Crisis Economics

A Crash Course in the Future of Finance

By: Nouriel Roubini, Stephen Mihm

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

This myth-shattering book reveals the methods Nouriel Roubini used to foretell the current crisis before other economists saw it coming and explains how those methods can help us make sense of the present and prepare for the future.

Renowned economist Nouriel Roubini electrified his profession and the larger financial community by predicting the current crisis well in advance of anyone else. Unlike most in his profession, who treat economic disasters as freakish once-in­a-lifetime events without clear cause, Roubini, after decades of careful research around the world, realized that they were both probable and predictable. Armed with a blend of historical analysis and global economics, Roubini has forced politicians, policy makers, investors, and market watchers to face a long-neglected truth: financial systems are inherently fragile and prone to collapse.

Drawing on the parallels from many countries and centuries, Nouriel Roubini and Stephen Mihm, a professor of economic history and a New York Times Magazine writer, show that financial cataclysms are as old and as ubiquitous as capitalism itself. All of these crises have much in common with the current downturn. Bringing lessons of earlier episodes to bear on our present predicament, Roubini and Mihm show how we can recognize and grapple with the inherent instability of the global financial system and plan for our immediate future. Perhaps most important, the authors - considering theories, statistics, and mathematical models with the skepticism that recent history warrants - explain how the world's economy can get out of the mess we're in, and stay out. In Roubini's shadow, economists and investors are increasingly realizing that they can no longer afford to consider crises the black swans of financial history.

A vital and timeless book, Crisis Economics proves calamities to be not only predictable but also preventable and, with the right medicine, curable.

©2010 Nouriel Roubini (P)2010 Penguin

Very comprehensive

Very comprehensive analysis of the various causes of the 2008 financial crisis, and recommendations to reduce the frequency and severity of future crises.

A good overview of crisis economics

there has been some controversy about Roubini, but still, this work does show a good grasp on the recent and past economic crises.

A good book

This is the second time that I read this book. The first one, in 2011, probably because the crisis of 2008 was more alive, unliked it better.

This is a good book, however, it repeats itself very often during the pages and some of the ideas (in special those from Keynes) did no age well considering the recent crisis in 2020 and the overspending from governments.

Anyhow, it is frustrating to observe that more than 10 years after its publication, most of the good ideas (not all are good or practical) to mitigate ciriais proposed by the authors wasn’t implemented and the financial system did no change much.

Boring, Couldn't Finish It

I really wanted to read and enjoy this book because I respect the author but I could not finish it. The first half describes what happened histrorically during the 2007 onward financial meltdown. If you want a much more interesting and understandable portrait of what happened get And Then the Roof Caved In by David Faber. Secondary recommendations include The Big Short and The Greatest Trade. Then you may want to read the second half of Crisis Economics for the recommendations or solutions.

Great book.

When I first heard Roubini has come out with a book I thought it was going to focus on doom and gloom, but I was wrong. Crisis Economics explains what happened in 2007-2009 better than any of the other books on this subject to date. It also spends a substantial amount of time discussing past finanacial panics in the US, Asia and Europe. Last, it also integrates the financial crisis in the EU into the discussion about 2008-2009 US financial crisis. As far as doom and gloom is concerned, the debt and currency crisis currently facing the EU is predicted accurately and discussed in detail in the final portion of the book. This book is a very good synopsis and history of the topic.

Instant Modern classic

The authors did a good job diagnosing the recent crisis and prescribing the treatment and prevention of subsequent booms and busts. Simply, the work of genius. I am sometimes in awe by the enormity of work that has gone into this book and yet presented in very simple way.Very thankful to listen to such a lecture at this price!

I also want to credit the reader: L.J. Ganser!"Preposterous!" His voice is best suited to the subject. By comparison he dwarfs most readers and I am now hesitant to listen to other audiobooks not read by him.

Worth listening to even a decade after the crisis referred to transpired…

You can hear Dr. Roubini’s voice thunder doom through out this work. While it tickles, his wisdom is on display as you reflect on what’s happened in the decade after the publication of this book.

What was one thing that was missing?
- An explanation of twin deficits. Unless I fell asleep, he mentioned twin deficits without specifically defining it.

What was one thing that I would change?
- I'd condense chapters 8 & 9.

What did I like the most?
- The solutions proposed are incumbent upon him as a respected economist that is full of gloom, but I liked his willingness to suggest solutions for global welfare. They were fair. I also liked his references to other economists. This is conducive to further reading.

I learned a lot from this work and recommend chapters 11 & 12 if you are pressed for time.

"New York phonebook - The Musical"

It is as insightful and informative as "the New York phonebook - The Musical".
3 hours of it required sheer willpower - or stupidity.