Preview
  • A Brief History of Doom

  • Two Hundred Years of Financial Crises (Haney Foundation Series)
  • By: Richard Vague
  • Narrated by: Kevin Meyer
  • Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (49 ratings)

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A Brief History of Doom

By: Richard Vague
Narrated by: Kevin Meyer
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Publisher's summary

Financial crises happen time and again in post-industrial economies - and they are extraordinarily damaging. Building on insights gleaned from many years of work in the banking industry and drawing on a vast trove of data, Richard Vague argues that such crises follow a pattern that makes them both predictable and avoidable.

A Brief History of Doom examines a series of major crises over the past 200 years in the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, and China - including the Great Depression and the economic meltdown of 2008. Vague demonstrates that the over-accumulation of private debt does a better job than any other variable of explaining and predicting financial crises. In a series of clear and gripping chapters, he shows that in each case the rapid growth of loans produced widespread overcapacity, which then led to the spread of bad loans and bank failures. This cycle, according to Vague, is the essence of financial crises and the script they invariably follow.

The story of financial crisis is fundamentally the story of private debt and runaway lending. Convinced that we have it within our power to break the cycle, Vague provides the tools to enable politicians, bankers, and private citizens to recognize and respond to the danger signs before it begins again.

The book is published by University of Pennsylvania Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

"Must-reading for anyone who wants to understand the financial crises of the past - and anticipate the catastrophes of the future." (Rich Miller, Bloomberg News)

"There couldn't be a better time to read his book." (Rana Foroohar, Financial Times)

"This is a must read for anyone who wants to see the next crisis coming." (Moritz Schularick, University of Bonn)

©2019 University of Pennsylvania Press (P)2019 Redwood Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about A Brief History of Doom

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superbly narrated and well researched.

I never understood the impact run away debt growth had on the multiple financial crises over the centuries and how things stay the same the more they change. Thanks to this book I have a better understanding of the Great Depression and Great Recession and their context. Highly recommended.

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Terrific!

Highly original thesis, cogently argued. Overlending by banks causes Financial crises. Greed, exuberance, bank runs etc are consequences, not causes.

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Great Continuity

One of my favorite books this year. Richard doesn’t leave readers guessing and mentions his larger thesis regarding private debt from the onset of the book. Anecdote after anecdote supports his argument. Really loved the section on railroad crises which I had no knowledge on. Very impressed with the data collection and research, overall would consider it a must-listen.

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Unfortunate reality

A good recap to my understanding of the main causes behind financial doom. Greed, greed and greed

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