Outrageous Fortunes

The Twelve Surprising Trends That Will Reshape the Global Economy

By: Daniel Altman

Narrated by: William Hughes

As individuals, companies, and countries struggle to recover from the economic crisis, many are narrowly focused on forecasts for the next week, month, or quarter. Yet they should be asking what the global economy will look like in the years to come—where will the long-term risks and opportunities arise? These are the questions that Daniel Altman confronts in his provocative and indispensable book.

The fate of the global economy, Altman argues, will be determined by deeper factors than those that move markets from moment to moment. His incisive analysis brings together hidden trends, societal pressures, and policy endgames to make 12 surprising but logical predictions about the years ahead. And his forecasts for the future raise a pressing question for today: with so many challenges awaiting us, are our political and economic institutions up to the task?

Outrageous Fortunes shows which industries will grow, which economies will crumble, which investments will pay off, and where the next big crisis may occur. Altman’s carefully reasoned text is an essential guide for the road ahead.

©2011 Daniel Altman (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ Outrageous Fortunes is provocative, fast-moving, authoritative, and imaginative. Expect the unexpected.” (Tim Harford, author of The Undercover Economist )

“Amid all the handwringing on the downward trajectory of the global economy comes this cool, collected, and sensible view of forthcoming economic trends…Altman delivers more than mere analysis or foreshadowing: this is revelatory reading for even the most casual observer of economics, and an invaluable tool for reconsidering how the world makes money.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“With so many new books offering autopsies of the financial crisis and the deepest recession since World War II, it’s a blessing that Daniel Altman has his eyes firmly fixed on risks and opportunities in the road ahead. He brings together a series of compelling predictions, and though readers may not agree with every element of his forecasts, all will be better informed for having read his book.” (Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and author of The End of the Free Market and The J Curve)

Interesting But Flawed

Altman hits on some interesting mega trends that provide plenty of food for thought for investors. His political views slip into the mix from time to time, which made the book seem less objective. For example, his near certain views about global warming and its likely effects will probably find favor with some, but not with others. Still, worth a listen.

An Unrealistic View

There are a few interesting things here but in general it's an academic economists view of the future. It suffers from the "Economic Man" Syndrome - theory heavy but lacking perspective when it comes to real human behavior. A much better read is George Friedman's The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century.