Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World [Book]
With penetrating insights for today, this vital history of the world economic collapse of the late 1920s offers unforgettable portraits of the four men whose personal and professional actions as heads of their respective central banks changed the course of the twentieth century It is commonly believed that the Great Depression that began in 1929 resulted from a confluence of events beyond any one person's or government's control. In fact, as Liaquat Ahamed reveals, it was the decisions taken by a small number of central bankers that were the primary cause of the economic meltdown, the effects of which set the stage for World War II and reverberated for decades. After the First World War, these central bankers attempted to reconstruct the world of international finance. Despite their differences, they were united by a common fear ;that the greatest threat to capitalism was inflation ; and by a common vision that the solution was to turn back the clock and return the world to the gold standard. For a brief period in the mid-1920s they appeared to have succeeded. The world's currencies were stabilized and capital began flowing freely across the globe. But beneath the veneer of boom-town prosperity, cracks started to appear in the financial system. The gold standard that all had believed would provide an umbrella of stability proved to be a straitjacket, and the world economy began that terrible downward spiral known as the Great Depression. As yet another period of economic turmoil makes headlines today, the Great Depression and the year 1929 remain the benchmark for true financial mayhem. Offering a new understanding of the global nature of financial crises, Lords of Financeis a potent reminder of the enormous impact that the decisions of central bankers can have, of their fallibility, and of the terrible human consequences that can result when they are wrong.
With penetrating insights for today, this vital history of the world economic collapse of the late 1920s offers unforgettable portraits of the four men whose personal and professional actions as heads of their respective central banks changed the course of the twentieth century It is commonly believed that the Great Depression that began in 1929 resulted from a confluence of events beyond any one person's or government's control. In fact, as Liaquat Ahamed reveals, it was the decisions taken by a small number of central bankers that were the primary cause of the economic meltdown, the effects of which set the stage for World War II and reverberated for decades. After the First World War, these central bankers attempted to reconstruct the world of international finance. Despite their differences, they were united by a common fear ;that the greatest threat to capitalism was inflation ; and by a common vision that the solution was to turn back the clock and return the world to the gold standard. For a brief period in the mid-1920s they appeared to have succeeded. The world's currencies were stabilized and capital began flowing freely across the globe. But beneath the veneer of boom-town prosperity, cracks started to appear in the financial system. The gold standard that all had believed would provide an umbrella of stability proved to be a straitjacket, and the world economy began that terrible downward spiral known as the Great Depression. As yet another period of economic turmoil makes headlines today, the Great Depression and the year 1929 remain the benchmark for true financial mayhem. Offering a new understanding of the global nature of financial crises, Lords of Financeis a potent reminder of the enormous impact that the decisions of central bankers can have, of their fallibility, and of the terrible human consequences that can result when they are wrong.
With penetrating insights for today, this vital history of the world economic collapse of the late 1920s offers unforgettable portraits of the four men whose personal and professional actions as heads of their respective central banks changed the course of the twentieth century It is commonly believed that the Great Depression that began in 1929 resulted from a confluence of events beyond any one person's or government's control. In fact, as Liaquat Ahamed reveals, it was the decisions taken by a small number of central bankers that were the primary cause of the economic meltdown, the effects of which set the stage for World War II and reverberated for decades. After the First World War, these central bankers attempted to reconstruct the world of international finance. Despite their differences, they were united by a common fear ;that the greatest threat to capitalism was inflation ; and by a common vision that the solution was to turn back the clock and return the world to the gold standard. For a brief period in the mid-1920s they appeared to have succeeded. The world's currencies were stabilized and capital began flowing freely across the globe. But beneath the veneer of boom-town prosperity, cracks started to appear in the financial system. The gold standard that all had believed would provide an umbrella of stability proved to be a straitjacket, and the world economy began that terrible downward spiral known as the Great Depression. As yet another period of economic turmoil makes headlines today, the Great Depression and the year 1929 remain the benchmark for true financial mayhem. Offering a new understanding of the global nature of financial crises, Lords of Financeis a potent reminder of the enormous impact that the decisions of central bankers can have, of their fallibility, and of the terrible human consequences that can result when they are wrong.
With penetrating insights for today, this vital history of the world economic collapse of the late 1920s offers unforgettable portraits of the four men whose personal and professional actions as heads of their respective central banks changed the course of the twentieth century It is commonly believed that the Great Depression that began in 1929 resulted from a confluence of events beyond any one person's or government's control. In fact, as Liaquat Ahamed reveals, it was the decisions taken by a small number of central bankers that were the primary cause of the economic meltdown, the effects of which set the stage for World War II and reverberated for decades. After the First World War, these central bankers attempted to reconstruct the world of international finance. Despite their differences, they were united by a common fear ;that the greatest threat to capitalism was inflation ; and by a common vision that the solution was to turn back the clock and return the world to the gold standard. For a brief period in the mid-1920s they appeared to have succeeded. The world's currencies were stabilized and capital began flowing freely across the globe. But beneath the veneer of boom-town prosperity, cracks started to appear in the financial system. The gold standard that all had believed would provide an umbrella of stability proved to be a straitjacket, and the world economy began that terrible downward spiral known as the Great Depression. As yet another period of economic turmoil makes headlines today, the Great Depression and the year 1929 remain the benchmark for true financial mayhem. Offering a new understanding of the global nature of financial crises, Lords of Financeis a potent reminder of the enormous impact that the decisions of central bankers can have, of their fallibility, and of the terrible human consequences that can result when they are wrong.
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Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World Hardcover – 22 January 2009
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Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Ahamed, Liaquat
Delivery $28.95
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Ahamed, Liaquat
Delivery $33.08
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
Delivery $8.95
Lords of Finance Publisher: Penguin
Delivery between 17–20 May $29
originally posted on audiobookstore.com
First I gave 4* for substance and style. On second thought I raised it to 5* because it is so entertaining in painting a vivid picture of a very dark age. Would I have read this book circa 2005, then I'd probably hesitate between a three and a four star rating.
originally posted on audiobookstore.com
What a fascinating read during this time of economic volatility. Let's hope today's financial leaders have the skills that some of their predecessors lacked. Ahamed keeps this book interesting when it could have bogged down in technical economic lingo.
originally posted on audiobookstore.com
Well written, great storytelling of a very very relevant topic today. Great read with terrific portraits of the central bankers involved.
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Language | English |
| Publication Year | 2009 |
| Length | 1.65 inch |
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World Hardcover – 22 January 2009
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Ahamed, Liaquat
Delivery $28.95
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Ahamed, Liaquat
Delivery $33.08
Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
Delivery $8.95
First I gave 4* for substance and style. On second thought I raised it to 5* because it is so entertaining in painting a vivid picture of a very dark age. Would I have read this book circa 2005, then I'd probably hesitate between a three and a four star rating.
What a fascinating read during this time of economic volatility. Let's hope today's financial leaders have the skills that some of their predecessors lacked. Ahamed keeps this book interesting when it could have bogged down in technical economic lingo.
Well written, great storytelling of a very very relevant topic today. Great read with terrific portraits of the central bankers involved.
I have listened to this book several times while I do manual labor. I enjoyed the personal approach to the characters in world finance. I learned much about the finances of the two World Wars. I thought the writing good. The jumping about in time was disconcerting, but otherwise a good book.
So this book definetly lands square in the realm of starts slow, finishes strong. International Finance see, is really about as dull as it gets right up untill it nearly destroys modern civilization. Even if the begining feels a bit like Macro Econ homework the middle and end are just outrageously entertaining. I'm not even gonna qualify that with, ...as far as books about money go, it's just a great read.
Definitely recommend, especially considering the recent banking meltdowns and current banking regulations. One caveat for me: while fascinating and well researched (such detail!), something about the author's writing style left me wanting. He has a way of creating a build up that completely engrosses you, but then when he gets to the climax of the particular point he seems to gloss over it and move to the next point.
This book is not simply numbers and figures. It does a fantastic job of chronicaling the actual world economic leaders and their influence (along with their personalities and relationships) of the economic system in that critical era. The author assumes correctly that understanding the leaders, the people in their countries, and explaining some historical background information makes the reader better able to understand both the consequences and reasoning behind various events. The focus is on America, England, France, and Germany. I would recommend this book to someone interested in general history of that time period because it does help explain so many other events around that time.
History of Wall Street and those who influence the world of finance.
Interesting information about the banking industry and how it works. The ordinary people have no idea of what goes on in the hidden world of finance and politics...unless they're willing to invest some time to do some research for themselves.
The best thing I have read about the financial policies that culminated in the great depression. Very well written it covers the 20s and 30s in Europe and America. The gold standard gets most of the blame but the book is fascinating for anyone with an interest in history because shows how decisions were made by flawed people using an even more flawed ideology.
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Language | English |
| Publication Year | 2009 |
| Length | 1.65 inch |
