A Splendid Exchange

How Trade Shaped the World

By: William J. Bernstein

Narrated by: Mel Foster

Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Adam Smith wrote that man has an intrinsic "propensity to truck, barter, and exchange one thing for another". But how did trade evolve to the point where we don't think twice about biting into an apple from the other side of the world?

In A Splendid Exchange, William J. Bernstein tells the extraordinary story of global commerce from its prehistoric origins to the myriad controversies surrounding it today. He transports listeners from ancient sailing ships that brought the silk trade from China to Rome in the second century to the rise and fall of the Portuguese monopoly in spices in the 16th; from the rush for sugar that brought the British to Jamaica in 1655 to the American trade battles of the early 20th century; from key innovations such as steam, steel, and refrigeration to the modern era of televisions from Taiwan, lettuce from Mexico, and T-shirts from China.

Along the way, Bernstein examines how our age-old dependency on trade has contributed to our planet's agricultural bounty, stimulated intellectual progress, and made us both prosperous and vulnerable. Although the impulse to trade often takes a backseat to xenophobia and war, Bernstein concludes that trade is ultimately a force for good among nations, and he argues that societies are far more successful and stable when they are involved in vigorous trade with their neighbors.

Lively, authoritative, and astonishing in scope, A Splendid Exchange is a riveting narrative that views trade and globalization not in political terms, but rather as an evolutionary process as old as war and religion - a historical constant - that will continue to foster the growth of intellectual capital, shrink the world, and propel the trajectory of the human species.

©2008 William J. Bernstein (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The book is not just essential reading; it is fun all the way." (Peter L. Bernstein, author of Against the Gods)
"Bernstein has given us a master's insights into the past to help us understand an issue of deep divisions in the present age." (Sara Bongiorni, author of A Year without 'Made in China')

Narrator sounds like a computer generated voice

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It is a shame that such a well written book is read by such an awful narrator. It sounds like this book is read by a computer generated voice with unexplained pauses and lack of emotion.

Would you be willing to try another one of Mel Foster’s performances?

No

Could you see A Splendid Exchange being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Very information book but not movie material.

Very interesting information but.....

Any additional comments?

..... not given in the most compelling manner. The authurs could have spiced it up a little bit and the narraction could have been of higher dramatic quality, but overall I recommend this audiobook to the layman interested in world history and to those who believe that wars are fought for anything except money.

Five stars for text, Two stars for narration

The book is very interesting. It adds a new dimension to history, making it very personal and believable. As for the narration, the reader is frequently so mechanical that it sounds like it could be computer speech. Very disappointing.

Extremely thought provoking

This book is eye opening and answered many questions that every educated person should understand: why free trade is the best option we have and how to handle the side effects correctly

A little like a college lecture on econ history

What did you like best about A Splendid Exchange? What did you like least?

The section on the ancient Silk Road is interesting. I'm
not sure a book like this lends itself to Audible.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The traders who brought silk, narcotics, spices and other valuables
from the Orient to Europe thru the centuries.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He drones - little enthusiasm.

Was A Splendid Exchange worth the listening time?

If you are already interested in the area - yes.

Long but worth staying engaged

Today trade attracts a range of strong and conflicting opinions. This book will help place some of those opinions in a useful historical context, providing the lesson that Mankind has been here many times before. I recommend this book as a great history - it covers much more than only trade, and is a relevant read for the times we live in. A good place to start if you're wondering about the trading systems and issues making the news. The cons: this audio book is long and you need to stay engaged (if you're a commuter - this book will take a long time to finish) and the narrator could have brought more to the performance.

Brilliant account of the history of trade

I have read half the book but gave it away to someone who deserved a great read.

The audiobook is obviously containing the same information and is thus equally brilliant.

On the down side, the narrator is reading too slow. His voice is, however, pleasant to listen too and very articulate and clear.

The book can easily be listened to on 2X speed. I even heard some chapters in 2,5X.

Awesome!

Fantastic book. You get a very clear view of how trade had influenced history. Very refreshing way to see history, separated from kings and wars. The perspective it offers about commerce and trade in the Indian Ocean is eye opening, particularly for those used to an eurocentric view of the world

Not his best, but interesting

I found all the parallels through time interesting. There are definitely parts that drag. I also was disappointed that after all the minutia of the 15-1600s, he completely skipped NAFTA, which still has a huge impact today.

Splendid

Wonderful, sweeping economic history of the world by one of my favorite writers (Bernstein also wrote "The Birth of Plenty"). These "big" history and "big" thought books are a great antidote to the short time frames and disposable knowledge of our blogging and information overload world. Helps to have a long-term framework to understand our own material lives. Excellent counterpart to Friedman's The World is Flat.