Financial History

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson, read by Gareth Armstrong. Behind each great historical phenomenon there lies a financial secret - Niall Ferguson uncovers the hidden stories behind history. Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot. Call it what you like, it...

Most people rely only on their life experience to make investment decisions. This causes them to overlook cyclical forces that repeatedly reshape economies and markets. Investing in U.S. Financial History fills this void by recounting the comprehensive financial history of the United States of America. It begins with Alexander Hamilton’s financial programs in 1790 and ends with the Federal Reserve’s battle with inflation in 2023. Investing in U.S. Financial History reveals that there is almost no financial event that is unprecedented.

With incomparable wisdom, skill, and wit, world-renowned economist John Kenneth Galbraith traces the history of the major speculative episodes in our economy over the last three centuries. Exposing the ways in which normally sane people display reckless behavior in pursuit of profit, Galbraith asserts that our "notoriously short" financial memory is what creates the conditions for market collapse. By recognizing these signs and understanding what causes them we can guard against future recessions and have a better hold on our country's (and our own) financial destiny. 

The New York Times bestseller hailed as "the best business book of 2010" (Huffington Post). As soon as the financial crisis erupted, the finger-pointing began. Should the blame fall on Wall Street, Main Street, or Pennsylvania Avenue? On greedy traders, misguided regulators, sleazy subprime...

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Spider Network by David Enrich, read by Mike Chamberlain. Shortlisted for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year The Spider Network is the almost-unbelievable and darkly entertaining inside account of the Libor scandal – one of the...

Read by John Bradford. An authoritative company history of Berkshire Hathaway, fully updated to cover the last five years. Beginning with Berkshire's origins as a struggling textile company, The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway examines the development of the modern-day...

Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot: Call it what you like, it matters. To Christians, love of it is the root of all evil. To generals, it's the sinews of war. To revolutionaries, it's the chains of labour. But in The Ascent of Money, Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of...

In Devil Take the Hindmost, Edward Chancellor traces the origins of the speculative spirit back to the publicani of ancient Rome and chronicles its revival in the modern world: from the tulip scandal of 1630s Holland and ‘stockjobbing’ in London's Exchange Alley, to the infamous South Sea...

History is full of sensational financial frauds and scams. Enron was forced to declare bankruptcy after allegations of massive accounting fraud, wiping out $78 billion in stock market value. Bernie Madoff, the largest individual fraudster in history, built a $65 billion Ponzi scheme that ultimately resulted in his being sentenced to 150 years in prison. People from all walks of life have been scammed out of their money.

In the space of a few months, across Asia, a miracle became a nightmare. This was the Asian financial crisis of 1995-98. In this economic crisis, hundreds of people died in rioting, political strongmen were removed, and hundreds of billions of dollars were lost by investors. This crisis saw the US dollar value of some Asian stock markets decline by 90 percent. Why did almost no one see it coming? The Asian Financial Crisis 1995–98 charts Russell Napier’s personal journey during that crisis as he wrote daily for institutional investors about an increasingly uncertain future.

Manias, Panics, and Crashes is a scholarly and entertaining account of the way that mismanagement of money and credit has led to financial explosions over the centuries. This seventh edition of an investment classic has been thoroughly revised and expanded following the latest crises to hit international markets. Renowned economist Robert Z. Aliber introduces the concept that global financial crises in recent years are not independent events, but symptomatic of an inherent instability in the international system.

If you haven't followed the money, chances are you don't know the real story of America and its Revolution. Nothing gives a clearer insight into this history than the life of early America's dominant merchant trader, first bank president, and first central banker, Thomas Willing. In this book, Richard Vague shows how Willing bankrolled–and in the process helped save–the Revolution and then fundamentally shaped the financial architecture of the young Republic. So powerful was Willing that President John Adams complained that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton were governed by him.

Professor Connel Fullenkamp of Duke University guides listeners through four centuries of economic disasters - from tulip mania in the 1600s to the Great Recession of 2007-2009. Each of his 24 lectures covers a notable incident of financial misfortune or folly that is worthy of a Hollywood thriller.

Taking time to understand banks and banking vocabulary can help you as a buyer or seller. It also helps with educating on the process, eliminating confusion, and get better prepared for swift and smooth financial transactions of any kind. This banking glossary compiles a list of over 150 most common banking terms you're likely to encounter. Every financial banking term is explained in detail, with clear and concise article style description and practical examples.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge of complex banking practices, better understand the history of international finance, or simply learn more about central banking as it relates to your everyday life, this book will give you a comprehensive introduction and solid foundation for future study.

Read by the author, Natalie Brunell. 'A go-to resource to understand why things aren't working and why Bitcoin offers hope' – Lyn Alden, author of Broken Money Let’s face it – we all sense something is wrong. People have lost faith in the future. They feel left behind as the cost of homes...

A Next Big Idea Club Must-Read 'Eye opening, deeply researched, and snort-out-your-nose funny. I dare you to put it down.' William Bernstein, author of The Four Pillars of Investing 'Refreshingly unequivocal advice.' Publishers Weekly In richly told stories and wild self experiments, historian...

Money Mania is a sweeping account of financial speculation and its consequences, from ancient Rome to the Meltdown of 2008. Acclaimed journalist and investor Bob Swarup tracks the history of speculative fevers caused by the appearance of new profitable investment opportunities; the new assets created and the increasing self-congratulatory euphoria that drives them to unsustainable highs, all fed by an illusion of insight and newly minted experts; the unexpected catalysts that eventually lead to panic...

Uncover the anatomy of market crashes and corporate fraud in this gripping exploration of global financial history. Perfect for an intense morning commute, this tense narrative exposes the dangerous cocktail of easy credit, misplaced trust, and reckless speculation that builds every economic...

Discover the secret behind the greatest investing partnership of all time. In The Buffett and Munger Mindset you’ll discover how Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger turned Berkshire Hathaway into a trillion-dollar powerhouse. While others chased fads and panicked in crashes, Buffett and Munger...