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Publisher | John Wiley & Sons Inc (US) |
Author(s) | Peter L. Bernstein / Paul A. Volcker |
Subtitle | The History of an Obsession |
Edition | 2 |
Published | 15th March 2012 |
Related course codes |
The History of an Obsession
"The need for realism in reform of its monetary system is whatThis bestselling book reveals a record of human nature in the
ubiquity of gold with a new foreword by Paul Volcker
In this exciting book, the late Peter L. Bernstein tells the
story of history's most coveted, celebrated, and inglorious asset:
gold. From the ancient fascinations of Moses and Midas through the
modern convulsions caused by the gold standard and its aftermath,
gold has led many of its most eager and proud possessors to a bad
end. And while the same cycle of obsession and desperation may
reverberate in today's fast-moving, electronically-driven markets,
the role of gold in shaping human history is the striking feature
of this tumultuous tale. Such is the power of gold.
Whether it is Egyptian pharaohs with depraved tastes, the
luxury-mad survivors of the Black Death, the Chinese inventor of
paper money, the pirates on the Spanish Main, or the hardnosed
believers in the international gold standard, gold has been the
supreme possession. It has been an icon for greed and an emblem of
rectitude, as well as a vehicle for vanity and a badge of power
that has shaped the destiny of humanity through the ages.
Far more than a tale of romantic myths, daring explorations, and
the history of money and power struggles, The Power of Gold
suggests that the true significance of this infamous element may
lie in the timeless passions it continues to evoke, and what this
reveals about ourselves.