World 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...

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.

Critical theorists of economy tend to understand the history of market society as a succession of distinct stages. This vision of history rests on a chronological conception of time, whereby each present slips into the past so that a future might take its place. This book argues that the linear mode of thinking misses something crucial about the dynamics of contemporary capitalism. Rather than each present leaving a set past behind it, the past continually circulates through and shapes the present.

This practical audiobook compiles a list of 140 most common financial acronyms and abbreviations you’re likely to encounter, in alphabetical order. Every financial acronym is explained in detail, with clear and concise article-style descriptions and practical examples. It is intended for students and professionals in the field of finance as well as private investors and for those who are interested in browsing through the financial pages of newspapers.

Did Wall Street cause the mess we are in? Should Washington place stronger regulations on the financial industry? Can we lower unemployment rates by controlling the free market? Answer: no. Not only is free-market capitalism good for the economy, it is our only hope for recovery. As the nation’s longest-serving CEO of one of the top 25 financial institutions, John Allison has had a unique inside view of the events leading up to the financial crisis.

Throughout history, economies have soared to euphoric heights—only to be pulled down by the unforgiving force of financial gravity. In Greed & Gravity, David G. Stone unpacks seven of the most consequential economic disasters the world has ever seen. These were not merely accidents of policy or market misjudgments—they were catastrophes shaped by unchecked ambition, overconfidence, and willful ignorance.

The bestselling author of the acclaimed House of Cards and The Last Tycoons turns his spotlight on to Goldman Sachs and the controversy behind its success. From the outside, Goldman Sachs is a perfect company. The Goldman PR machine loudly declares it to be smarter, more ethical, and more...