Search found 112 matches
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 7:33 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: The Singularity is Near
- Replies: 0
- Views: 2875
The Singularity is Near
When compared to Fantastic Voyage the title shows the move away from what path we need to follow to live longer, and towards the idea of some abstract future state
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:45 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Six Weeks in Russia,
- Replies: 0
- Views: 3061
Six Weeks in Russia,
Arthur Ransome tells the story of a former factory owner, known as Uncle. Following the revolution he the idea of common ownership, and put plenty of effort into keeping the factory production going in difficult times — this was a time of great shortages. The communist rulers would have none of this...
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:43 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Grand Pursuit : The Story of Economic Genius.
- Replies: 0
- Views: 1534
Grand Pursuit : The Story of Economic Genius.
A chapter looking at Marx's shortcomings is followed by one looking at the work Alfred Marshal. Nasar doesn't do so explicitly, but one can't help comparing the two.
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:41 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Sea of Poppies
- Replies: 0
- Views: 2973
Sea of Poppies
We hear of how the British always claimed to be acting according to free-market principles, but that their military control meant that they could compel farmers to grow opium on terms set by the British.
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:39 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
- Replies: 0
- Views: 3123
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
Businessmen are persuading the government to pass an act creating a Muffin Monopoly. Was Dickens more in favour of the free market than people think?
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:36 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Persuasion
- Replies: 0
- Views: 3087
Persuasion
The hero has made his money in what was considered an honourable way — the spoils of war. (The British government would give 'prize money' to naval officers for capturing an enemy ship). Being a naval officer had another advantage — it gave you a title. In the book anyone who is just plain Mr., who ...
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:34 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Subject to Famine : Food Crises and Economic Change in Western India, 1860-1920.
- Replies: 0
- Views: 3086
Subject to Famine : Food Crises and Economic Change in Western India, 1860-1920.
The top down nature of early societies meant that there was a class which carried on more or less as normal even if there was widespread famine.
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:25 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Replies: 0
- Views: 2900
An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
Is it a myth that Adam Smith promoted selfishness?
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:24 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: Hellements of Hickonomics, In Hiccoughs of Verse Done in Our Social Planning Mill.
- Replies: 0
- Views: 2815
Hellements of Hickonomics, In Hiccoughs of Verse Done in Our Social Planning Mill.
Adam, Adam, Adam Smith,
- Thu Sep 26, 2019 5:20 am
- Forum: Books
- Topic: God's Clockmaker: Richard of Wallingford and the Invention of Time
- Replies: 0
- Views: 3004
God's Clockmaker: Richard of Wallingford and the Invention of Time
John North describes the astronomical clock built at St. Alban's abbey. How did the abbey pay for such a feat of engineering? One important source of funds was the monopoly on milling wheat. Farmers might find it cheaper to build their own hand-mills, but if they did the abbot would send in the heav...