Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “I read this because I wanted to hold an informed opinion about the recent financial crisis both to help me interpret many of the headlines that have appeared lately and also to help me understand just how bad it is--I mean, really, is this going to be the unravelling that will cause us to...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“I read this because I wanted to hold an informed opinion about the recent financial crisis both to help me interpret many of the headlines that have appeared lately and also to help me understand just how bad it is--I mean, really, is this going to be the unravelling that will cause us to implode? Krugman clearly taught me well on both counts. Reading the initial chapters (about Japan's economic crisis in the late 80s and 90s, Argentina's in 2002, Thailand in the late 90s) I thought less beneficial until I saw how he referred to them in the later chapters. By the end of the book, I saw that his initial chapters were clearly needed for a full understanding of the what ails us. The last three chapters are worth the price of admission alone.
Mark V wrote this review Sunday, July 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Take note of some of these choice sentences: "I'm tempted to say that the crisis is like nothing we've ever seen before. But it might be more accurate to say that it's like everything we've seen before, all at once: a bursting real estate bubble comparable to what happened in Japan at the end of the 1980s; a wave of bank runs comparable to those of the early 1930s (albeit mainly involving the shadow banking system rather than conventional banks; a liquidity trap in the United States, again reminiscent of Japan; and, most recently, a disruption of international capital flows and a wave of currency crises all too reminiscent of what happened to Asia in the late 1990s" (p. 165-6).
Most of the book deals with factual and detailed economical policy and since my background is in Liberal Arts, I was able to follow most of it gingerly even though it may be dispassionate reading. There are only a few times in the short book in which Krugman gives financial and moral advice. Here is one: "Nothing could be worse than failing to do what's necessary [to recapitalize the financial sector with stimulus money] out of fear that acting to save the financial system is somehow 'socialist'" (p. 186).
Finally, literally, the last sentence of the book (how can it be a spoiler if there is no plot?): "Some people say that our economic problesm are structural, with no quick cure available, but I believe that the only important structural obstacles to world prosperity are the obsolete doctrines that clutter the minds of men" (p. 191).
I am glad I read this book.”
“pretty well written book and very easy to read...gives a pretty gud overview of the crisis being faced by world over last 20 -30 years....
Ajay Kumar wrote this review Thursday, July 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
on the -ve side,it just gives a overview without giving a detailed analysis of any of them”
“This is an excellent read for people interested in the current financial crisis to gain a better understanding of the crisis. Off course one should read the previous work by the same author to have deeper understanding of Economic Crisis and are the Economist of worlds greatest Economy Stupid Idiots ”
Rizvan Jaldeen wrote this review Thursday, July 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ Introduction 3
Selva wrote this review Wednesday, July 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 "The Central Problem has been solved" 9
2 Warning Ignored: Latin America's Crises 30
3 Japan's Trap 56
4 Asia's Crash 77
5 Policy Perversity 101
6 Masters of the Universe 119
7 Greenspan's Bubbles 139
8 Banking in the Shadows 153
9 The Sum of All Fears 165
10 The Return of Depression Economics 181”
“I had to return it to the library in order to move in an orderly fasion. I will check it out again and continue reading. It is in the trilogy of Soros, Krugman, and Phillips about the current economic crisis.”
Judy B wrote this review Tuesday, June 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I listened to the audio version and enjoyed it very much. Not sure I got everything the first time around, though! I plan on reading it again.
Robin wrote this review Sunday, June 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It covers the recent economic crisis from a historical perspective. I love Krugman's blog!”
“In the current economic crisis it is comforting to read someone who knows what he is talking about.
Sceptical Cat wrote this review Saturday, May 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It would be good if influential people in governments and central banks across the world would take on board the learnings and knowledge of previous economic cycles described in this book.
The clarity of Paul Krugmans thinking and explanations are refreshing for an economist. Those who are in the position to have a postive impact on the current financial mess and pending reform would benefit from reading this book (instead of muddling around in the dark,which at times, is painful to watch).”“Very well written. Gets the analysis of the crisis perfectly.”
mayurmisra01 wrote this review Wednesday, May 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The role of the financial sector in economic turbulence, not kust in 2007-2008 but before in the South American economies, South East Asia, etc. Why we never learn and why more regulation is needed.”
mencius100 wrote this review Sunday, May 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A good book, but too frightening for me. Paul Krugman's economic plan is global and it is frightening to me especially because the new administration is following it. Krugman claims the 20's depression lasted so long because the printing of money stopped. Krugman wants more and more money printed. His plan is to create hyper inflation and raise prices so high that values drop and so will wages. The plan seems to be about bringing 3rd world country wages higher and American wages lower so the globe can exist in low 3rd world wages together. Like I said it is pretty scary to me. The economists are so self centered and so sure of themselves and their world it is pathetic.”
PaytonLee wrote this review Thursday, April 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
