The World for Sale cover art

The World for Sale

Money, Power and the Traders Who Barter the Earth’s Resources

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The World for Sale

By: Javier Blas, Jack Farchy
Narrated by: John Sackville
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Meet the traders who supply the world with oil, metal and food - no matter how corrupt, war-torn or famine-stricken the source.

'This jaw-dropping study shows how much money and global influence is concentrated in the hands of a tiny group . . . As the authors roam from oilfield to wheatfield, they reveal information so staggering you almost gasp.' SUNDAY TIMES

'Fascinating and revealing . . . A gripping book.' ECONOMIST

'The definitive, eye-opening story of the most powerful and secretive traders in the world.' BRADLEY HOPE, co-author of Billion Dollar Whale
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The modern world is built on commodities - from the oil that fuels our cars to the metals that power our smartphones.


We rarely stop to consider where they come from. But we should.

In The World for Sale, two leading journalists lift the lid on one of the least scrutinised corners of the economy: the workings of the billionaire commodity traders who buy, hoard and sell the earth's resources.

It is the story of how a handful of swashbuckling businessmen became indispensable cogs in global markets: enabling an enormous expansion in international trade, and connecting resource-rich countries - no matter how corrupt or war-torn - with the world's financial centres.

And it is the story of how some traders acquired untold political power, right under the noses of Western regulators and politicians - helping Saddam Hussein to sell his oil, fuelling the Libyan rebel army during the Arab Spring, and funnelling cash to Vladimir Putin's Kremlin in spite of strict sanctions.

The result is an eye-opening tour through the wildest frontiers of the global economy, as well as a revelatory guide to how capitalism really works.
__________________________
A Financial Times Best Read of 2021.

'Blas and Farchy shine light on what's long been the financial markets' darkest corner - the crucial, yet underappreciated, role commodity traders play in global finance and geopolitics . . . The World For Sale is a fascinating, eye-opening read.' GREGORY ZUCKERMAN, author of The Man Who Solved the Market

'The World for Sale draws back the covers on a sector where civil wars, dubious regimes and the collapse of states have often been just another business opportunity . . . Intriguing and, at times, alarming.' HELEN THOMAS, Business Editor, BBC Newsnight

'Javier Blas and Jack Farchy should be awaiting the call from Hollywood. The World for Sale contains at least half a dozen narrative threads that would form the basis of a good thriller. But the authors' main achievement is to subject the biggest commodity players, and their impact on the real world, to proper critical scrutiny.' REUTERS

'A remarkable book . . . The colour is fantastic . . . Tracking down some of the biggest names in the business to their German castles and stud farms and persuading them to talk is a rare scoop.' SUNDAY TIMES

'Javier Blas and Jack Farchy deftly peel back the curtain on the amoral swashbucklers of capitalism who trade in commodities . . . The World for Sale is a gripping account of how they achieved their stranglehold over the world economy, and their troubling influence on global politics.' BRAD STONE, author of The Everything Store

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (P)2021 Penguin Audio
Commodities Investing & Trading Politics & Government Russia Money Middle East War Socialism Inspiring Africa China Thought-Provoking Capitalism

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All stars
Most relevant
very thorough, you really have to want to learn about this. But it's well written, takes you through the various traded goods, the important actors, the regulations and the impact the traders are having on the world. Eye-opening about something I knew very little about

incredibly thorough

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Mr Blas and Farchy, both well-regarded commodities commentators have created a throughly entertaining book. Yes, there is the swashbuckling history, the ‘walking the knife’s edge’ aptitude of the commodities nexus, but also the inter-weaving history of world events that cause changes in markets - and by that time you finish with this book, you’ll understand it is many the times the markets these players ply that create such events. Well done gents - a great read. And a shout out to Mr Sackvile who makes this book a wonderful listen.

Brilliant, entertaining and well-researched

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I like the book, this tells the story of yhe magior trading companies and how they developed in the way we see them now. The pace is good, not boring, and a lot of info to digest.

Good book, well narrated

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Provides a fascinating insight into the world of commodity trading from its early days until the present day.

A good narrator as well.

Great listen - thoroughly recommend it.

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Commodity trading world is an area I have always been fascinated about this book does not let you down. You will learn about some of the worst individuals that humanity has along with the daring that individuals will go so we can have food electronics etc. whether we like it or not be are all have a part to play in the commodity market.

Fascinating

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