The Ascent of Money

A Financial History of the World

By: Niall Ferguson

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Niall Ferguson follows the money to tell the human story behind the evolution of finance, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest upheavals on what he calls Planet Finance.

Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot, lucre, moolah, readies, the wherewithal: Call it what you like, it matters. To Christians, love of it is the root of all evil. To generals, it's the sinews of war. To revolutionaries, it's the chains of labor. But in The Ascent of Money, Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of human progress. What's more, he reveals financial history as the essential back story behind all history.

Through Ferguson's expert lens familiar historical landmarks appear in a new and sharper financial focus. Suddenly, the civilization of the Renaissance looks very different: a boom in the market for art and architecture made possible when Italian bankers adopted Arabic mathematics. The rise of the Dutch republic is reinterpreted as the triumph of the world's first modern bond market over insolvent Habsburg absolutism. And the origins of the French Revolution are traced back to a stock market bubble caused by a convicted Scot murderer.

©2008 Niall Ferguson (P)2008 Tantor

Great information

Very useful in preparing a presentation. The book enforced background knowledge on the history of money and the rise of the financial markets.

A good intro to history of economics

Would you try another book from Niall Ferguson and/or Simon Prebble?

probably not

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

This is a non-fiction account of the history of money, from ancient times to the present. The author is a somewhat pedantic historian. The first half of the book or so is a somewhat overly detailed historical account of changes in how money was thought of and used a long time ago. Then the descriptions come to within a few hundred years of the present, the book becomes more interesting, and much of it deals with how large accumulations of money have been a powerful force in allowing significant advances in technology and have benefited society. Unfortunately, the style of the book is somewhat pompous and some of the key economic principles which underlie more modern events in financed are either not explained at all or explained so briefly that I could not grasp them. Finally, he ends up with a comparison of economic institutions with biological evolution, a kind of survival of the fittest theory of economics.

All, in all, a very good book. In some ways I feel that I should reread it, in other ways, I think I should round it out with other economics books. It is probably an excellent book for those who work in the field of economics who may be somewhat lacking in historical perspective.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

No problems with the narrator.

Who do you think would benefit most from listening to The Ascent of Money?

see above

if interested in history and money, you will like

if interested in history and money, you will like this book. strikes the right balance between esoteric and commonplace

Very good book, but the audible version is not updated

I really liked the book. The author is didactical and able to explain the ascent of money and it peculiarities through the history. I’m addition the author not only write about history, but also provides his views and share, with it, his personal knowledge and perspective. My only point regarding the book is that, probably because of the year that it was written, it focus too much on the 2008 crisis and less in the many centuries before. Anyhow a great book and highly recommended.

For the audible version, it was a disappointing because I bought in the same detail page of the Anniversary edition, but it is not this edition, missing therefore a few chapters.

Excellent

Should be a textbook for every American kid to learn about the role of finance in shaping world history and our lives today. Although a little heavy and dry at times, I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in finance or money as a must read! Also the British narration is delightful...all audiobooks should be read by British accents!

The Book About What I Didn't Know About Money

I would only recommend this book to people who had an interest in money.
Things I especially liked about it were Otto von Bismarck advice to Germany's post WWI politicians, the discussion of the Bond Market and its beginning which were an after math of Waterloo, and the comparison of socialism in Japan and England. This was a very interesting and informative read/listen. I loved the book so much that I bought it in hard back afterword to have better access to the information.

Enjoyable to listen to

If you could sum up The Ascent of Money in three words, what would they be?

Very enjoyable to listen to. I very much liked the narration by Simon Prebble.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ascent of Money?

What money meant for different civilizations, religions, and people is astonishing.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

The idea of this book is excellent. It gives a good picture on how the need for banking started.

A very traditional perspective of finance

Historical perspectives are useful to understand how things involved.

Informative, but Narrative Sometimes Confusing

What did you like best about The Ascent of Money? What did you like least?

Provides an introduction to private sector and nation state finance through relevant and interesting historical figures and happenings. Occasionally the historical narrative gets in the way of providing a clear, concise, and overall comprehensive explanation.

Great book on economic history and money markets

Niall Ferguson again does not disappoint. His ability to draw upon economic history to weave a narrative is exceptional. I have read a number of his other books and they are also excellent. Can not wait for the next installment.