Koncocoo

Best Digital Currencies

The Internet of Money
While many books explain the how of bitcoin, The Internet of Money delves into the why of bitcoin. "Over the past three years, awareness of the sweeping, transformative potential of bitcoin and its underlying blockchain technology has grown exponentially. --Michael J. Casey, co-author of The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Digital Money are Challenging the Global Economic Order.
Reviews
"When I dove down the rabbit hole of Bitcoin in late 2013, Andreas' YouTube talks and podcasts pulled me further in, and this book is a compilation of these entertaining and informative talks."
"This study of Bitcoin is truly turning out to be an elemental experience where Andreaus' approach gives me the power to create endless scenarios about the world we live in."
"Andreas takes us on an unparalleled journey where he explains, in a simple way and with the best metaphors, the why of money, its history and its relationship with society and why cryptocurrencies and the blockchain are the greatest revolution seen in the society since the appearance of the Internet."
"It is a very knowledgeable book, but seems to just be literally the talks the author has given across the globe."
"THE BEST book there is about Crypto."
"Must read for anyone who is interested in cryptos, has cryptos, loves or hates the idea of cryptos."
"If you know anything about the blockchain you won’t want to waste your time with the comparisons to the early days of the internet or whatever."
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Mastering Bitcoin: Programming the Open Blockchain
The second edition includes: A broad introduction to bitcoin--ideal for non-technical users, investors, and business executives An explanation of the technical foundations of bitcoin and cryptographic currencies for developers, engineers, and software and systems architects Details of the bitcoin decentralized network, peer-to-peer architecture, transaction lifecycle, and security principles New developments such as Segregated Witness, Payment Channels, and Lightning Network Improved explanations of keys, addresses and wallets User stories, analogies, examples, and code snippets illustrating key technical concepts.
Reviews
"Deep complex book for programmers."
"Fantastic book if you want to learn what Bitcoin is and how it works."
"Excelent information to for those who want to create blockchain related projects..."
"Very good book for both technical & non technical use."
"detailed, comprehensive, and masterful."
"great book very technical."
"He also tackles ways one might lose their bitcoins, and the ideas that are quite different from the centralized payment systems and banks we've become familiar with: one of these being the transference back to the asset owner of the responsibility for security--with suggestions as to how to go about securing them, even providing ways of leaving them to the family even in the event of death of the owner."
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Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money
Digital Gold is New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper’s brilliant and engrossing history of Bitcoin, the landmark digital money and financial technology that has spawned a global social movement. This highly entertaining history reminds us yet again that truth can be stranger than fiction and can be peopled with even more unusual and compelling characters.” ( Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury ). “This excellent work is the book on Bitcoin you’ve been waiting for” ( Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution ). Nathaniel Popper charts Bitcoin’s fascinating transformation from fringe oddity to a truly global currency. “Nathaniel Popper’s new book, Digital Gold , is as close as you can get to being the definitive account of the history of Bitcoin.” ( Felix Salmon, Fusion ).
Reviews
"This book is standing out among other bitcoin books recently published in one important difference: This one is the result of genuine journalism. Before this book, I read three other bitcoin/blockchain books, watched the documentary (The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin) and read lots of web site articles and blogs. Bottom line: The book is an example of very fine writing and detailed reporting of the bitcoin subculture."
"I recommend this book as a primer on Bitcoin history to catch people up to current events - most importantly the major players: Satoshi Nakamoto, Gavin Andresen, Erik Vorhees, Roger Ver, the Winklevoss Twins, and more.... understanding the players in the game the Bitcoin world opens up as one other reviewer said "like a HBO mini series" and it's true."
"It was all being written online in forums oh, and it was all available to anyone who might have been interested, but no one besides the evangelists and their friends and family really cared."
"It's worth reading by anyone who is either curious about the BitCoin phenomena or thinking about 'investing' in BitCoin."
"This is a really engaging book told in narrative form from a NY Times journalist, who stumbled upon it via assignment from the paper."
"You are introduced to all the players in the Bitcoin game."
"Reading about the insider stories and the people that worked in the background to push the Bitcoin movement was quite eye opening."
"This was an interesting and informative read."
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Best Computer History & Culture

Mastering Bitcoin: Programming the Open Blockchain
The second edition includes: A broad introduction to bitcoin--ideal for non-technical users, investors, and business executives An explanation of the technical foundations of bitcoin and cryptographic currencies for developers, engineers, and software and systems architects Details of the bitcoin decentralized network, peer-to-peer architecture, transaction lifecycle, and security principles New developments such as Segregated Witness, Payment Channels, and Lightning Network Improved explanations of keys, addresses and wallets User stories, analogies, examples, and code snippets illustrating key technical concepts. With experience ranging from hardware and electronics to high level business and financial systems technology consulting and years as CTO/CIO/CSO in many companies — he combines authority and deep knowledge with an ability to make complex subjects easy to understand. His expertise includes Bitcoin, crypto-currencies, Information Security, Cryptography, Cloud Computing, Data Centers, Linux, Open Source and robotics software development.
Reviews
"Deep complex book for programmers."
"This is an outstanding introduction to the technology behind Bitcoin and cryptocurrency."
"Good technical introduction to bitcoin."
"Fantastic book if you want to learn what Bitcoin is and how it works."
"detailed, comprehensive, and masterful."
"great book very technical."
"He also tackles ways one might lose their bitcoins, and the ideas that are quite different from the centralized payment systems and banks we've become familiar with: one of these being the transference back to the asset owner of the responsibility for security--with suggestions as to how to go about securing them, even providing ways of leaving them to the family even in the event of death of the owner."
"One of the best technical books about blockchain technology I have ever come across."
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Best Banks & Banking

The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
Where does money come from? The money magicians' secrets are unveiled. We get a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, their pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. The title refers to the formation of the Federal Reserve System, which occurred at a secret meeting at Jekyll Island, Georgia in 1910. Griffin gives numerous examples of this, such as repeated failures by American colonies and European states in using fiat money. It tells the real story of how bankers have lured politicians with easy money and ended up in control of most of the world. Topics covered: founding of the Federal Reserve, war mongering, bail-outs, boom-bust cycles, the J.P.Morgans and Rothschilds of the world, the history of central banking in the United States, and most fascinating: how the money system really works in this country. It is written in terms that anyone can understand, which will immediately rule out the kind of reader who is impressed by a lot of technical jargon that supposedly demonstrates an author's mastery of the subject while only serving to confuse laymen (and experts too). It tells the real story of how bankers have lured politicians with easy money and ended up in control of most of the world. Topics covered: founding of the Federal Reserve, war mongering, bail-outs, boom-bust cycles, the J.P.Morgans and Rothschilds of the world, the history of central banking in the United States, and most fascinating: how the money system really works in this country. It is written in terms that anyone can understand, which will immediately rule out the kind of reader who is impressed by a lot of technical jargon that supposedly demonstrates an author's mastery of the subject while only serving to confuse laymen (and experts too).
Reviews
"This book puts it right: * Why America fought in WW1. * Why Russian revolutions occurred and who benefited from those. * Why people in other countries are so gullible when receiving foreign aid. * How the large bankers took advantage of those countries by legalizing smuggling, just for them, not the common folk. And most importantly: * How the common US folk is paying for all of it out of its own pocket through the hidden tax of inflation."
"good information Prompt delivery."
"Great!"
"This book is not about conspiracies, but a real and accurate description of the fraud perpetrated against Americans when members of Congress allowed this private agency to control our financial system."
"Great book."
"This book has so much information on the Federal Reserve, and the chapter on explaining the different types of money(such as fractional-reserves and fiat) is very helpful."
"It is one of the most interesting books I have ever read."
"Once finished with this book & audio book (buy them both), you won't/can't look at ANYTHING happening in the world the same way again. I can't believe I had not heard about this book decades ago."
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Best Financial Interest

Understanding Business, 10th Edition
Understanding Business by Nickels, McHugh, and McHugh has been the number one textbook in the introduction to business market for several editions for three reasons: (1) The commitment and dedication of an author team that teaches this course and believes in the importance and power of this learning experience, (2) we listen to our customers, and (3) the quality of our supplements package. He has written a marketing communications text and two marketing principles texts in addition to many articles in business publications.
Reviews
"My professor actually wrote on our syllabus to get the 11th edition, however, he told us in person that he would rather have us buy an older edition for cheaper."
"It would have been 180 to rent at school and over 200$ to buy but hear it's only like 18-30$ to rent plus tax for the whole semester!"
"What I like about Understanding Business are the examples provided within each chapter."
"It was actually the previous edition to what my professor was using at the time, but almost exactly the same, including the pictures and captions, only difference was page numbers and a few minor details."
"It is a textbook, but arrived safely and in good condition."
"Book is fine, but the price is way too expensive for a rental."
"This textbook is interesting, it was used for class."
"I was under the impression that the book came with Connect Plus since the title reads "Understanding Business with Connect Plus.""
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Best Commerce

The Wisdom of Finance: Discovering Humanity in the World of Risk and Return
"A fascinating new perspective on modern finance," --Oliver Hart, 2016 Nobel Laureate in Economics. "Lucid, witty and delightfully erudite...From the French revolution to film noir, from the history of probability to Jane Austen and The Simpsons , this is an astonishing intellectual feast." With incisive wit and irony, his lecture drew upon a rich knowledge of literature, film, history, and philosophy to explain the inner workings of finance in a manner that has never been seen before. The mix of finance and the humanities creates unusual pairings: Jane Austen and Anthony Trollope are guides to risk management; Jeff Koons becomes an advocate of leverage; and Mel Brooks’s The Producers teaches us about fiduciary responsibility. Among many surprising parallels, bankruptcy teaches us how to react to failure, the lessons of mergers apply to marriages, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model demonstrates the true value of relationships. "Accessible... Desai, a Harvard economist, is an omnivorous reader, referring to Trollope and Hammett amid explanations of such concepts as leverage and options theory." -- New Yorker "A strikingly involving, strangely life-affirming new tome... following Mr Desai through his arguments and explanations is, in practice, a disarming and illuminating process." "For those of us who have long believed that the field of finance was more than a way to make a good living, Mihir Desai has written a liberating book. "In this lucid, witty and delightfully erudite study, Mihir Desai connects finance to philosophy, literature and the deep essence of the human condition. Mihir eloquently traces the products, practices, and services of our modern financial system to their roots while providing literary context and illustration. "Mihir Desai brilliantly applies original lessons drawn from the world of finance to enable all of us to lead more secure, fulfilling and happier lives. Using myriad examples from historical sources and current experiences, Desai takes essential financial theories and translates them into easily understood ways to enrich and improve our lives. ". --Bill George, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic and author of Discover Your True North "The Wisdom of Finance does for the global economy what Alain de Botton's How Proust Can Change Your Life did for French literature: it expands our idea of an obscure topic and illuminates its centrality to your everyday. This is a work of true philosophy and passion, incorporating thinkers and artists from E. O. Wilson to Jeff Koons elegantly into our understanding of how we make choices. -- Rakesh Khurana, dean of Harvard College "A scholar who is equally at home with art, literature, contemporary culture and financial theory, Mihir Desai improbably brings these worlds together in an absorbing, personal narrative that has much to teach us about how they are deeply connected."
Reviews
"The Wisdom of Finance is worth reading if only to marvel at Mihir Desai’s amazing mind, wide range, and exciting set of insights. The book undersells itself, claiming to use a range of novels, movies, music, TV shows, philosophy and history to better understand and illuminate finance."
"Easy read, extremely well written, and illuminating even for (or perhaps especially for) someone who has spent the last 20 years in the field."
"The best book I’ve read on that topic is entitled Financial Fitness: The Offense, Defense, and Playing People of Personal Finance. It makes me think of an advanced version of books like The Tipping Point or Freakonomics, except it seems to aim less to a business audience and more to academia. If you enjoy studying things like insurance and investment banking, this book gets past the math and statistics and helps finance come alive through stories and the human element."
"They teach you about present value of money, asset allocation, diversification, CAPM, ROA, ROE, Alpha, Beta, CDS, MBS, etc. He does not quote Shakespear, Jane Austen, or Socrates to show off his knowledge but instead to place whatever concepts he presents (such as options, derivatives, investments) in an interesting and often ancient historical context. I derived a good empirical knowledge and understanding of all that stuff as all practicioners of finance eventually do."
"One of the best books on finance that I've ever read."
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Best Public Finance

The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio
William Bernstein’s commonsense approach to portfolio construction has served investors well during the past turbulent decade―and it’s what made The Four Pillars of Investing an instant classic when it was first published nearly a decade ago. The art and science of mixing different asset classes into an effective blend The dangers of actively picking stocks, as opposed to investing in the whole market Behavioral finance and how state of mind can adversely affect decision making Reasons the mutual fund and brokerage industries, rather than your partners, are often your most direct competitors Strategies for managing all of your assets―savings, 401(k)s, home equity―as one portfolio. From the essential soundness of classic portfolio theory through the inherent wisdom of investing in multiple asset classes, The Four Pillars of Investing provides a distinctive blend of market history, investing theory, and behavioral finance to help you become a successful, self-sufficient investor.
Reviews
"Money and time are the two things we struggle to manage."
"Bernstein takes extra effort to simplify the intimidating jargon of investing."
"Best investing book on the planet."
"I would recommend this book as a must read for anyone with a 401(k) or brokerage account."
"I consider this to be one of the top 4 books that every investor should read - including (perhaps especially) people who save via an IRA, 401(k) or any other long-term savings/investment plan."
"Best book on investing for the masses."
"A great book!"
"Insightful and well structured."
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Best Microeconomics

Principles of Microeconomics, 7th Edition (Mankiw's Principles of Economics)
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS, Seventh Edition, continues to be the most popular and widely-used text in the economics classroom.
Reviews
"I needed this for my Microeconomics class, the font was a good size and it was easy to read."
"Great prep for the Aplia test questions."
"It was a great experience and the delivery was right on time."
"It's the best Microeconomics book I've ever (been forced to) read."
"The book was written by Gregory Mankiw who has an incredible résumé being a Harvord University professor and an economic adviser to George W. Bush (political bias aside that is impressive)."
"Super easy to read and understand!"
"This is a good book that has understandable explanations and is a fine textbook."
"I think the math behind these curves is important and unfortunately the book stays high level and doesn't provide more in-depth examples or tutorials on how to calculate curves, deadweight loss and other important concepts."
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Best Commercial Policy

Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited: Anti-Globalization in the Era of Trump
Immediately upon publication, Globalization and Its Discontents became a touchstone in the globalization debate by demonstrating how the International Monetary Fund, other major institutions like the World Bank, and global trade agreements have often harmed the developing nations they are supposedly helping. His book clearly explains the functions and powers of the main institutions that govern globalization--the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization--along with the ramifications, both good and bad, of their policies.
Reviews
"Still, I found his coverage and insights into events that now seem like ancient history, that is, the transition of Russia from communism to (mafia) capitalism, and the East Asian financial crisis of the late `90's to be fascinating. ), and when the government devalued, after the "Big Boys" got their money out at very favorable rates, then the poor are saddled with the obligation to pay off the loan. It is enough to give capitalism a bad name (and it has in such countries)! Another key point that the author makes concerns Adam Smith, who started the wonderful "invisible hand" of the marketplace business, but also clearly identified market failures. Numerous times he is straightforward in his critique, such as: "The billions of dollars in Cayman Islands and other such centers are not there because those islands provide better banking services that Wall Street, London or Frankfurt; they are there because the secrecy allows them to engage in tax evasion, money laundering, and other nefarious activities. Only after September 11 was it recognized that among those other nefarious activities was financing of terrorism." Numerous redundancies, numerous inane reminders that farmers need to buy seeds, and tautologies like the following: "A real and effective banking system requires strong banking regulation.""
"This should be considered a companion book of a trilogy to those wishing to learn from highly educated, directly-experienced and politically objective experts - those who have "been there, done that" - who reveal to us the inner workings of world politics and why it is so ineffective and counter-productive the way it is currently being managed. Incredible as his story is, it also dovetails precisely with what these other authors - a Nobel prize winner, a counsellor to the Secretary of commerce and special economic envoy to Japan, and a New York Times journalist- have consistently and convincingly presented as the same story and delivered as a remarkably similar conclusion from their different perspectives."
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Best Urban & Regional Economics

PowerNomics : The National Plan to Empower Black America
In PowerNomics: The National Plan , Dr. Anderson proposes new principles, strategies and concepts that show blacks a new way to see, think, and behave in race matters. In this book, Dr. Anderson offers insightful analysis and action steps blacks can take to redesign core areas of life - Education, Economics, Politics and Religion - to better benefit their race. PowerNomics: The Plan , is infused with Dr. Anderson's trademark creative thinking and answers questions such as: - Why are blacks the only group that equates success with working in a White corporation, government or the entertainment industry? - How did power and wealth - businesses, resources, privileges, income and control of all levels of government get so disproportionately distributed into the hands of White society? To implement the strategy of industrializing Black communities, he has established a vertically integrated seafood industry that is currently operating and will expand into urban areas across the nation. In addition to his most recent seafood project, he owns a vertically integrated publishing company and was one of the first blacks to own a radio station in Florida.
Reviews
"Why aren't black educators teaching the truth about how slavery drove the industrial revolution and the debt America refuses to acknowledge it still owes its black citizens. Before this book, I had little idea of how responsible (culpable really) government was for the present and past plight of black people. And I never considered that black people have a good reason (damn good reason) to be prejudiced against white people, for example, the hispanics taking over black music and trying to replace blacks as the majority minority; how many times have blacks been pushed to the bottom of the ladder? I have to admit that reading the book made me not want to be black."
"AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WAS CREATED FOR BLACKS TO GET QUALITY POSITIONS IN THE WORKFORCE, BUT APPARENTLY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THAT OUT OF CONTEXT AS WELL AS THE 14TH AMENDMENT. People have won lawsuits for claiming to be African-American and true Black folks are being handed the short end of the stick because we don't control Public Policy. THIS BOOK ALOUD MANY BLACKS TO GO OVERSEAS TO EUROPE TO CLAIM REPARATIONS A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO."
"Outstanding information this is an absolute book that must be read."
"The book I purchased Powernomics was delivered on time in good condition, great experience from heritage books and more."
"Great plan just the implementation is needed."
"Dr. Claud Anderson is one of the giants."
"Most informative book Ive ever read!"
"He also brings to light the sad fact of how this society is FIGHTING to marginalize and minimalize Blacks as much as possible, to keep us the better 'ignorant, docile consumer'. Moreover, how other minorities (Asians, Indians, and Arabs) seek economic opportunities in Black neighborhoods, often leaving a large 'vacumming sound' in their wake having exploited Blacks for the money that we do have."
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Best Economic Conditions

Understanding Trump
Further, these pages hold a detailed discussion of Trump-style solutions for national security, education, health care, economic growth, government reform, and other important topics. The very essence of Trump's mission is a willingness to enact policies and set goals that send our country in a bold new direction - one that may be "unreasonable" to Washington but is sensible to millions of Americans outside the Beltway. He is a Fox News contributor and author of 34 books, including 14 New York Times bestsellers.
Reviews
"I use the computer alot so when my eyes get tired it is great to just listen when ironing or driving on the weekends."
"If you love Trump, then you have an opportunity to find out why so many people are exploding with hatred for him. Similarly, if you hate him, it would be interesting to find out what it was about him that appealed to enough voters to win the election. Praise: In the front of the book, Gingrich explains the methods behind some of Trump's crazy habits. When a radio interviewer asked him to name some leaders in the middle east conflict, he quickly admitted he couldn't do that, but he'd know all about them when he needed to. I work in a technical job, where there are too many domains and details to hold in consciousness all the time; they will literally paralyze me. I practice Trump's method, holding on to what I need to know about the job at hand, confident I can throw new data in when necessary. I can't offer a solution but I'd like to say this: We'll never get anywhere until we admit that our present costs are unacceptable and that other countries do this MUCH better than we do."
"In any case, this book goes a long way toward articulating the ideological trends that drove Trump to a historic victory in the presidential election, giving context to the man himself, and looking forward to give us a glimpse of what we can expect in the future."
"OK, so it seems I posted my review on the wrong book- this is by far the BEST book on both the 2016 election and Donald Trump I've seen yet- and I've read over 2 dozen."
"He includes parts of speeches given by numerous people as well as Trump speeches. He also includes numerous excerpts from written material."
"Thoroughly enjoyed this book."
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Best Comparative Economics

Capital in the Twenty First Century
The main driver of inequality―the tendency of returns on capital to exceed the rate of economic growth―today threatens to generate extreme inequalities that stir discontent and undermine democratic values. A work of extraordinary ambition, originality, and rigor, Capital in the Twenty-First Century reorients our understanding of economic history and confronts us with sobering lessons for today. It seems safe to say that Capital in the Twenty-First Century , the magnum opus of the French economist Thomas Piketty , will be the most important economics book of the year―and maybe of the decade. Like [Paul] Kennedy a generation ago, Piketty has emerged as a rock star of the policy-intellectual world… But make no mistake, his work richly deserves all the attention it is receiving… Piketty, in collaboration with others, has spent more than a decade mining huge quantities of data spanning centuries and many countries to document, absolutely conclusively, that the share of income and wealth going to those at the very top―the top 1 percent, .1 percent, and .01 percent of the population―has risen sharply over the last generation, marking a return to a pattern that prevailed before World War I… Even if none of Piketty’s theories stands up, the establishment of this fact has transformed political discourse and is a Nobel Prize–worthy contribution. Whether or not his idea ultimately proves out, Piketty makes a major contribution by putting forth a theory of natural economic evolution under capitalism… Piketty writes in the epic philosophical mode of Keynes, Marx, or Adam Smith… By focusing attention on what has happened to a fortunate few among us, and by opening up for debate issues around the long-run functioning of our market system, Capital in the Twenty-First Century has made a profoundly important contribution. But beyond its remarkably rich and instructive history, the book’s deep and novel understanding of inequality in the economy has drawn well-deserved attention… [Piketty’s] engagement with the rest of the social sciences also distinguishes him from most economists… The book is filled with brilliant moments… The book is an attempt to ground the debate over inequality in strong empirical data, put the question of distribution back into economics, and open the debate not just to the entirety of the social sciences but to people themselves. What makes Thomas Piketty ’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century such a triumph is that it seems to have been written specifically to demolish the great economic shibboleths of our time… Piketty’s magnum opus. Thomas Piketty ’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century is a monumental book that will influence economic analysis (and perhaps policymaking) in the years to come. In the way it is written and the importance of the questions it asks, it is a book the classic authors of economics could have written if they lived today and had access to the vast empirical material Piketty and his colleagues collected… In a short review, it is impossible to do even partial justice to the wealth of information, data, analysis, and discussion contained in this book of almost 700 pages.
Reviews
"Important book, even if long and complex."
"Good info comparing the US to Europe on upward mobility and politics as the primary cause of our inequality."
"Good book but the same could have been said in half the words."
"He is not preachy at all, not alarmist, not doom and gloom and angry like Marx and not delusional like Hayek and much of the Chicago school and all the "free market" positivists."
"I have not had a chance to review the references, but I have read elsewhere that the research on the data in this book is rigorous."
"An incredibly long listen."
"Piketty addresses the recent, volatile concern over inequality with a comprehensive analysis of the history of economic inequality and explains our present situation ."
"Ele levanta a questão central da economia sem cair em ideologismos fáceis se atendo a economia mainstream, usando todas as ferramentas econômicas possíveis, com maestria, clareza, sem que em momento algum tenha se cegado quanto a obrigação de todo cientista de continuar a questionar e a duvidar, sem dogmatismos, mas com uma perspicácia e perseverança incríveis."
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Best Development & Growth Economics

Capital in the Twenty-First Century
“It seems safe to say that Capital in the Twenty-First Century , the magnum opus of the French economist Thomas Piketty, will be the most important economics book of the year―and maybe of the decade.”. ―Paul Krugman, New York Times. It seems safe to say that Capital in the Twenty-First Century , the magnum opus of the French economist Thomas Piketty , will be the most important economics book of the year―and maybe of the decade. Like [Paul] Kennedy a generation ago, Piketty has emerged as a rock star of the policy-intellectual world… But make no mistake, his work richly deserves all the attention it is receiving… Piketty, in collaboration with others, has spent more than a decade mining huge quantities of data spanning centuries and many countries to document, absolutely conclusively, that the share of income and wealth going to those at the very top―the top 1 percent, .1 percent, and .01 percent of the population―has risen sharply over the last generation, marking a return to a pattern that prevailed before World War I… Even if none of Piketty’s theories stands up, the establishment of this fact has transformed political discourse and is a Nobel Prize–worthy contribution. Whether or not his idea ultimately proves out, Piketty makes a major contribution by putting forth a theory of natural economic evolution under capitalism… Piketty writes in the epic philosophical mode of Keynes, Marx, or Adam Smith… By focusing attention on what has happened to a fortunate few among us, and by opening up for debate issues around the long-run functioning of our market system, Capital in the Twenty-First Century has made a profoundly important contribution. But beyond its remarkably rich and instructive history, the book’s deep and novel understanding of inequality in the economy has drawn well-deserved attention… [Piketty’s] engagement with the rest of the social sciences also distinguishes him from most economists… The book is filled with brilliant moments… The book is an attempt to ground the debate over inequality in strong empirical data, put the question of distribution back into economics, and open the debate not just to the entirety of the social sciences but to people themselves. What makes Thomas Piketty ’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century such a triumph is that it seems to have been written specifically to demolish the great economic shibboleths of our time… Piketty’s magnum opus. Thomas Piketty ’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century is a monumental book that will influence economic analysis (and perhaps policymaking) in the years to come. In the way it is written and the importance of the questions it asks, it is a book the classic authors of economics could have written if they lived today and had access to the vast empirical material Piketty and his colleagues collected… In a short review, it is impossible to do even partial justice to the wealth of information, data, analysis, and discussion contained in this book of almost 700 pages.
Reviews
"Important book, even if long and complex."
"Good info comparing the US to Europe on upward mobility and politics as the primary cause of our inequality."
"Good book but the same could have been said in half the words."
"He is not preachy at all, not alarmist, not doom and gloom and angry like Marx and not delusional like Hayek and much of the Chicago school and all the "free market" positivists."
"I have not had a chance to review the references, but I have read elsewhere that the research on the data in this book is rigorous."
"An incredibly long listen."
"Piketty addresses the recent, volatile concern over inequality with a comprehensive analysis of the history of economic inequality and explains our present situation ."
"Ele levanta a questão central da economia sem cair em ideologismos fáceis se atendo a economia mainstream, usando todas as ferramentas econômicas possíveis, com maestria, clareza, sem que em momento algum tenha se cegado quanto a obrigação de todo cientista de continuar a questionar e a duvidar, sem dogmatismos, mas com uma perspicácia e perseverança incríveis."
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Best Economic Inflation

How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck (2nd Edition): A proven path to money mastery in only 15 minutes a week! (Simple Personal Finance Books) (Smart Money Blueprint)
This is a straightforward budget planning method that will completely transform your finances, and eliminate your money worries once and for all. Grady Harp. (Hall of Fame, Amazon Top 100 Reviewer, Vine Voice). " This is the rarest of all rarities - a really good ebook on personal finance. ". "Avery Breyer's self-help guide to consumer finances... is filled with great ideasfor getting out of a financial rut . I found her reasons for setting up a budget to be compelling and was impressed by the Money Tracker program she includes with the book... Avery Breyer is the best-selling author of the Smart Money Blueprint Series.Avery has been quoted on/in Woman's World magazine, Time.com, Fool.com (Motley Fool), MSN Money, GoBanking Rates, and featured as a guest on WOR 710 "The Voice of New York," on The Financial Quarterback , hosted by Josh Jalinski.
Reviews
"How you manage your money (however much or little it may be) affects every aspect of your life - your physical and emotional well-being, your relationships, what hobbies you can pursue and where you can live. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can avoid taking control of your spending by simply getting a job that pays more. It's a wonderfully readable combination of advice, fascinating examples, and moral support. It's like sitting down with that favorite aunt or uncle (or grandparent) who understands that people make mistakes and who believes in your ability to turn things around."
"I bought this for myself."
"But if you don't know what the basics is, then read this book."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book."
"I liked the plan a b c approach as we all know that even with the best intentions getting to our financial goals don't always go to plan."
"Avery Breyer uses a step by step systematic approach to the discipline of MONEY..."
"Really found this helpful and if you want simple tips to work with a budget - this is for you!"
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Best Sustainable Business Development

Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Harper Business Essentials)
Drawing upon a six-year research project at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Collins and Porras took eighteen truly exceptional and long-lasting companies -- they have an average age of nearly one hundred years and have outperformed the general stock market by a factor of fifteen since 1926 -- and studied each company in direct comparison to one of its top competitors. They examined the companies from their very beginnings to the present day -- as start-ups, as midsize companies, and as large corporations. Throughout, the authors asked: "What makes the truly exceptional companies different from other companies?" They set out to determine what's special about "visionary" companies--the Disneys, Wal-Marts, and Mercks, companies at the very top of their game that have demonstrated longevity and great brand image. The authors compare 18 "visionary" picks to a control group of "successful-but-second-rank" companies. This book, written by a team from Stanford's Graduate School of Business, compares what the authors have identified as "visionary" companies with selected companies in the same industry. The visionary companies, the authors found out, had a number of common characteristics; for instance, almost all had some type of core ideology that guided the company in times of upheaval and served as a constant bench mark.
Reviews
"I honestly think there are better books out there for this subject matter."
"If you have the good to great I feel all info are just copy paste."
"As a manager in a large company that is trying to reinvent itself, I found many parallels to both the visionary and non-visionary examples."
"This books offers great insights on how some of the most successful organizations had been built."
"30/Jul/2009 Update: One can not read this book in the right context and perspective without reading The Halo Effect: ... and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers - so far the best business book I've ever read!"
"One of the classics and very much enjoyed reading."
"This work from team Collins/Porras is a fine book and. a must read for any business savy person or executive. interested in tuning in to some basic and yet essential. precepts on keeping ahead of the inevitable changes. and cycles that consume so many companies and industries."
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Best Money & Monetary Policy

The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve
Where does money come from? The money magicians' secrets are unveiled. We get a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, their pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money. The title refers to the formation of the Federal Reserve System, which occurred at a secret meeting at Jekyll Island, Georgia in 1910. Griffin gives numerous examples of this, such as repeated failures by American colonies and European states in using fiat money. It tells the real story of how bankers have lured politicians with easy money and ended up in control of most of the world. Topics covered: founding of the Federal Reserve, war mongering, bail-outs, boom-bust cycles, the J.P.Morgans and Rothschilds of the world, the history of central banking in the United States, and most fascinating: how the money system really works in this country. It is written in terms that anyone can understand, which will immediately rule out the kind of reader who is impressed by a lot of technical jargon that supposedly demonstrates an author's mastery of the subject while only serving to confuse laymen (and experts too). It tells the real story of how bankers have lured politicians with easy money and ended up in control of most of the world. Topics covered: founding of the Federal Reserve, war mongering, bail-outs, boom-bust cycles, the J.P.Morgans and Rothschilds of the world, the history of central banking in the United States, and most fascinating: how the money system really works in this country. It is written in terms that anyone can understand, which will immediately rule out the kind of reader who is impressed by a lot of technical jargon that supposedly demonstrates an author's mastery of the subject while only serving to confuse laymen (and experts too).
Reviews
"This book puts it right: * Why America fought in WW1. * Why Russian revolutions occurred and who benefited from those. * Why people in other countries are so gullible when receiving foreign aid. * How the large bankers took advantage of those countries by legalizing smuggling, just for them, not the common folk. And most importantly: * How the common US folk is paying for all of it out of its own pocket through the hidden tax of inflation."
"I read this book many years ago and wanted to read it again."
"good information Prompt delivery."
"Great!"
"If you want the truth , read this book."
"All of the historical sequences are easy to read and understand due to the patient pace of the author."
"I had heard about this a long time ago so I was somewhat familiar with what happened."
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Best Economic Policy & Development

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
In Zero to One , legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things. Thiel begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of technological stagnation, even if we’re too distracted by shiny mobile devices to notice. Zero to One presents at once an optimistic view of the future of progress in America and a new way of thinking about innovation: it starts by learning to ask the questions that lead you to find value in unexpected places. What Thiel is after is the revitalization of imagination and invention writ large…" – The New Republic "Might be the best business book I've read...Barely 200 pages long and well lit by clear prose and pithy aphorisms, Thiel has written a perfectly tweetable treatise and a relentlessly thought-provoking handbook." This is a classic.” - Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Fooled by Randomness and The Black Swan “Thiel has drawn upon his wide-ranging and idiosyncratic readings in philosophy, history, economics, anthropology, and culture to become perhaps America’s leading public intellectual today” - Fortune "Peter Thiel, in addition to being an accomplished entrepreneur and investor, is also one of the leading public intellectuals of our time. "The first and last business book anyone needs to read; a one in a world of zeroes."
Reviews
"For example "we never invest in entrepreneurs who turn up for the interview in a suit" or "four of the founders of PayPal had built bombs as children." Memo to Peter Thiel: you are successful despite your prejudice against people who don't share your sartorial taste, and your partners made it to adulthood despite having been poorly supervised as children. He was not beaten by a better provider of software, he was superseded by a shift in technology toward powerful mobile devices, tablets and the cloud, all of which, in turn, were motivated by other entrepreneurs' desire to obtain monopoly profits. So Steve Jobs dominated many of these arenas for long enough to enjoy monopoly profits and other people will some day take this all further. Even the government is in on the act, Peter Thiel claims, or else it would not be granting patents to inventors or freedom from competition from generic drugs to the pharmaceutical companies that first develop new medications. My mom taught me that "necessity is the mother of invention:" GM did not develop the Volt till it was up against the wall, Archimedes discovered how to screw water upwards during the Roman siege of Syracuse, the Germans developed jet propulsion, the swept wing and the rocket we later sent to the moon when they had pretty much already lost WWII. And then we have the cases where, as the author says, it's clear that you need to incentivize people to innovate (drugs spring to mind, where the US has a lead) and that's where patents come in. And it was crystal clear to everybody with a modicum of common sense that both Intel and Microsoft were not helping the world along when they used dirty tricks to hurt AMD and Netscape. The author takes us on a (rather gratuitous) trip from Plato and Aristotle to Nozick and Rawls via Epicurus, Lucretius, Hegel and Marx to discuss when optimism is and isn't warranted and the bottom line is that you're only allowed to be an optimist if you have "definite optimism" based on a specific Design (my capital D) for a business. Peter Thiel takes a massive swipe at the Malcolm Gladwells of the world who overemphasize chance, serendipity and fate with facile arguments about the similarity in Steve Jobs' and Bill Gates' birthdates. It's the Nassim Nicholas Taleb idea, and he duly appears on the back cover to endorse the book. For the best book on the subject I'd swerve around NNT's work and turn to Benoit Mandelbrot's masterpiece, "The (Mis)behaviour of Markets." The fourth idea is no more original, but Thiel puts it well: "there are many more secrets left to find, but they will yield only to relentless searchers." The fifth idea is you need to pick your partners i.e. your investors, your fellow managers and your (ideally 3) directors very carefully in order to make sure you all want the same thing out of the company (and it had better not be immediate rewards). But once they have their first billion and don't need to run their ideas by anyone else to get them funded they very often go do something stupid (dunno, like go mine asteroids) with exactly the same fervour they previously applied to the sensible endeavour that made them rich. The more grounded ones keep their further investments close to home and direct their creativity toward giving lectures and writing books."
"Along with business strategy, Thiel outlines how successful innovation shapes society and shares an intriguing vision. Rather than offer scripts or formulas, Thiel discusses the logic of starting a company that will make a truly meaningful and unique impact on the world. Blake did a great job of adapting and presenting the contents, many of which were delivered when Thiel taught at Stanford. Keeping in mind that companies growing 1000x often carry entire portfolios, Peter gives a good argument for successful moonshots and grand visions. He also highlights the dangers of trying to disrupt entrenched competitors and avoid extra resistance and burn rates on marketing. Rather, Tesla began by making powertrains, then started with high end luxury models to which no solid alternative existed. His strong argument for monopolies are both for novelty and to develop early market dominance should competitors arise later. I found a Monopoly Index by Forbes that showed these types of companies outperforming the Dow and S&P by 33%, which was a pleasant result of some due diligence. Even if you make a product that’s a 3x improvement over a market leader, you aren’t creating anything truly new, and well funded competitors are likely to catch up. It looks at economics, globalization, artificial intelligence, and historical trends along with founder characteristics and the qualities of great salespeople. If you like diving really deep into the mind of a founder across many life experiences, check out Tony Hseih’s Delivering Happiness."
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