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The Power of Gold
Book

The Power of Gold

The History of an Obsession

Wiley, 2000 more...

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Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Background
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Peter L. Bernstein’s history of gold is about much more than just the lure of precious metal - it’s about man’s relationship with wealth, his desire for prosperity and his lust for power. The story he tells presents an unflattering portrait of the human character. The book demonstrates how thirst for gold’s twin uses - adornment and currency - has driven humankind to countless atrocities. This volume is so elegantly written that it deserves its own gold-leaf pages. Bernstein traces the transformation of gold into money, beginning at the dawn of historic time and ending by asking if gold will ever again recover its status as the standard for establishing the value of money. getAbstract highly recommends this fine book for anyone fascinated by all that glitters, and for students of economic history as well.

Take-Aways

  • Gold has obsessed and fascinated people since the dawn of humanity.
  • Because of its durability and beauty, gold is associated with the quest for immortality.
  • Kings, temples and churches adorned themselves with gold to establish their authority.

About the Author

Peter L. Bernstein  of New York City has written seven economics and finance books, including Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk and Capital Ideas and The Improbable Origins of Modern Wall Street. He is president of Peter L. Bernstein, Inc., a firm that provides economic consulting to institutional investors.