Tower of Basel
The Shadowy History of the Secret Bank That Runs the World
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pre-order for $21.83
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
John Mawson
-
By:
-
Adam LeBor
About this listen
Tower of Basel is the first investigative history of the world's most secretive global financial institution. Based on extensive archival research in Switzerland, Britain, and the United States, and in-depth interviews with key decision-makers—including Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve; Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England; and former senior Bank for International Settlements managers and officials—Tower of Basel tells the inside story of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS): the central bankers' own bank.
Created by the governors of the Bank of England and the Reichsbank in 1930, and protected by an international treaty, the BIS and its assets are legally beyond the reach of any government or jurisdiction. The bank is untouchable. Swiss authorities have no jurisdiction over the bank or its premises. The BIS has just 140 customers but made tax-free profits of 1.17 billion in 2011-2012.
Since its creation, the bank has been at the heart of global events but has often gone unnoticed. Under Thomas McKittrick, the bank's American president from 1940-1946, the BIS was open for business throughout the Second World War. The BIS accepted looted Nazi gold, conducted foreign exchange deals for the Reichsbank, and was used by both the Allies and the Axis powers as a secret contact point to keep the channels of international finance open.
After 1945 the BIS—still behind the scenes—for decades provided the necessary technical and administrative support for the trans-European currency project, from the first attempts to harmonize exchange rates in the late 1940s to the launch of the Euro in 2002. It now stands at the center of efforts to build a new global financial and regulatory architecture, once again proving that it has the power to shape the financial rules of our world. Yet despite its pivotal role in the financial and political history of the last century and during the economic current crisis, the BIS has remained largely unknown—until now.
Related to this topic
-
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
- No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
- By: Ramit Sethi
- Narrated by: Ramit Sethi
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buy as many lattes as you want. Spend extravagantly on the things you love. Live your rich life instead of tracking every last expense with Ramit Sethi’s simple, powerful, and effective six-week program for gaining control over your finances. This isn’t typical advice from a money expert. In this completely updated second edition, Ramit teaches you how to choose long-term investments and the right bank accounts. With his characteristic no-BS perspective, he shows how to squeeze every hidden benefit out of your credit cards.
-
-
Repetitive - should be retitled.
- By Truth on 06-20-19
By: Ramit Sethi
-
12 Months to $1 Million
- How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur
- By: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Narrated by: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By cutting out the noise and providing a clear and proven plan, this road map helps even brand-new entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, get their product up for sale, and launch it to a crowd that is ready and waiting to buy. This one-year plan will guide you through the three stages to your first $1 million: the Grind (months 0-4), the Growth (months 5-8), and the Gold (months 9-12). If your goal is to be a full-time entrepreneur, get ready for one chaotic, stressful, and rewarding year. If you have the guts to complete it, you will be the proud owner of a million-dollar business.
-
-
Good, but a Little Misleading
- By Chris Love on 11-28-20
-
The Simple Path to Wealth
- Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life
- By: JL Collins
- Narrated by: JL Collins, Peter Adeney
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book grew out of a series of letters to my daughter concerning various things - mostly about money and investing - she was not yet quite ready to hear. Since money is the single most powerful tool we have for navigating this complex world we've created, understanding it is critical.
-
-
Misleading, heavily biased
- By Cody Peralta on 07-19-19
By: JL Collins
-
The Creature from Jekyll Island
- A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
- By: G. Edward Griffin
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This classic expose of the Fed has become one of the best-selling books in its category of all time. Where does money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magician's secrets are unveiled. Here is a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, the pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. A boring subject? Just wait. You'll be hooked in five minutes. It reads like a detective story - which it really is, but it's all true.
-
-
Lost confidence in author
- By Amazon Customer on 07-11-20
-
Plan Your Year Like a Millionaire
- By: Rachel Rodgers
- Narrated by: Rachel Rodgers
- Length: 2 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Plan Like a Millionaire is part of a riveting three-part series, and it's all about elevating your game and setting goals like a seven-figure earner. In this wealth-inspiring listening journey, Rachel reveals the secrets of how to set goals, manage time wisely, build essential support systems, break free from financial constraints, and make savvy money decisions.
-
-
Feel Good Book, only
- By Maggie on 01-06-24
By: Rachel Rodgers
-
Los secretos de la mente millonaria (Narración en Castellano) [Secrets of the Millionaire Mind]
- Domina el juego de la riqueza [Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth]
- By: T. Harv Eker
- Narrated by: Ivan Villanueva
- Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
El autor estaba en bancarrota, en solo dos años y medio se convirtió en millonario y construyó una de las más grandes firmas de consultoría para el éxito. Con sus enseñanzas ha tocado la vida de millones de personas. Este audiolibro te enseña a observar como piensas. Es un reto a tus ideas que te limitan, a los razonamientos que no te apoyan y a tus acciones con respecto al dinero.
-
-
El libro está bien, pero ES VERSION RESUMIDA
- By alexnvlp on 08-24-23
By: T. Harv Eker
-
I Will Teach You to Be Rich
- No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
- By: Ramit Sethi
- Narrated by: Ramit Sethi
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Buy as many lattes as you want. Spend extravagantly on the things you love. Live your rich life instead of tracking every last expense with Ramit Sethi’s simple, powerful, and effective six-week program for gaining control over your finances. This isn’t typical advice from a money expert. In this completely updated second edition, Ramit teaches you how to choose long-term investments and the right bank accounts. With his characteristic no-BS perspective, he shows how to squeeze every hidden benefit out of your credit cards.
-
-
Repetitive - should be retitled.
- By Truth on 06-20-19
By: Ramit Sethi
-
12 Months to $1 Million
- How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur
- By: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Narrated by: Ryan Daniel Moran
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By cutting out the noise and providing a clear and proven plan, this road map helps even brand-new entrepreneurs make decisions quickly, get their product up for sale, and launch it to a crowd that is ready and waiting to buy. This one-year plan will guide you through the three stages to your first $1 million: the Grind (months 0-4), the Growth (months 5-8), and the Gold (months 9-12). If your goal is to be a full-time entrepreneur, get ready for one chaotic, stressful, and rewarding year. If you have the guts to complete it, you will be the proud owner of a million-dollar business.
-
-
Good, but a Little Misleading
- By Chris Love on 11-28-20
-
The Simple Path to Wealth
- Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life
- By: JL Collins
- Narrated by: JL Collins, Peter Adeney
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book grew out of a series of letters to my daughter concerning various things - mostly about money and investing - she was not yet quite ready to hear. Since money is the single most powerful tool we have for navigating this complex world we've created, understanding it is critical.
-
-
Misleading, heavily biased
- By Cody Peralta on 07-19-19
By: JL Collins
-
The Creature from Jekyll Island
- A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
- By: G. Edward Griffin
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This classic expose of the Fed has become one of the best-selling books in its category of all time. Where does money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magician's secrets are unveiled. Here is a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, the pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. A boring subject? Just wait. You'll be hooked in five minutes. It reads like a detective story - which it really is, but it's all true.
-
-
Lost confidence in author
- By Amazon Customer on 07-11-20
-
Plan Your Year Like a Millionaire
- By: Rachel Rodgers
- Narrated by: Rachel Rodgers
- Length: 2 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Plan Like a Millionaire is part of a riveting three-part series, and it's all about elevating your game and setting goals like a seven-figure earner. In this wealth-inspiring listening journey, Rachel reveals the secrets of how to set goals, manage time wisely, build essential support systems, break free from financial constraints, and make savvy money decisions.
-
-
Feel Good Book, only
- By Maggie on 01-06-24
By: Rachel Rodgers
-
Los secretos de la mente millonaria (Narración en Castellano) [Secrets of the Millionaire Mind]
- Domina el juego de la riqueza [Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth]
- By: T. Harv Eker
- Narrated by: Ivan Villanueva
- Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
El autor estaba en bancarrota, en solo dos años y medio se convirtió en millonario y construyó una de las más grandes firmas de consultoría para el éxito. Con sus enseñanzas ha tocado la vida de millones de personas. Este audiolibro te enseña a observar como piensas. Es un reto a tus ideas que te limitan, a los razonamientos que no te apoyan y a tus acciones con respecto al dinero.
-
-
El libro está bien, pero ES VERSION RESUMIDA
- By alexnvlp on 08-24-23
By: T. Harv Eker
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The House of Rothschild, Volume 1
- Money's Prophets: 1798-1848
- By: Niall Ferguson
- Narrated by: Alexander Adams
- Length: 28 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his rich and nuanced portrait of the remarkable, elusive Rothschild family, Niall Ferguson uncovers the secrets behind the family's phenomenal economic success. He reveals for the first time the details of the family's vast political network, which gave it access to and influence over many of the greatest statesmen of the age. And he tells a family saga, tracing the importance of unity and the profound role of Judaism in the lives of a dynasty that rose from the confines of the Frankfurt ghetto and later used its influence to assist oppressed Jews throughout Europe.
-
-
Great research, poor narrative
- By Amaze on 04-30-19
By: Niall Ferguson
-
Kaput
- The End of the German Miracle
- By: Wolfgang Münchau
- Narrated by: Mark Elstob
- Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Kaput, Wolfgang Münchau argues that the weaknesses of Germany's economy have, in fact, been brewing for decades. The neo-mercantilist policies of the German state, driven by close connections between the country's industrial and political elite, have left Germany technologically behind over-reliant on authoritarian Russia and China—and with little sign of being able to adapt to the digital realities of the 21st century. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of Europe's biggest economy.
-
-
economicaly sound but geopoliticaly weak
- By Anonymous User on 01-19-25
By: Wolfgang Münchau
-
The Ascent of Money
- A Financial History of the World
- By: Niall Ferguson
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Niall Ferguson follows the money to tell the human story behind the evolution of finance, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest upheavals on what he calls Planet Finance. Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot, lucre, moolah, readies, the wherewithal: 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 labor. Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of human progress.
-
-
A mostly successful and interesting history
- By A reader on 02-24-09
By: Niall Ferguson
-
The Nvidia Way
- Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant
- By: Tae Kim
- Narrated by: Michael Braun
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nvidia is the darling of the age of artificial intelligence: the company’s chips are powering the generative-AI revolution, and demand is insatiable. For all the current interest and attention, however, Nvidia is not of our time. Founded more than three decades ago in a Denny’s in East San Jose, for years it was known primarily in the then-niche world of computer gaming. In fact, the company’s leather-jacketed leader, Jensen Huang, is the longest-serving CEO in an industry marked by near constant turmoil and failure.
-
-
Don’t Buy This Book Be Forewarned
- By Susan Hess on 12-25-24
By: Tae Kim
-
Hijacking Bitcoin
- The Hidden History of BTC
- By: Roger Ver, Jeffrey Tucker - foreword
- Narrated by: Steve Patterson
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bitcoin was promised to be a liberating technology, a free market alternative to state-controlled money. But that promise was broken after a small group of insiders took over the project and fundamentally changed Bitcoin's design.
-
-
digital cash is the hijacked goal
- By Awesome Pseudonym on 05-06-24
By: Roger Ver, and others
-
Broken Money
- Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better
- By: Lyn Alden
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Broken Money explores the history of money through the lens of technology. Politics can affect things temporarily and locally, but technology is what drives things forward globally and permanently. The book's goal is for the listener to walk away with a deep understanding of money and monetary history, both in terms of theoretical foundations and in terms of practical implications.
-
-
It’s the ledger stupid
- By Jessica Hopman on 03-14-24
By: Lyn Alden
-
The House of Rothschild, Volume 1
- Money's Prophets: 1798-1848
- By: Niall Ferguson
- Narrated by: Alexander Adams
- Length: 28 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his rich and nuanced portrait of the remarkable, elusive Rothschild family, Niall Ferguson uncovers the secrets behind the family's phenomenal economic success. He reveals for the first time the details of the family's vast political network, which gave it access to and influence over many of the greatest statesmen of the age. And he tells a family saga, tracing the importance of unity and the profound role of Judaism in the lives of a dynasty that rose from the confines of the Frankfurt ghetto and later used its influence to assist oppressed Jews throughout Europe.
-
-
Great research, poor narrative
- By Amaze on 04-30-19
By: Niall Ferguson
-
Kaput
- The End of the German Miracle
- By: Wolfgang Münchau
- Narrated by: Mark Elstob
- Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Kaput, Wolfgang Münchau argues that the weaknesses of Germany's economy have, in fact, been brewing for decades. The neo-mercantilist policies of the German state, driven by close connections between the country's industrial and political elite, have left Germany technologically behind over-reliant on authoritarian Russia and China—and with little sign of being able to adapt to the digital realities of the 21st century. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of Europe's biggest economy.
-
-
economicaly sound but geopoliticaly weak
- By Anonymous User on 01-19-25
By: Wolfgang Münchau
-
The Ascent of Money
- A Financial History of the World
- By: Niall Ferguson
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Niall Ferguson follows the money to tell the human story behind the evolution of finance, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest upheavals on what he calls Planet Finance. Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot, lucre, moolah, readies, the wherewithal: 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 labor. Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of human progress.
-
-
A mostly successful and interesting history
- By A reader on 02-24-09
By: Niall Ferguson
-
The Nvidia Way
- Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant
- By: Tae Kim
- Narrated by: Michael Braun
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nvidia is the darling of the age of artificial intelligence: the company’s chips are powering the generative-AI revolution, and demand is insatiable. For all the current interest and attention, however, Nvidia is not of our time. Founded more than three decades ago in a Denny’s in East San Jose, for years it was known primarily in the then-niche world of computer gaming. In fact, the company’s leather-jacketed leader, Jensen Huang, is the longest-serving CEO in an industry marked by near constant turmoil and failure.
-
-
Don’t Buy This Book Be Forewarned
- By Susan Hess on 12-25-24
By: Tae Kim
-
Hijacking Bitcoin
- The Hidden History of BTC
- By: Roger Ver, Jeffrey Tucker - foreword
- Narrated by: Steve Patterson
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bitcoin was promised to be a liberating technology, a free market alternative to state-controlled money. But that promise was broken after a small group of insiders took over the project and fundamentally changed Bitcoin's design.
-
-
digital cash is the hijacked goal
- By Awesome Pseudonym on 05-06-24
By: Roger Ver, and others
-
Broken Money
- Why Our Financial System Is Failing Us and How We Can Make It Better
- By: Lyn Alden
- Narrated by: Guy Swann
- Length: 17 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Broken Money explores the history of money through the lens of technology. Politics can affect things temporarily and locally, but technology is what drives things forward globally and permanently. The book's goal is for the listener to walk away with a deep understanding of money and monetary history, both in terms of theoretical foundations and in terms of practical implications.
-
-
It’s the ledger stupid
- By Jessica Hopman on 03-14-24
By: Lyn Alden