Book reviews
Book notes: The illusion of control, by Jon Danielsson
Jon Danielsson’s book makes a compelling case for a serious rethink on financial crises and risk management
Book notes: Global discord, by Paul Tucker
A curious mix of a book, which attempts to think through how democracies should deal with the rise of Communist China
Book notes: A monetary and fiscal history of the United States, 1961–2021, by Alan Blinder
An infusion of the history of fiscal policy into a theoretical framework traditionally focused on monetary instruments
Book notes: Zero interest rate policy and the new abnormal, by Michael Beenstock
Thesis that QE caused low r* is entertaining and infuriating in equal measure
Book notes: Yellen, by Jon Hilsenrath
Offers new insights into the tough decisions Yellen has made as a pre-eminent economic policy-maker
Book notes: 21st century monetary policy, by Ben S Bernanke
Bernanke’s great book offers important insights for today’s policy-makers, writes Stephen Poloz
Book notes: The money minders, by Jagjit S Chadha
This book acts as an invaluable primer on money-credit-fiscal theory and practice
Book notes: Can’t we just print more money?, by Rupal Patel and Jack Meaning
A genuinely readable but non-neutral introduction to economics
Book notes: The Fed unbound, By Lev Menand
This book highlights need for charter-like oversight of shadow banking sector
Book notes: Harry White and the American creed, by James Boughton
This book offers a deeper understanding of the IMF founder, but fails to resolve espionage charges
Book notes: Two hundred years of muddling through, by Duncan Weldon
Insights into UK economic history offer lessons for today’s policy-makers
Book notes: A full-value ruble, by Kristy Ironside
Soviet experience shows MMT worked, only with far more challenges and downsides than promoters envisioned
Book notes: The future of money, by Eswar S Prasad
Prasad’s book is the best on the topic so far
Book notes: Tumultuous times, by Masaaki Shirakawa
A rare and refreshingly honest description of a governorship that spanned a series of crises
Book notes: Cogs and monsters, by Diane Coyle
Coyle brings much-needed nuance to the debate over the shortcomings of economics
Book notes: Mission economy, by Mariana Mazzucato
Although worth reading, the book doesn’t offer as many answers as it could when it comes to reimagining the capitalist system
Book notes: Shutdown, by Adam Tooze
Useful overview, showing intimate intertwining of geopolitics with health and economic policies
Book notes: Imagining the Fed, by Nicolas Thompson
Worthwhile take on institution’s evolution – shame that examination isn’t longer and broader
Book notes: The cost of free money, by Paola Subacchi
A book worth reading, as it facilitates further discussion on substantial issues, but doesn’t fully address some of the problems it takes aim at
Book notes: Shades of sovereignty, by Paul Wilson
An essential and stimulating read for central bankers thinking about the monetary history of their state in relation to its historical perspective and broad international trends
Book notes: Empire of silver, by Jin Xu
A useful introduction to China’s monetary history, focusing on the last 1,000 years, but not the easiest of reads throughout
Book notes: Monetary policy in times of crisis, by Massimo Rostagno et al
Mass of intellectual effort gives rare insights into ECB’s inner working
Book notes: Robert Triffin, by Ivo Maes with Ilaria Pasotti
Triffin’s story is well told by Maes, whose extensive personal and academic research shines through
Book notes: How boards work, by Dambisa Moyo
Moyo offers insights into the skills required to be a valued board director