Empathy Economics

Janet Yellen's Remarkable Rise to Power and Her Drive to Spread Prosperity to All

De: Owen Ullmann

Narrado por: Christine Padovan

The trailblazing story of Janet Yellen, the Ruth Bader Ginsburg of economics, and her lifelong advocacy for an economics of empathy that delivers the fruits of a prosperous society to people at the bottom half of the economic ladder.

When President Biden announced Janet Yellen as his choice for secretary of the treasury, it was the peak moment of a remarkable life. Not only the first woman in the more than two-century history of the office, Yellen is the first person to hold all three top economic policy jobs in the United States: chair of both the Federal Reserve and the President’s Council of Economic Advisors as well as treasury secretary.

Through Owen Ullmann’s intimate portrait, we glean two remarkable aspects of Yellen’s approach to economics: first, her commitment to putting those on the bottom half of the economic ladder at the center of economic policy, and employing forward-looking ideas to use the power of government to create a more prosperous, productive life for everyone. And second, her ability to maintain humanity in a Washington policy world where fierce political combat casts others as either friend or enemy, never more so than in our current age of polarization.

As Ullmann takes us through Yellen’s life and work, we clearly see her brilliance and meticulous preparation. What stands out, though, is Yellen as an icon of progress—the “Ruth Bader Ginsburg of economics”—a superb-yet-different kind of player in a cold, male-dominated profession that all too often devises policies to benefit the already well-to-do. With humility and compassion as her trademarks, we see the influence of Yellen’s father, a physician whose pay-what-you-can philosophy meant never turning anyone away. That compassion, rooted in her family life in Brooklyn, now extends across our entire country.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Owen Ullmann (P)2022 PublicAffairs

Hagiography w/ poor narration

A must read for anyone interested in economic policymaking. Yellen’s impact on world is undeniable and should be studied by all. Her excellence is what made her sought after in job after job.

The book falls short by trying to make Yellen a feminist icon and avoids evaluation of her shortcomings in enacting her preferred policies as CEA and more recently at treasury. An update after her time at treasury is a must.

Narration was awful and distracted from content. The book did not need a different voice for each quote.

The right person to lead the financial institutions

Captivating story of someone who genuinely cares.
I admire her commitment to ethics, hard work and taking her roles seriously. Fantastic book! Highly recommend it!

Couldn’t listen to the start stop narration.

Sorry for this terrible rating. The story showed great promise but I had to stop listening because of the narration. Pauses every half dozen words reminded me of following someone on the freeway using their brakes too much. I hope to pick it up and read it for myself some day.