The SSL ‘Book of the Month’ feature highlights a book in our collection that has been chosen by one of our Subject Consultants. This may be a recent addition to our stock or an existing item that we would like to share with you.
May’s book of the month was selected by John Southall, Bodleian Data Librarian and Subject Consultant for Economics and Sociology.
False economy: a surprising economic history of the World
Alan Beattie
Penguin Books, 2010
Available at HC51.BEA 2010 and as an eBook via SOLO.
Why was it chosen?
It was chosen because of the way Alan Beattie – Financial Times world trade editor – combines economic history, psychology and political analysis to identify the factors that predispose economies to sickness or health.
Book Overview
False Economy takes a look at the many and varied factors that shape contemporary societies and economies and what effects these factors have had on economic success. The author weaves together the economic choices, political choices, economic history, and human stories, that determine whether governments and countries remain rich or poor.
He also addresses larger questions about why they make the choices they do, and what those mean for the future of our global economy. False Economy is a lively and lucid book that engagingly and thought-provokingly examines macroeconomics, economic topics, and the fault lines and successes that can make or break a culture or induce a global depression.
Reviews
“This Lively book is a quirky, selective history of the world emphasizing economic endowments and incentives.” Foreign Affairs
“Each chapter is themed – cities, religion and so on – and the individual stories are mesmerising.” Financial Times.
How can I access it?
This title is available as an eBook via SOLO. It is an electronic legal deposit item, which means it can only be viewed from a Bodleian Libraries reading room PC. A hard copy can also be found on our New Books Display Area (around the corner from our Issue Desk), which is for library use only. It is usually shelved at HC51.BEA 2010.
What would your SSL Book of the Month be? Do you have a favourite book in our collection? If so, we would love to know what it is. Add a comment below or email us.