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Talking To My Daughter About The Economy A Brief History Of Capitalism
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 Local DescriptionI was immediately attracted to this book by its title. Maybe this book could help me understand what is going on in the world. In the prologue Varoufakis explains why he wrote the book. It is his belief that it is time people take charge of the economy and take it out of the hands of the Economists, who he believes are the ones least able to manage it. The book was written in nine days in 2013 in his native language of Greek while at his island home in Greece. He addressed it to his daughter who lives with her mother in Australia. He tells how it was a joy to write and he let the book write itself, without any plan. To put this book in historical context, from January to August of 2015, Varoufakis was the Minister of Finance for Greece, in the Alexis Tsipras government, negotiating for their bailout. Varoufakis's politics are pretty apparent in this book. He obviously has no time for banks, describing them as making a profitable business of lending money simply by adding zeros to bank accounts and the purpose of central banks supported by governments is to bail them out when they get into trouble. Then when the government gets into trouble, he believes the only option is for the debts to be forgiven. There is no other way.
The book is written as he describes it. It does ramble somewhat. He makes dubious comparisons to Greek myth, Shelly's Dr Frankenstein and the film the Matrix. He also touches on Bitcoin and the dangers of apolitical money. I enjoyed this book and some of its ideas. But I am not sure if I understand the economy any better. Peter DescriptionYanis Varoufakis, the bestselling author of Adults in the Room, uses personal stories and famous myths to explain what economics is and why it has the power to change our world. Why is there so much inequality?In this intimate and accessible book, world famous economist Yanis Varoufakis sets out to answer his daughter Xenia's deceptively simple question. Drawing on memories of her childhood and a variety of well-known tales - from Oedipus and Faust to Frankenstein and The Matrix -- Talking To My Daughter About the Economy explains everything you need to know in order to understand why economics is the most important drama of our times. It is a book that helps to make sense of a troubling world while inspiring us to make it a better one. Reviews"The reason Varoufakis seems to have captured the imaginations of so many is that his words about the European crisis speak universal truths about democracy, capitalism and social policy" Guardian "A global celebrity" Economist "He writes with great panache ... and in a gripping style" Times Literary Supplement "The most interesting man in the world" Business Insider "The emerging rock-star of Europe's anti-austerity uprising" Telegraph Author descriptionYanis Varoufakis is the former finance minister of Greece and the author of several international bestselling books. And the Weak Suffer What They Must?: Europe, Austerity and the Threat to Global Stability reveals the underlying problems that led to the Eurozone crisis and its ongoing catastrophic mishandling. Adults In the Room: My Battle with Europe's Deep Establishment is an explosive memoir that reveals what goes on behind the scenes in Europe's corridors of power. Talking To My Daughter About the Economy: A Brief History of Capitalism (forthcoming) explains through vivid stories and easily graspable concepts what economics actually is and why it is so dangerous in the form of a letter to his teenage daughter. Born in Athens in 1961, Yanis Varoufakis was for many years a professor of economics in Britain, Australia and the USA before he entered government and is currently Professor of Economics at the University of Athens. Since resigning from Greece's finance ministry he has co-founded an international grassroots movement, DiEM25, campaigning for the revival of democracy in Europe and speaks to audiences of thousands worldwide. yanisvaroufakis.eu / @yanisvaroufakis |
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