those inside and around the firm to reveal what really goes on with Dalio and his cohorts behind closed doors.Tracing more than fifty years of Dalio's leadership, The Fund peels back the curtain to reveal a rarefied world of wealth and power, where former FBI director Jim Comey kisses Dalio's ring, recent Pennsylvania Senate candidate David McCormick sells out, and countless Bridgewater acolytes describe what it's like to work at this fascinating firm.Dalio has stepped down from Bridgewater before; will the legacy of his Principles continue to chart the course of the firm? The Fund provides unique insight into the story of Dalio and Bridgewater, past, present and future.'A taut, nonfiction thriller' – Bryan Burrough, bestselling author of Barbarians at the Gate'Manages to both shock and entertain at the same time' – Philipp Meyer, bestselling author of American Rust and The SonTrade ReviewThe most explosive, mind-blowing business book I've ever read - and the most fun, too -- Bradley Hope, bestselling author of Billion Dollar WhaleAt last, the era of the billionaire philosopher-king has a defining book. The Fund is a taut, nonfiction thriller -- Bryan Burrough, bestselling author of Barbarians at the GateA classic American story about the most famous man on Wall Street - or the person he seems to be. The Fund manages to both shock and entertain at the same time -- Philipp Meyer, bestselling author of American Rust and The SonJaw-dropping . . . well-told, well-structured and exquisitely reported -- Financial Times book reviewA terrific dagger of a book, packed with cringey detail, just long enough to efficiently disembowel its subject. For anyone who has had an awful boss, The Fund is the perfect rage-read -- Mark Gimein, reviewing for the New York TimesExplosive . . . rivetingly chronicles a traumatic social experiment in which hundreds of America’s sharpest Ivy League finance alums unwittingly became ensnared -- Ben Naparstek, reviewing for The AustralianEye-opening...[teaches us] to be more sceptical about investment and management gurus -- MoneyWeek Book of the Month review (December 2023)The best thing I read in 2023 -- Robin Wigglesworth, bestselling author of Trillions, writing for the Financial Times' Best of Further Reading list (2023)

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow do we rein in the power of Big Tech?How do we tackle the climate crisis? How can all of us play a part in making change happen? For the past four years, Ed Miliband has been discovering and interviewing brilliant people all around the world who are successfully tackling the biggest problems we face, transforming communities and pioneering global movements. Go Big draws on the most imaginative and ambitious of these ideas to provide a vision for the kind of society we need. A better world is possible; the solutions are out there. We can all make a difference. We just need to know where to look - and have the courage to think big.Go Big shows us how.'Enthralling' PHILIP PULLMAN'Such a hopeful book' ELIZABETH DAY'Should be the rallying cry of progressives around the world' RUTGER BREGMANTrade ReviewA new book by Mr Miliband is an important political event ... mounts a coherent challenge to orthodox views, encouraging his audience to think differently and laying the foundations of where the country needs to go ... Miliband is clear that we live in an age where it is movements of people, not politicians, that change the world * Guardian *Full of ambitious ideas about how to solve gigantic social issues such as working life, childcare and climate change ... This flawed, funny Miliband sparkles with an Alan Partridge-like flourish through Go Big ... Miliband never sounds angry. He doesn't even seem to get annoyed when the Tories steal his ideas * GQ *At a time when our problems seem insurmountable and our disagreements intractable, Ed Miliband gives us reasons to be hopeful. This book makes a compelling case we need to hear: if we are willing to think big, politics can be a force for change and a force for good -- MICHAEL J. SANDEL, author of The Tyranny of MeritThere's a lot of good stuff in here ... flashes of insight ... neat observations ... it is hard to disagree with much of what [he says] ... charmingly self-deprecating -- David Goodhart * Sunday Times *By turns bouncy, chatty and confidential, and above all relentlessly upbeat ... fully of ideas, nifty schemes for solving the climate crisis, sound stratagems for encouraging more and better housing, for revitalising public transport, for loosening the stranglehold of the market and a whole lot more besides * Private Eye *

Read more less

Book SynopsisYou don't need to be university educated, have money, be creative, or even have an idea to get rich. You just need to be willing to break the rules.How to be a Capitalist Without Any Capital will teach you how to be a modern opportunist - investor, entrepreneur, or side hustler - by breaking these four golden rules of the old guard: 1. Focus on one skill: Wrong. Don't cultivate one great skill to get ahead. In today's business world, success goes to the multitaskers.2. Be unique: Wrong. The way to get rich is not by launching a new idea but by aggressively copying others and then adding your own twist. 3. Focus on one goal: Wrong. Focus instead on creating a system to produce the outcome you want, not just once, but over and over again. 4. Appeal to the masses: Wrong. The masses are broke ($4k average net worth in America?). Let others cut a trail through the jungle so you can peacefully walk in and capitalize on their hard work.By rejecting these defunct rules and following Nathan Latka's unconventional path, you can copy other people's ideas shamelessly, bootstrap a start-up with almost no funding, invest in small local businesses for huge payoffs, and reap all the benefits.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMurder for hire. Drug trafficking. Embezzlement. Money laundering... These might sound like plot lines of a thriller, but they are true stories from the short history of cryptocurrencies - digital currencies conceived by computer hackers and cryptographers that represent a completely new sort of financial transaction that could soon become mainstream. The most famous - or infamous - cryptocurrency is bitcoin. But look beyond its tarnished reputation and something much shinier emerges. The technology that underlies bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies - the blockchain - is hailed as the greatest advancement since the invention of the internet. It is now moving away from being the backbone for a digital currency and making inroads into other core concepts of society: identity, ownership and even the rule of law.The End of Money is your essential introduction to this transformative new technology that has governments, entrepreneurs and forward-thinking people from all walks of life sitting up and taking notice.ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.

Read more less