Moneyland

The Inside Story of the Crooks and Kleptocrats Who Rule the World

By: Oliver Bullough

Narrated by: Oliver Bullough

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

This program is read by the author. 

"If you want to know why international crooks and their eminently respectable financial advisors walk tall and only the little people pay taxes, this is the ideal book for you. Every politician and moneyman on the planet should read it, but they won't because it's actually about them." (John le Carré, author of A Legacy of Spies)

An investigative journalist's deep dive into the corrupt workings of the world's kleptocrats. 

From ruined towns on the edge of Siberia to Bond-villain lairs in London and Manhattan, something has gone wrong. Kleptocracies, governments run by corrupt leaders who prosper at the expense of their people, are on the rise.  

Once upon a time, if an official stole money, there wasn't much he could do with it. He could buy himself a new car or build himself a nice house or give it to his friends and family, but that was about it. If he kept stealing, the money would just pile up in his house until he had no rooms left to put it in, or it was eaten by mice. 

And then some bankers had a bright idea. 

Join the investigative journalist Oliver Bullough on a journey into Moneyland - the secret country of the lawless, stateless super-rich. 

Learn how the institutions of Europe and the US have become money-laundering operations, attacking the foundations of many of the world's most stable countries. Meet the kleptocrats. Meet their awful children. And find out how heroic activists around the world are fighting back.  

This is the story of wealth and power in the 21st century. It isn't too late to change it.

©2019 Oliver Bullough (P)2019 W.F. Howes Ltd.

Best book I've read (listened to) this year

Every American should read this book.

People who seriously want to "drain the swamp" need to read this book.

The very wealthy live by a different set of rules than the rest of us. If you have money, you can shop for the most favorable countries to set up your businesses, stash your wealth, register your yachts, buy real estate, have your anchor babies, and set up trusts for your heirs.

There are countries whose main industry is helping rich people hide their wealth. Other countries help them spend it, no questions asked. This makes it easy for everyone from tax evaders to treasury-raiding kleptocrats to get richer and richer and live lives of insane luxury, while "only the little people pay taxes".

This book is a whack upside the head!

The author's narration and storytelling are engaging, and he has a very pleasant voice. I listened to several of the chapters twice to make sure I didn't miss anything. I will probably listen to this book again- it's that good.

Simply a ‘must read’ for anyone wondering why the world is, at least in part, the way it is.

I have rarely come across a book that is so compelling, comprehensive and whose story is so well told. Monelyand, with shocking examples and in-depth explorations of the methodologies employed by the extremely wealthy and by so-called kleptocrats is an amazing read/listen. Mr. Bullough is an accomplished journalist who does not disappoint in this new work. He is also quite a terrific narrator.

very enlightening

the theme of this story was quite interesting. The book shines a light on the darkside of globalization amd how easy it fpr the rich to hide their capital.

Focused on the corruption, not so much financial

The book does a good job of describing various forms of corruption and the laws that shield the money of corrupt people. I guess I had the wrong expectation going in - this is a book primarily about the corruption. I was hoping it would shed more light on intriguing \ clever financial schemes but in reality it is mostly about corrupt world leaders stealing and then hiding money in offshore bank accounts.

THE INS AND OUTS OF THE CROOKED AND CORRUPT.

This book will be shocking for some but not others. That said, very important that all be aware of what Moneyland is and how it works. The money in Moneyland is sometimes stolen, sometimes not, but the common feature of those that “reside” (or at least visit) “Moneyland” is that they play by their own rules, almost always involving the disregard / breaking of laws. Bullough did a great job researching this book, including how the law applies or doesn’t apply to the various people and activities. It is also a very entertaining book, sometimes funny, mostly though in a tragic way. In the end, another reminder that the world is not a level playing field.

Fascinating read!

I took a chance on this book not knowing much about the topic and really glad I did! It expanded my understanding and shocked me — I see world news with a very different lens now. Some chapters are easier to read than others (some got a bit complicated), but (as a beginner to economics/globalization topics) I enjoyed being challenged.

outstanding peak behind the world of The Rich

detailed and fast moving story of just how we got where we now are. moving from bretton woods through euro dollars to offshore money and finally Nevada and South Dakota. an existential threat to citizenry everywhere

Brilliant

I will be ever grateful for this excellent wake up call that once again illuminates the connection between corruption and money in governments both near and far and apparently democratic and openly kleptocratic.

Enlightening!

Eye opening dissertation on the movement of big money through the shadows of developed and underdeveloped countries.

Repetitive at times. A couple stories I’d skim over if I was reading the print version but those situations are few and far between.

I’d read another of his books for sure.

AMAZING

Best book I’ve read on financial crimes ever. Level of detail, wit, historical context unmatched. Must read for everyone as it affects everyone.