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')

The best book I "heard" this year!

A very well researched study that highlights the simple history we are taught with the multiple "why's" that commerce & trade were the forces behind.... no history of inter-actions would be written unless the humans had wanted to, and created the means to make trades..... ie. commerce... truly engaging & entertaining!!

Not so good for audible book

A nice book, but demands a lot of the listener. You´ll almost need a map in front of you

Eye opening book with a horrible narrator

This book will change your perspective on many historical issues. Amazing. Unfortunately the narrator is uninteresting and frequently mispronounces words or misreads them entirely. I will avoid this narrator entirely in the future but will immediately look for another book by William Bernstein.

Good content, horrible narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I'd recommend the written book to anyone interested in history -- some fascinating detail in there. The final chapters veer from history to modern trade policy, and were less compelling to me.

I would not recommend the audiobook to anyone.

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

No. The dull monotone, the odd cadence and substandard pronunciation make listening to the narration a grating experience.

Good book…

And very well told . I had no trouble listening to the narrator. His voice was crisp, clear and well timed. Very good information about the subject of trade.

Interesting book, B-O-R-I-N-G narrator

I have another book narrated by Mel Foster and I will be SURE to avoid him from now on. Get this only if you prefer someone who speaks deep in his throat (I expect him to choke any moment) and uses a slow, absolute monotone that makes him sound like he's about to pass out. The listener will pass out also.
Some narrators could read a phone book and make it sound interesting. Foster is just the opposite: he can read a thriller and make it SOUND like a phone book!
Publishers are terrified to use female narrators. Maybe they should try someone new because this deep throat monotone does NOT work.

Computer voice-read ebook?

This totally sounds like the audiobook is read by a computer!
Not sure if I oversaw something in the small print, but I could not listen to this monotone, cold voice longer than 2 minutes.
I have listened to many audiobooks but this book it seems I have to read myself.
(Btw: Don't mind my rating, it obviously does not refer to the content)

Better to buy the print version

i found it tremendously difficult to envision what the author tried to convey without a visual reference to go along with the narrative. I am sure it is a good book when you can actually see all the geographical references this book constantly makes.

Good book, bad narrator.

I'm convinced the narrator is some kind of text-to-speech software. Listen to the sample and make sure it won't drive you up the wall before buying. I found it unlistenable.

School takes the fun out of reading.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Make sure to not make kids read this for their AP world history class.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

same thing Make sure to not make kids read this for their AP world history class.like my capy and pæste

Which character – as performed by Mel Foster – was your favorite?

the one dat i didnt have to read.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

yes i only had to listen to the fist chapter.

Any additional comments?

To be honest this is a great book and can be interesting but school takes the fun out of things. That's why I looked up the audiobook so i dont have to waste my precious time learning about how humans did things 1000+ years ago. I know it's history and thats great but we have bigger problems now like pollution war and people dying that can be fixed if we fucking stop sitting on our asses allday and actually do something. I am still in high school and when i get out i will do something that will help fix the world. while everyone else other then the people who agree will me, sit and do shit. thank you for reading for this long. and fuck this my summer was/is still fun but it could have been better if i didnt have to read this, oh im sorry listen to this book. ps u dont know shit about who i am other than what u just read so u cant say im some dumb kid writing a shit post. I am just writing my opinion. DANK U M8.?!,"':;}[}{[}\|<@#5%^##$@$^ ________|WWWW|| |{@} {@}|| j || O ||_______| it was da best i could do.