The authors have an extremely engaging way of narrating tales. There are unknown micro-trends in almost everything in life, not just in prostitution, The authors have an extremely engaging way of narrating tales. There are unknown micro-trends in almost everything in life, not just in prostitution, terrorism, drunken driving, hand washing or tens of other topics addressed in this book. The authors have the great ability to create interesting, critically important sounding stories out of them. And somehow stretching them to prove that some or the other popular notions are wrong. But all in all, these things stay as anecdotes without any unifying theme or lesson except possibly that all our generally believed notions could be wrong.
Overall, an engaging read while you are going through it but perhaps that's about it....more
This is about the best book on financial crises in a long time. This book does not talk about the history of past financial turmoils in the smooth, stThis is about the best book on financial crises in a long time. This book does not talk about the history of past financial turmoils in the smooth, story-telling ways of Kindleberger. It certainly does not have a Talebian harangue on what is wrong with almost everyone who has been positively referenced in history books of the world. The discourse on individual episodes of economic or financial events is nearly non-existent and the book does not try to pass judgement on any individuals even remotely.
Rather, it is exactly the opposite - it inundates you with data and equations. People who are not used to reading financial market journals are likely to be completely put off but this is about the book of the era. And more. The book is the first effort I have seen that equates different types of crises, starting from debt to stocks to banking to currencies etc and their similar origins, consequences and most importantly their inevitable serialization (ie, just by solving one set of problems with quick fix measures, one is normally creating another, bigger one).
The book does not go far enough in either critically holding any variables more responsible (say excessive debt) nor offers almost any suggestions but in a way that's the best thing about it. Almost a fatalistic conclusion that you can not really avoid these human-made, market-related disasters every now and then....more
Excellent, reasonably unbiased book which is full of historic linkages and factual presentations of three of the most important nations. It is not easExcellent, reasonably unbiased book which is full of historic linkages and factual presentations of three of the most important nations. It is not easy to talk about three as different as Japan, India and China and it is not easy to even cover even one of them in the most rudimentary fashion in one book, but the author manages his task well while imparting decent insights to experts as well as total neophytes. This is not a book for those looking for theatrics or controversial views. More for those who want to gain some understanding of what today's Asian superpowers up to. Given how little is written about these three compared to relatively less relevant European nations in the global context, the book assumes even more importance....more
Write a review…A different book. Almost all the books I have read on China provide a Western perspective: what is likely to happen given the Western cWrite a review…A different book. Almost all the books I have read on China provide a Western perspective: what is likely to happen given the Western concepts of what is right and just, what should happen to keep Western values/hegemony intact, how West should shape China's growing powers etc or how according to Western experiences, China's political and economic future is going to be. This book provides the exact anti-thesis.
As a result, the book is as biased as any one is likely to come across. It needles, pokes and stabs with provocative and often unsubstantiated, grating assertions but it does provide a different perspective not only on events past and likely future but why our beliefs based on putative theories must be questioned.
China is bound to have its own economic, political and ecological problems. Today's critics will jump to claim victory at those instances, but China's rise is not to be evaluated based on any outcome at a point in time. With China, the book quite comprehensively proves, the world is changing once again. We may want to still call it Western, Eastern or whatever name and some may not like it in competitive spirit, but most of the changes brought are not insidious the way they are often painted.
Overall, the book should be read for a different perspective....more
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