Popular economics Books

Book SynopsisAdam Levitin and Susan Wachter argue that the housing bubble of the 2000s was caused by private-label securitization. Competition among Wall Street banks set off a race to the bottom in mortgage underwriting that inflated home prices but yielded huge profits before the bubble burst. To avoid déjà vu, we need carefully regulated securitization.Trade ReviewImpressive. -- Robert J. Shiller * New York Times *Nothing is more important to developing community wealth and narrowing disparities than access to homeownership; this book shows a path toward establishing a sustainable and fair housing finance system, improving opportunity for all. -- Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban LeagueWith its combination of legal and economic expertise, The Great American Housing Bubble makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the complexities of the housing finance system. Levitin and Wachter write with an eye towards the future of housing policy, connecting their analysis of ‘what happened’ to ‘what it means.’ Their insights will be invaluable when the federal government takes on housing finance reform in earnest. -- Carolina Reid, Faculty Research Advisor, Terner Center for Housing Innovation, University of California, BerkeleyLevitin is one of the unsung heroes of the financial crisis of 2008. In this book, he and Susan Wachter share with the reader the invaluable advice they gave so many policy makers and advocates at the time—advice that, had it been listened to, would have kept millions of families in their homes and would have brought justice to those who brought our economy to the edge of destruction. -- Damon Silvers, Policy Director and Special Counsel, AFL-CIO, and former Deputy Chair, Congressional Oversight PanelA brilliant book by two of the deepest thinkers on housing and housing finance. As we move forward, it is essential that we incorporate this insight and perspective into our redesign of how Americans live. In the post-virus world, there are few things more important than listening to careful analysis and reflecting on how to turn that into robust policy. -- Simon Johnson, Ronald A. Kurtz (1954) Professor of Entrepreneurship, MIT Sloan School of Management, and cochair, COVID-19 Policy AllianceI watched the housing market implode and the still-unfinished policy reforms unfold by comparing notes each week with these two superb analysts. Economist and lawyer, Wachter and Levitin followed every policy, legal, and market development in detail and their complementary perspectives brought unique insight. You could have no better, more evidence-based chroniclers of this painful period. And, agree or disagree, all serious policy makers must reckon with their analysis of the many policy options and their own proposal for ensuring we never see such a housing bubble again. -- Sarah Rosen Wartell, President, Urban InstituteLevitin and Wachter deploy their formidable expertise to analyze the biggest housing policy issues left in the wake of the 2008 housing bubble. Their insights on the bubble’s causes are fresh, compelling, and informed by newly-mined data. Their recommendations for preventing a future housing bubble reflect deep sophistication as well as wisdom and humanity. A must-read for anyone who cares about housing policy or equality. -- Patricia A. McCoy, former Assistant Director of Mortgage Markets, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Liberty Mutual Insurance Professor, Boston College Law SchoolStands as an alt-sophisticated examination of one of the nation’s greatest financial cataclysms…A valuable desk reference for faculty, students, and practitioners in housing policy and planning, housing law, real estate, and banking. -- Dennis E. Gale * Journal of the American Planning Association *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Gold Medal in International Business / Globalization, Axiom Business Book Awards""[The] exploration of trade’s future is particularly thought-provoking. . . . One lesson of Mr. Levinson’s absorbing, centuries-long survey is that evolving global systems are always vulnerable to unexpected events."---Matthew Rees, Wall Street Journal"Smart and exceptionally well-timed."---Justin Fox, Bloomberg"Ostensibly a history of international trade through three distinct ‘globalizations,’ Outside the Box is most useful as a chronicle of how the pre-2008 model of complex, globe-spanning, just-in-time manufacturing has been exposed as fragile, inefficient, and opaque."---Mike Jakeman, strategy+business"Outside the Box is an intriguing synergy of social-sciences analysis, a useful aide memoire, a captivating read. Marc Levinson synthesizes well and writes smoothly, with a light touch of irony—very smart non-fiction."---Linda Quest, International Social Science Review"Marc Levinson’s Outside the Box is a timely and fascinating discussion of globalization."---Andreas Grein, Journal of Economic Literature"A valuable and stimulating contribution to the literature which can be profitably (and enjoyably) read by economist and non-economist alike."---Ian Harwood, Society of Professional Economists"Levinson provides a captivating account of globalisation by interlinking historical events that we know a great deal about with more obscure ones. Globalisation is not over – just different. I, for one, am glad it is ongoing as it will allow Levinson to produce a follow-up book."---Alex Gray, Financial World"This book is an interesting addition to the reading list of professionals and policymakers, which will help them think outside the box to integrate globalization and resilience for a sustainable global supply chain that is essential during this uncertain and challenging times. Nevertheless, this book can also serve as an idea-generating platform for academic readers in the field of globalization and international trade."---Satya Sahoo, Journal of Maritime Affairs

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Book SynopsisIn a work with significant implications for present-day economic reform in the Soviet Union, Paul Gregory examines Russian and Soviet economic history prior to the installation of the administrative command system. By drawing on basic economic statistics from 1861 to the 1930s, Gregory's revisionist account debunks a number of myths promulgated byTrade Review"Gregory has produced the best overview of Russian economic development from 1861 through the 1930s. Along the way, he has illuminated many of the blockages current policy makers confront as they 'plan' for the transition to a market economy... [T]he book ... is outstanding."--American Historical ReviewTable of ContentsPrefaceCh. 1Perestroika and Lessons of the Past3Ch. 2Economic Growth and Development of Tsarist Russia14Ch. 3The Agrarian Crisis37Ch. 4State Policy, the Gold Standard, and Foreign Capital55Ch. 5The Last Market Economy81Ch. 6The Crises of NEP102Ch. 7Comparisons of Tsarist and Soviet Economic Performance128Appendix A: Russian Economic Statistics139Appendix B: The Economic Recovery of NEP153Notes167Index185

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Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE 2023 NATIONAL BUSINESS BOOK AWARD**FINALIST FOR THE 2023 OTTAWA BOOK AWARD**SHORTLISTED FOR THE SHAUGHNESSY COHEN PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING**SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 DONNER PRIZE*NATIONAL BESTSELLERFrom the former Governor of the Bank of Canada, a far-seeing guide to the powerful economic forces that will shape the decades ahead.The economic ground is shifting beneath our feet. The world is becoming more volatile, and people are understandably worried about their financial futures. In this urgent and accessible guide to the crises and opportunities that lie ahead, economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada Stephen Poloz maps out the powerful tectonic forces that are shaping our future, and the ideas that will allow us to master them.These forces include an aging workforce, mounting debt, and rising income inequality. Technological advances, too, are adding to the pressure, putting people out of work, and climate change is forcing a transition to a lower-carbon economy. It is no surprise that people are feeling uncertain.The implications of these tectonic tensions will cascade throughout every dimension of our lives—the job market, the housing market, the investment climate, as well as government and central bank policy, and the role of the corporation within society. The pandemic has added momentum to many of them. Poloz skillfully argues that past crises, from the Victorian Depression in the late 1800s to the more recent downturn in 2008, give a hint of what is in store for us in the decades ahead. Unlike the purely destructive power of earthquakes, the upheaval that is sure to come in the decades ahead will offer unexpected opportunities for renewal and growth.Filled with takeaways for employers, investors, and policymakers, as well as families discussing jobs and mortgage renewals around the kitchen table, The Next Age of Uncertainty is an indispensable guide for those navigating the fault lines of the risky world ahead.Trade Review*WINNER OF THE 2023 NATIONAL BUSINESS BOOK AWARD**FINALIST FOR THE 2023 OTTAWA BOOK AWARD**SHORTLISTED FOR THE SHAUGHNESSY COHEN PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING* *SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 DONNER PRIZE*Praise for The Next Age of Uncertainty:“Engaging and infused with humour, The Next Age of Uncertainty is a breakdown of economic chokepoints by a former Bank of Canada governor who isn’t afraid to let his personality shine. Stephen Poloz has crafted a timely and eminently readable examination and explanation of the major issues that will define monetary policy and its impact on Canadians’ wallets for years to come. If knowledge is power, those who plan for and want to understand the potentially shaky ground ahead would be well-armed with Poloz’s take on the future landscape.” —Shaughnessy Cohen Prize jury "There are powerful forces at work that will influence how we live and invest in the years to come. In The Next Age of Uncertainty, Stephen Poloz not only describes what those forces are, but draws a precise road-map for navigating them. The Next Age of Uncertainty isn't just a book for economists, it's a book for anyone who wants to make better decisions." —Amanda Lang, Anchor, BNN Bloomberg and national bestselling author of The Power of Why and The Beauty of Discomfort “Stephen Poloz is as classic a Canadian success story as you are likely to find. Rising from middle-class roots in Oshawa to becoming Governor of the Bank of Canada, he has amassed a wealth of experience on how to navigate challenging economic times. In his book, The Next Age of Uncertainty, Poloz distills his four decades of economic and leadership experience to a series of essential insights about how the economy works and where it might go. Using his trademark blend of analysis, anecdote, and humor, this book will become required reading for anyone interested in the forces shaping our collective economic future.” —David Detomasi, Distinguished Faculty Fellow of International Business, Smith School of Business, and Academic Director, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University, author of Profits and Power: Navigating the Politics and Geopolitics of Oil “Stephen Poloz is one of the most experienced economists, who has never lost touch with the world around him. In The Next Age of Uncertainty he gives an ingenious yet humble account of the economic forces that will define our future and our everyday decisions. Having lived through the major economic crises of the past decades, Stephen brilliantly connects the past with the future and economic theory with real life and personal anecdotes. It is this all-embracing approach that makes this book a fascinating read, not just for policymakers but for everybody who wants to understand what the future holds.”—Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank and former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund“Stephen Poloz’s The Next Age of Uncertainty combines invaluable historical insights with provocative reflections on the economy of the future—a must read for policy makers wishing to avoid the mistakes of the past and facing the tectonic forces sweeping Canada and the world.” —Thomas d’Aquino C.M., LL.D., founding CEO of the Business Council of Canada, and author of Private Power, Public Purpose: Adventures in Business, Politics, and the Arts“[The Next Age of Uncertainty] calls on business to do what politicians won’t: Save the economy. . . . There’s plenty in Poloz’s book that ought to keep Canada's leaders awake at night. He sees five meta-trends that are about to collide in potentially violent ways that will reshape the economy and society, just like tectonic plates have been reshaping Earth for millennia.” —Financial Post“[A]n indispensable guide.” —Next Big Idea Club“[O]ne of the best political books in the country.” —The Hill Times“[This is] what I’m reading this summer.” —François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of innovation, science, and industry, Government of Canada

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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

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Book SynopsisAN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom New York Times Bestselling author Scott Galloway comes an urgent examination of the future of America and the reasons behind its current social and economic crisisIn Adrift, Scott Galloway looks from the past to the present - from 1945 to the 2020s - to reveal how America has reached its current state of political, social and economic crisis. It is on the brink of massive change, change that will disrupt the working of its economy and drastically impact its financial backbone, the middle class.Telling America''s story through 100 charts, Galloway demonstrates how crises such as Jim Crow, World War II, and the Stock Market Crash of 2008, as well as the escalating power of technology, an entrenched white patriarchy, and the socio-economic effects of the pandemic, created today''s perfect storm.Adrift seeks to make sense of it all, and offers Galloway''s unique take on where America is headTrade ReviewScott Galloway is Gordon Gekko with a social conscience. * GQ *Intelligent, thoughtful, sometimes snarky, and often humorous. * Huffpost *

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Book SynopsisA fun take on some of the biggest questions in economics, made accessible for non-experts (and dogs)Trade Review'A truly delightful scamper through economic ideas and history.' -- Niall Kishtainy, author of A Little History of Economics‘I have read many introductions to economics, none as entertaining and readily accessible as this one. Monty, you’re a lucky dog to have such wonderful teachers!’ -- Alexander Pepper, professor of management practice, LSE'An engaging and at times touching book' -- John Crace * The Guardian *‘Economics concepts can often be difficult to grasp, but the authors have done an admirable job of explaining them in plain language … This is one of the few books on economics that works as a textbook while remaining actually readable!’ -- Terry Freedman, Teach Secondary'Enjoyable... This undemanding presentation serves equally well as an introduction or a refresher course and will especially appeal to readers who appreciate their learning enhanced with a bit of whimsy' * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisExplore the fascinating world of Economics through its 50 essential ideas, brought to life with vivid, full-colour graphics, illuminating diagrams, and engaging feature boxes in this highly-visual hardback guide.How 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 50 Essential Id

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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.

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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

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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

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Book SynopsisDebunking the myths around the current economic belief systems, this book reveals how mainstream perspectives work for the benefit of the organised money establishment, while causing all manner of destructions and inequalities which work against the common good. It offers a refreshingly simple business strategy model for a truly sustainable future.Table of ContentsPart 1 ~ Where Are We Now? The ‘Witchcraft’ and ‘Institutional Truths’ of Neoclassical Belief ‘Old Enemies of Peace’: Constituents of Organised Money Resulting Profound Wrongs, Destructions, Inequalities and Frauds Part 2 ~ Where Do We Want to Get To? Democratic Commitments to Sustainable Progression Part 3 ~ How Do We Get There? Real People – Engines of Enterprise Organisational Systems and Their Coordination Organisational Systems Interactions with the Real Economy Part 4 ~ Action Systemic Action for Progression without Destruction Part 5 ~ How Are We Doing? Measures of Real Progression

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Book SynopsisDebunking the myths around the current economic belief systems, this book reveals how mainstream perspectives work for the benefit of the organised money establishment, while causing all manner of destructions and inequalities which work against the common good. It offers a refreshingly simple business strategy model for a truly sustainable future.Table of ContentsPart 1 ~ Where Are We Now? The ‘Witchcraft’ and ‘Institutional Truths’ of Neoclassical Belief ‘Old Enemies of Peace’: Constituents of Organised Money Resulting Profound Wrongs, Destructions, Inequalities and Frauds Part 2 ~ Where Do We Want to Get To? Democratic Commitments to Sustainable Progression Part 3 ~ How Do We Get There? Real People – Engines of Enterprise Organisational Systems and Their Coordination Organisational Systems Interactions with the Real Economy Part 4 ~ Action Systemic Action for Progression without Destruction Part 5 ~ How Are We Doing? Measures of Real Progression

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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

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents 250 milestones in the science of the production, sale and purchase of goods and services.Trade Review"Medema, an economics professor at Duke University, presents short essays about the most significant developments in economic history. Part of the Sterling Milestones series, this stand-alone volume is intended for a general audience. Entries appear in chronological order, beginning with Hesiod's Works and Days (circa 700 B.C.E.) and concluding with the introduction of cryptocurrency in 2009. As noted in the introduction, concepts are presented in basic terms in order to be accessible to a wide audience. Taking the reader several steps beyond a typical encyclopedia entry, Medema places each development in perspective relative to the broader picture of economic history. For example, Pythagoras' emphasis on numerical modeling of complex relationships is examined as the basis for the quantitative approach of modern economic theory. The book is beautifully illustrated and includes suggestions for further reading on every topic covered. The breadth and international scope of this volume is notable; most comparable books address only American economic history or limit their coverage to a shorter time span. A good choice for large public libraries." --Booklist

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Book SynopsisIn his illuminating new book, Douglas McWilliams argues that inequality is largely driven not by a conspiracy of the rich, as Thomas Piketty suggests, but by technology and globalization tat have led to the paradox of rising inequality even as worldwide poverty drops. But what are the implications of this seeming contradiction, and what ultimately drives the global distribution of wealth? What can societies do to reshape capitalism for the 21st century? Drawing on the latest research, McWilliams investigates how wealth is concentrated and why it persistently remains in the hands of very few. In accessible and thought-provoking prose, McWilliams poses a comprehensive theory on why capitalism has not met its match in the form of increasingly disparate income distribution, but warns of the coming wave of technological developmentthe fourth industrial revolutionthat threatens to create a scarcity of unskilled jobs that will lead to even greater inequality and explains wha

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Book Synopsis''One of the most important books I''ve ever read - an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world'' BILL GATES''A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases'' BARACK OBAMAThe international bestseller, inspiring and revelatory, filled with lively anecdotes and moving stories, Factfulness is an urgent and essential book that will change the way you see the world, and make you realise things are better than you thought.*#1 Sunday Times bestseller * New York Times bestseller * Observer ''best brainy book of the decade'' * Irish Times bestseller * audiobook bestseller * Guardian bestseller * Trade ReviewA hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases. -- Barack ObamaOne of the most important books I've ever read-an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world. -- Bill GatesA powerful antidote to pervasive pessimism and populist untruths. -- Andrew Rawnsley * Observer, Book of the Year *Factfulness ... , a light-hearted but data-rich book, calibrates our view of the world and explains how our cognitive processes can lead us astray -- Steven Pinker * New Statesman, The best books of 2018 *Wonderful... a passionate and erudite message that is all the more moving because it comes from beyond the grave... His knack for presentation and delight in statistics come across on every page. Who else would choose a chart of "guitars per capita" as a proxy for human progress? * Financial Times *An immensely cheering book in these anxious times. -- Christina Hardyment * The Times *An assault both on ignorance and pessimism . . . helping countries improve their governance and public health and opening them up to the rule of law and market exchange works. But not by some sort of magic. Because we act. And to this, as Rosling argues, we first have to understand the world we live in. -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *A wonderful guide to an improving world, as well as being a well-stocked source of sound advice as to how to think about factual and statistical claims . . . The book is a pleasure to read - simple, clear, memorable writing - and when you've finished you'll be a lot wiser about the world. You'll also feel rather happier . . . Factfulness - the relaxing peace of mind you get when you have a clearer view of how the world really is . . . I strongly recommend this book. -- Tim HarfordWe need more of this way of thinking, both in business and politics. Where better to start than a new book by one of Gates' favourite gurus, the late Swedish statistician Hans Rosling . . . in an age of so-called post-truth, this is a celebration of the all too often repudiated but underlying story of relentless human progress. -- Jeremy Warner * Sunday Telegraph *[Bill] Gates had selected the tomes as his favourite summer reads . . . [which included] feel-good non-fiction . . . celebrating technological progress and genius, such as Hans Rosling's Factfulness. -- Gillian Tett * FT Magazine *Hans Rosling tells the story of "the secret silent miracle of human progress" as only he can. But Factfulness does much more than that. It also explains why progress is so often secret and silent and teaches readers how to see it clearly. -- Melinda GatesThree minutes with Hans Rosling will change your mind about the world. -- Amy Maxmen * Nature *Thoroughly researched and clearly written . . . this is a measured, objective, and ultimately optimistic account of where we are and how we got here. * Independent *Factfulness has the power to shift your entire perspective. If you want to understand the world, read it now! -- Rolf DobelliTriumphant. * Sunday Times *Bestselling books about statistics are as rare as unicorns. One that gets to No.1 is as rare as a lunar unicorn. Factfulness by Hans Rosling is that moon-based creature . . . engaging. * The Times *Factfulness is a fabulous read, succinct and lively. It asks why so many people - including Nobel laureates and medical researchers - get the numbers so wrong on pressing issues such as poverty, pandemics and climate change... a just tribute to this book and the man would be a global day of celebration for facts about our world. -- Jim O'Neill * Nature *Rosling's final work is about the misconceptions most people hold about the world we live in - it's better than we think - and a plea to think critically. -- Robert Muchamore * Metro *An unexpectedly uplifting read. * Emerald Street *The message is refreshingly clear: when you only hold opinions about things you know the facts about, you can see the world more clearly. * Mr Hyde *I had very high expectations; the book exceeded them. Superb guide to the world and how to be wiser about it. Great storytelling. An inspiration. -- Tim HarfordAn insistently hopeful, fact-based booster shot for a doomsaying, world-weary population [which] parts the dingy curtains of global pessimism to reveal an alternate and uplifting perspective on the state of world issues today. Co-written with Rosling's son and daughter-in-law, the book effectively educates, uplifts, and reassures readers. . . In compelling readers to comprehend the positive aspects of world changes using practical thinking tools, Rosling delivers a sunny global prognosis with a sigh of relief. - Kirkus[An] accessible, smart-thinking read which reveals the preconceptions that make us misunderstand the way the world works -- Caroline Sanderson * Daily Mirror *[A] smart read -- Books for the Beach * Sunday Express *It was such a hopeful book - it's about why society is better off than we think and how many of the problems we think exist, don't -- Talita von Fürstenberg * Vogue *I recommend starting 2021 with the late Hans Rosling's book, Factfulness - for incontrovertible evidence of "the secret, silent miracle of human progress." -- Bel Mooney * Daily Mail *

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

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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 *

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Book SynopsisAn inside look at how you're being robbed of your rights, your money, and your potential by a rigged system--and what you can do about it.

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Book Synopsis'Lucid, smartly written ... A welcome intervention into the debate surrounding the future of liberalism' Financial Times 'It takes scholarly courage and knowledge to upend Adam Smith, but this is what Krzysztof Pelc has done . . . Profound and brilliant' Robert Skidelsky 'A fascinating book, bursting with paradoxes, riddles and counterintuitive ideas that will challenge some of your strongest beliefs about how society works' Daniel Susskind We’ve learned that the way to get ahead is through strong will, grit and naked ambition. The belief that self-interest makes the world go round has served us well: it has helped make our society more affluent. But does that premise still hold? In Beyond Self-Interest, Krzysztof Pelc argues that those who prosper increasingly do so by spurning prosperity, or by convincing others that they are pursuing passion, purpose, love of craft – anything but their own self-advancement. From the Puritans, who followed a religious calling and yet made a killing; to the fastest-growing firms of today, who claim to be ‘changing to the world’ through ‘doing what they love’, declaring passion over profit is a profitable move. A bold, incisive and original work that draws on three centuries of intellectual thought, Beyond Self-Interest is a book to upend how we relate to capitalism. What if the true driver of market society is not the appearance of self-interest, but its opposite?Trade ReviewIt takes scholarly courage and knowledge to upend Adam Smith, but this is what Krzysztof Pelc has done in this profound and brilliant study. It is not love of money, he argues, which drives the baker to bake bread, but the disinterested passion for baking, which assures the credibility of his product. There is an urgent moral lesson here for our own age of climate-induced scarcity: GDP is at best a means to the good life, it cannot be its meaning -- Robert SkidelskyWe cannot obtain happiness by pursuing it. Happiness is a byproduct of the pursuit of other goals. In this stimulating and important book, Krzysztof Pelc argues that the same is true of prosperity -- Martin WolfA fascinating book, bursting with paradoxes, riddles, and counterintuitive ideas that will challenge some of your strongest beliefs about how society works -- Daniel Susskind, author of A WORLD WITHOUT WORKWhy do so many people perceive capitalism to be failing us? This wide-ranging and provocative book argues that modern capitalists have fallen into the trap of believing their own arguments about the benefits of individual self-interest -- Diane CoyleWhat if greed is not good? What if the pursuit of happiness means embracing values beyond narrow ambition? Pelc argues that affluent societies have reached just such a point. Turning both economics and conventional wisdom on their head, he describes a world in which those who shun self-interest may actually end up being most successful - and most fulfilled -- David Pilling, author of THE GROWTH DELUSIONLucid, smartly written and a welcome intervention into the debate surrounding the future of liberalism. The very idea that to be a liberal - in the sense of advancing the cause of individuals - now requires our societies to move beyond a growth orientation, is a challenging idea worth engaging with * Financial Times *

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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)

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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 Times

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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 *

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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 *

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Book SynopsisThis breakthrough scientific masterwork - and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER - reveals the underlying forces that have shaped human history and will secure our future...'Masterful. Galor answers the ultimate mystery' Lewis Dartnell The stunning advances that have transformed human experience in recent centuries are no accident of history - they are the result of universal and timeless forces, operating since the dawn of our species. Drawing on a lifetime's scientific investigation, Oded Galor's ground-breaking new vision overturns a host of long-held assumptions to reveal the deeper causes that have shaped the journey of humanity:Education rather than industrialisationFamily size and gender equality as much as inventions and technologyGeography and diversity rather than wars, disease and famine'Unparalleled in its scope and ambition . . . All readers will learn something' Washington Post'An inspiring, readable, jargon-free and almost impossibly erudite masterwork' New Statesman'His optimism about humanity shines through' Observer'If you need an evidence-based antidote to doomscrolling, here it is' GuardianTrade ReviewA wildly ambitious attempt to do for economics what Newton, Darwin or Einstein did for their fields: develop a theory that explains almost everything ... an inspiring, readable, jargon-free and almost impossibly erudite masterwork, the boldest possible attempt to write the economic history of humanity * New Statesman *There will be inevitable comparisons with Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens ... If you need an evidence-based antidote to doomscrolling, here it is * Guardian *Journey of Humanity... is only 300 pages long, which considering it covers thousands of years of global history... is surprisingly concise. Its breadth and ambition are reminiscent of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel...and Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens * Financial Times *A large-scale survey of human history... The heart of the matter is why some countries grow and some don't... Perhaps growth-mad Liz Truss should have read it. You certainly should. * The Times, Best philosophy and ideas books of 2022 *Unparalleled in its scope and ambition ... All readers will learn something, and many will find the book fascinating * Washington Post *Deeply rewarding and fascinating * Spectator *A completely brilliant and utterly original account of humanity's transit from crude beginnings to a deeply divided planet. A vastly readable insight into why our world is as it is. A book for our epoch -- Jon Snow, former presenter of Channel 4 NewsA masterful sweep through the human odyssey, from the origin of our species to the making of the modern world, that answers the ultimate mystery: what accounts for the staggering inequality in the wealth of nations today? Exquisite, eloquent and effortlessly erudite - if you liked Sapiens, you'll love this -- Lewis Dartnell, author of OriginsAstounding in scope and insight, The Journey of Humanity provides a captivating and revelatory account of the deepest currents that have shaped human history, and the keys to the betterment of our species -- Nouriel Roubini, author of Crisis EconomicsI am in awe of Oded Galor's attempts to explain inequality today as a consequence of such profound forces. A remarkable contribution to our understanding of this mammoth dilemma -- Jim O'Neill, author of The Growth MapA wonderfully clear-sighted perspective on progress, past and future, which is essential to tackling today's big challenges - potentially catastrophic climate change and inequality -- Diane Coyle, former Vice Chair of the BBC Trust, author of Cogs and MonstersBig Science at its best ... Galor's erudition and creativity are remarkable -- Prof. Steven N. Durlauf, University of Chicago, on Unified Growth TheoryAn engaging and optimistic answer to anyone who thinks that poverty and inequality will always be with us -- Ian Morris, author of Why the West Rules – For NowGalor's project is breathtakingly ambitious -- Robert Solow, Nobel Laureate in EconomicsA magisterial account of the evolution of human civilization from its prehistoric origins into the present day. It's a page-turner, a suspense-filled thriller full of surprises, mind-bending puzzles and profound insights -- Glenn C. Loury, author of The Anatomy of Racial InequalityIn lucid, accessible prose, Galor ingeniously traces obscure influences over centuries ... This engrossing history reveals that subtle causes can have astounding effects * Publishers Weekly *A tour de force. This deeply argued book brilliantly weaves the threads of global economic history to deconstruct the rich tapestry that is the modern world -- Dani Rodrik, author of Straight Talk on TradeOne of the hottest books of the year ahead * Irish Independent *Reading Oded Galor's upbeat book I...[was] taken aback by his imagination and verve... great sections of Galor's book are to be applauded... his optimism about humanity shines through * Observer *The Journey of Humanity is a good summary of growth theories and is an elegantly written and accessible book * Irish Times *Galor argues that climate policy should not be restricted to cutting carbon but should also involve "pushing hard for gender equality, access to education and the availability of contraceptives, to drive forward the decline in fertility". India will do well to heed that advice * New Indian Express *The Journey of Humanity stretches from the emergence of Homo sapiens to the present day, and has a lot to say about the future, too. In just over 240 pages it covers our migration out of Africa, the development of agriculture, the Industrial Revolution and the phenomenal growth of the past two centuries. It takes in population change, the climate crisis and global inequality ... There will be inevitable comparisons with Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens ... If you need an evidence-based antidote to doomscrolling, here it is ... Galor builds his case meticulously, always testing his assumptions against the evidence, and without the sense of agenda-pushing that accompanies other boosterish thinkers - the Steven Pinkers or Francis Fukuyamas of this world * Guardian *Incredibly wide-ranging and detailed historical and even anthropological examination of the myriad factors that have brought success and failure to nations ... Lively and learned -- Tim Hazledine, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Auckland * Inerest.co.nz *An optimist's guide to the future ... Oded Galor's 'Sapiens'-like history of civilisation predicts a happy ending for humanity * Guardian *Enjoyable and intriguing -- Steven Poole * Guardian *An antidote to doomscrolling * Guardian, *Summer Reads of 2022* *A great historical fresco * Le Monde *Breathtaking. A new Sapiens * L'Express *Ambitious and deep ... the product of genuine scholarship -- Jason Furman, economics professor at Harvard, former advisor to Barack Obama * #1 Best Economics Book of 2022, FiveBooks.com *

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Book SynopsisFew people can communicate how the economy actually works better than Kyla Scanlon. -Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of MoneyThe stuff you really need to know about how the economy works? It''s pretty simple. Yes, even if you were bored to tears in economics class, or if you''re cross-eyed from reading painfully convoluted-or straight-up misguided-financial commentary. In this particularly disorienting era, Kyla Scanlon is the Tim Harford of the disaffected and disillusioned Gen Z looking for answers.This is the definitive, approachable guide to the key concepts and mechanics of economics and the most common myths and fallacies to steer clear of. Through Kyla''s trademark blend of creative analogies, clever illustrations, refreshingly lucid language-and even quotes from poetry, literature, and philosophy-she answers questions such as:- Is our national debt really a threat?- What is a mild recession, exactly?- What''s really happe

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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.

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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.

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Book Synopsis**The Sunday Times Best Business Book of the Year 2020**'A satisfying ticktock of the company's rapid rise and crash, culminating in its disastrous I.P.O. in 2019 and Neumann's ouster.' New York Times 'This absorbing book exposes the sheer madness of WeWork: not just its founder Adam Neumann's extreme hubris, but why so many wiser minds bought into the fairytale.' Sunday Times The inside story of the rise and fall of WeWork, showing how the excesses of its founder shaped a corporate culture unlike any other.__________In its earliest days, WeWork promised the impossible: to make the workplace cool. Adam Neumann, an immigrant determined to make his fortune in the United States, landed on the idea of repurposing surplus New York office space for the burgeoning freelance class. Over the course of ten years, WeWork attracted billions of dollars from some of the most sought-after investors in the world, while spending it to build a global real estate empire.Based on more than two hundred interviews, Billion Dollar Loser chronicles the breakneck speed at which WeWork's CEO built and grew his company. Culminating in a day-by-day account of the five weeks leading up to WeWork's botched IPO and Neumann's dramatic ouster, Reeves Wiedeman exposes the story of the company's desperate attempt to secure the funding it needed in the final moments of a decade defined by excess. With incredible access and piercing insight into the company, Billion Dollar Loser tells the full, inside story of WeWork and its CEO Adam Neumann who together came to represent the most audacious, and improbable, rise and fall in business. __________A Sunday Times Best Business Book of the YearFortune Best Book of the Year New York Times' Books to Watch For in OctoberWIRED Books to Read This FallBloomberg's Nonfiction Title to Know this FallNewsweek's Must Read Fall NonfictionPublishers Weekly Top Ten for Business & EconomicsInsideHook's Best Books for OctoberLike John Carreyrou's Bad Blood and Mike Isaac's Super Pumped before it, Billion Dollar Loser traces the turmoil at a startup driven by a charismatic, arrogant founder. 'A frisky dissection of how a rickety real-estate leasing company tricked the world into seeing it as an immensely valuable, society-shifting tech unicorn.' WIREDTrade ReviewA satisfying ticktock of the company's rapid rise and crash, culminating in its disastrous I.P.O. in 2019 and Neumann's ouster. -- New York Times A frisky dissection of how a rickety real-estate leasing company tricked the world into seeing it as an immensely valuable, society-shifting tech unicorn....Wiedeman arranges the absurd details of their high lives in the C-suite into a pointillist portrait of wild hubris. -- WIREDWhen life transcends art, tell it straight. That's what Reeves Wiedeman, a New York contributing editor since 2016, has done with Billion Dollar Loser, the propulsive tale of WeWork's, and Neumann's, rise and fall. -- The Atlantic In the distant future, when historians recall the geyser of cash that banks and venture capitalists directed to Silicon Valley, they will almost certainly use the catastrophic collapse of WeWork as a cautionary tale. -- BloombergMove over Theranos, there's a new fallen unicorn in town. Wiedeman deftly takes us inside the much-hyped WeWork and its once venerated founder to find out what really happened-and what really went wrong. -- NewsweekTragicomic play-by-play of Neumann's misadventures. . . . Wiedeman's finest feat of reporting and double portraiture is his evocation of Neumann's relationship with his financial savior (for a time) Masayoshi Son. . . To delve any further into their relationship would be to give away the plot of Billion Dollar Loser, which, like the most engrossing nonfiction stories, has a plot indeed, one that only reality could contrive. - New York Times Book Review A swift, tragicomic saga of idealism, avarice, and unfettered ambition-as illuminating about WeWork as the past decade of venture-funded grandiosity, and an excellent case study in the power of branding. Reeves Wiedeman has a talent for the artfully deployed, jaw-dropping detail; there seems to be one on every page. Reading this book gave me the sensation of visiting a Potemkin village after a storm: wires dangling, trompe l'oeil flats at a tilt. Batshit, unsettling, and wholly satisfying. -- Anna Wiener, author of Uncanny Valley

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Book Synopsis**The Sunday Times Best Business Book of the Year 2020**'A satisfying ticktock of the company's rapid rise and crash, culminating in its disastrous I.P.O. in 2019 and Neumann's ouster.' New York Times'This absorbing book exposes the sheer madness of WeWork: not just its founder Adam Neumann's extreme hubris, but why so many wiser minds bought into the fairytale.' Sunday TimesThe inside story of the rise and fall of WeWork, showing how the excesses of its founder shaped a corporate culture unlike any other.__________In its earliest days, WeWork promised the impossible: to make the workplace cool.Adam Neumann, an immigrant determined to make his fortune in the United States, landed on the idea of repurposing surplus New York office space for the burgeoning freelance class. Over the course of ten years, WeWork attracted billions of dollars from some of the most sought-after investors in the world, while spending it to build a global real estate empire.Based on more than two hundred interviews, Billion Dollar Loser chronicles the breakneck speed at which WeWork's CEO built and grew his company. Culminating in a day-by-day account of the five weeks leading up to WeWork's botched IPO and Neumann's dramatic ouster, Reeves Wiedeman exposes the story of the company's desperate attempt to secure the funding it needed in the final moments of a decade defined by excess.With incredible access and piercing insight into the company, Billion Dollar Loser tells the full, inside story of WeWork and its CEO Adam Neumann who together came to represent the most audacious, and improbable, rise and fall in business.__________A Sunday Times Best Business Book of the YearFortune Best Book of the YearNew York Times' Books to Watch For in OctoberWIRED Books to Read This FallBloomberg's Nonfiction Title to Know this FallNewsweek's Must Read Fall NonfictionPublishers Weekly Top Ten for Business & EconomicsInsideHook's Best Books for OctoberLike John Carreyrou's Bad Blood and Mike Isaac's Super Pumped before it, Billion Dollar Loser traces the turmoil at a startup driven by a charismatic, arrogant founder.'A frisky dissection of how a rickety real-estate leasing company tricked the world into seeing it as an immensely valuable, society-shifting tech unicorn.' WIRED**Perfect for fans of the Apple TV show, WeCrashed**

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Book SynopsisThe origins of the next radical economy is rooted in a tradition that has empowered people for centuries and is now making a comeback. A new feudalism is on the rise. While monopolistic corporations feed their spoils to the rich, more and more of us are expected to live gig to gig. But, as Nathan Schneider shows, an alternative to the robber-baron economy is hiding in plain sight; we just need to know where to look. Cooperatives are jointly owned, democratically controlled enterprises that advance the economic, social, and cultural interests of their members. They often emerge during moments of crisis not unlike our own, putting people in charge of the workplaces, credit unions, grocery stores, healthcare, and utilities they depend on.Everything for Everyone chronicles this revolution -- from taxi cooperatives keeping Uber at bay, to an outspoken mayor transforming his city in the Deep South, to a fugitive building a fairer version of Bitcoin, to the rural electric co-op members who are propelling an aging system into the future. As these pioneers show, co-ops are helping us rediscover our capacity for creative, powerful, and fair democracy.

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Book SynopsisThis easy-to-understand and fully illustrated handbook teaches essential economic concepts so you can confidently apply economic reasoning in daily situations and discussions. Economics may seem inaccessible and complicated, but in reality, we live in an economy all the time and use economic principles every day. Economic insight and knowledge can easily and quickly solve a curiosity or problem, avoid a minor catastrophe, or even help provide support for your own economic hunch or theory. With Everyday Economics Made Easy, economics comes down from the ivory tower and into the real world. You’ll review the most important basic economic concepts, history, debates, areas, and ways of thinking about economic issues—all while helping you apply these ideas in your everyday life. This book will introduce you to: The tools and theoretical approaches economists use The rich history of economic thought and its continued relevance today The contributions of notable economists The areas of microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis Complete with colorful graphics, intriguing sidebars, and easy-to-follow examples, Everyday Economics Made Easy is a calm and patient tutor to help you appreciate the how and why of economic thinking and analysis, its importance, and its application to common economic dilemmas. Build your skills as an economist with confidence in no time at all! Get a quick review of everything you forgot you knew with the Everyday Learning series from Wellfleet Press. Need a refresher course in topics like grammar and philosophy? Then let these handy reference books be your sidekicks on your journey to higher learning. You’ll learn about timeless global topics, as well as the thought leaders responsible for some of the greatest contributions in the worlds of science, art, and more. Packed with useful information, these portable books are perfect for commuters who want to jump-start their day with useful and fun facts. With the Everyday Learning series, you’ll be an expert in any field in no time. Other titles in this series include: Everyday Economics Made Easy, Everyday Grammar Made Easy, Everyday Mathematics Made Easy, Everyday Philosophy Made Easy, and Everyday Spanish Made Easy. Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION PART I: IN THE BEGINNING CHAPTER 1: A BRIEF HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT CHAPTER 2: ECONOMIC SYSTEMS PART II: UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS CHAPTER 3: BASIC ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES CHAPTER 4: THE PRODUCTION POSSIBILITIES CURVE PART III: THE ECONOMIC DYNAMIC DUO: MICROECONOMICS AND MACROECONOMICS CHAPTER 5: DEMAND CHAPTER 6: SUPPLY CHAPTER 7: CONSUMER THEORY CHAPTER 8: MACROECONOMICS CHAPTER 9: MONEY, INFLATION, RECESSION, AND DEPRESSION CHAPTER 10: ECONOMIC POLICY CHAPTER 11: THE ECONOMY’S IMPACT ON SOCIETY CONCLUSION GLOSSARY REFERENCES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX

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Book SynopsisThe art avengers...took on toxic debt culture – and won the Guardian These artists want to blow up the whole financial system The New York Times Meet the Bonnie and Clyde of bad debt! When art meets finance, 'The Big Bang' takes on a whole new meaning. This is brilliant performative protest. Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut Economics Bank Job is a white-knuckle ride into the dark heart of the global financial system. Artist and filmmaker duo Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn discover that behind the opaque language of loans and the defunct diagrams of money and debt is a system flawed by design and ripe for hacking. They assemble a team and bring a community together by printing their own money in a disused bank in East London, in order to buy up and abolish local debt. Part daring tale, part personal memoir and part economic education, this book is perfect for fans of Grace Blakely and David Graeber. Bank Job shows how the financial system can be changed to meet the needs of the many, not just the few one bank job at a time.Trade Review‘When art meets finance, “The Big Bang” takes on a whole new meaning. This is brilliant performative protest.’—Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut Economics‘Banks rob us blind every day, and so Powell and Edelstyn started one that did exactly the opposite. It became a truly great work of art, and this book is a remarkable record of what we should learn from their achievement about the urgent need for debt abolition and peoples’ financing.’—Andrew Ross, author of Creditocracy: And the Case for Debt Refusal‘Hilary and Dan are the Bonnie and Clyde of renegade economics, bringing a deeply imaginative, beautiful, rebel swagger to staid debate about debt. I love absolutely everything about Bank Job: its persistence, its guts, its compassion, its attention to detail and beauty. My visit to the Bank will stay with me always, and the ripples from this brave and brilliant project have only just begun.’—Rob Hopkins, founder, Transition movement; author of From What Is to What If ‘In the adventure Dan and Hilary take us on, we see the antiquated architecture of the financial system for what it is and are motivated to join in with them to pull it down so that a new system can be built to meet the great challenges of the 21st century – earth-systems breakdown and obscene levels of inequality. This is a timely book, written with passion and verve, that shows how political will, creativity and the arts were deployed to transform the lives of debtors. Dan and Hilary’s lived experience will inspire and strengthen the global movement for economic and ecological justice.’—Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for The Green New Deal‘I can’t think of any more exciting exposé of the role of debt in blighting people’s lives than this book. As the spectre of debt looms over us in all its forms, from personal to sovereign debt, this book couldn’t be more timely. As establishment politicians seek to load the economic burden of the pandemic onto people’s shoulders across the globe, this exhilarating tale inspires the resistance we desperately need.’—John McDonnell, MP and former Shadow Chancellor‘We’re all going around feeling something is wrong but it often ends up veering off in reactionary directions. I think this is wonderful because it marshals that sense of unease and builds it into a community and I love the way you are using it to create ties with each other and cancel debt and expose the sheer hypocrisy of the morality of debt.’—David Graeber, anthropologist and author of Bullshit Jobs and Debt: The First 5,000 Years‘Art pirates, debt destroyers and dreamers for a new economy unite! Hilary and Dan show us how the power of creativity can be a catalyst for grassroots activism when we need it the most. This book will be treasured by all those who are convinced that the radical imagination can triumph against capitalism.’—Max Haiven, Canada Research Chair in Culture, Media and Social Justice; author of Revenge Capitalism and Art After Money, Money After Art‘The UK economy is weighed down by billions of pounds worth of unpayable debt – much of it owed by low-income households struggling to get by. With the COVID-19 pandemic slashing people’s incomes – after a decade of wage stagnation – many households are now on the brink of default, even as the government pumps unprecedented sums of money into our financial system. Bank Job is a vivid portrait of the UK’s debt crisis, which also answers the question as to what we should do with all this debt: blow it up!’—Grace Blakeley, author of Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation‘One of the greatest obstacles to change is our inability to believe in or visualise the world being different. That’s where the creative activists and film makers Hilary Powell and Daniel Edelstyn succeed. Their work rips the veil from a banking and financial system which has normalised economic deception and destructive and irresponsible gambling on a vast scale. More than a simple exposé of the ludicrous rewards going to handful of speculators for risking other people’s money, Bank Job shows how a community can come together to reimagine the economy to meets their own needs.’—Andrew Simms, author, co-director of New Weather Institute, coordinator of Rapid Transition Alliance‘They didn’t just blow the bl**dy doors off: the whole van went up, and with it, the full sorry story of debt and its stranglehold on ordinary lives across the world. While countries and corporations wallow in the red, it’s a black day indeed for millions when the balance of payments tips against them. Now, Powell and Edelstyn, the Thelma and Louise of finance hacking, deliver a rock n’ roll history of where it all went wrong, and how it can start to go right. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for the cunning collaborative creativity of their project, but it’s not over yet. Much more action is needed, and Bank Job gives you all the tools to finish what they started. Right here’s where we start paying . . . in sweat! Keep the engine running, we’re going in. . . .’—Gareth Evans, producer, Patience after Sebald

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