The Ascent of Money. A Financial History of the World

Money is present in everyone's life and leaves few indifferent. Money attracts and repels. It determines the outcomes of wars and helps create beautiful works of art. It is all the more surprising that most people know very little about money. The famous British historian Niall Ferguson took it upon himself to fill this gap and did so brilliantly. In his new book “The Ascent of Money,” published in the midst of the global economic crisis, he traces the path money has taken from antiquity to the present day, clearly explaining the meaning of complex financial concepts and terms, and dispelling the most ingrained misconceptions. And of course, he thoroughly examines the causes of the current crisis. Today, more and more people are becoming part of the global financial system — and familiarity with the financial history of the world is more important than ever before.