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The 10,000-Year Rise of the World Economy
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( 394 ratings, 37 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
More by Philip Coggan explores the fascinating origins and development of human civilisation. It delves into how societies have evolved over time, highlighting the progression of culture, technology, and governance. The book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of humanity's journey, offering insight into why societies grow and flourish.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the evolution and dynamics of economies and human societies. It delves into how our desire for more wealth, knowledge, and connections has continually shaped the course of history. Ideal for readers interested in economics, history, and the complex interplay between human ambition and progress.

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'A majestic must-read' - Andy Haldane, chief economist at the Bank of England.

'A majestic must-read' - Andy Haldane, chief economist at the Bank of England

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

There are 17 ingredients in a typical tube of toothpaste, from titanium dioxide to xanthum gum, and that's not counting the tube. Everything had to come from somewhere and someone had to bring it all together. The humblest household product reveals a web of enterprise that stretches around the globe.

More is the story of how we spun that web. It begins with the earliest glimmerings of long-distance trade - obsidian blades that made their way from what is now Turkey to the Iran-Iraq border 7,000 years before Christ - and ends with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. On such a grand scale, quirks of historical perspective leap out: futures contracts and commercial branding are among the many seemingly modern components of the global economy that have existed since ancient times. Yet it was only in the 18th century that a cascade of innovations began to drive up prosperity in a lasting way around the world.

To piece this fascinating saga together, Philip Coggan takes the reader inside medieval cottages and hi-tech hydroponic farms, prehistoric Chinese burial mounds and modern central banks. At every step of our journey, he finds that it was connections between people that created our wealth. Will the same openness continue to serve us in the 21st century?

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

More by Philip Coggan is praised for providing a comprehensive and accessible account of humanity's transformation over the past 10,000 years. Martin Wolf highlights its lucid storytelling, while James Kirkup notes its suitability for a mature audience. The Sunday Times commends its timely analysis and clarity, and Madan Sabnavis from the Financial Express appreciates its ability to engage readers with a concise yet detailed narrative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781781258095

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 January 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Economist Books

Edition: Main

Illustration: 8 pages colour plate section

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 194.0mm

Weight: 402g

Pages: 480

About the Author

Philip Coggan is the author of The Money Machine, a guide to the city that is still in print after 33 years, and Paper Promises, which was Spears' business book of the year in 2012. He writes the Bartleby column for the Economist and is the former writer of the Buttonwood column. Prior to joining the Economist he worked for the Financial Times for 20 years. He has spent a career trying to make sense of the modern economy, even as financiers and politicians try to wreck it.

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