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joaotjesus's review against another edition
4.0
Very informative book, in which the author, apart from showing us facts of where the world is now, economically speaking, also gives us his theory of why and how we got here.
Although I was not entirely convinced by his Global Plan and Global Minotaur theories, I have to admit that he makes a strong case for how Japan and Germany came to rise as very strong economies.
I will probably read it again soon, as some of the economic concepts didn't really sink in, me being somewhat new to this whole economy business.
Finally, I'll just mention that the book is written in a clear and enjoyable style, with references to popular culture (the Matrix movie, for instance), which should make the economic discussion more easy to follow for a layman.
Although I was not entirely convinced by his Global Plan and Global Minotaur theories, I have to admit that he makes a strong case for how Japan and Germany came to rise as very strong economies.
I will probably read it again soon, as some of the economic concepts didn't really sink in, me being somewhat new to this whole economy business.
Finally, I'll just mention that the book is written in a clear and enjoyable style, with references to popular culture (the Matrix movie, for instance), which should make the economic discussion more easy to follow for a layman.
mjiolk's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and thought-provoking with a well-reasoned thesis. The analysis feels slightly shallow at times (though this is likely to make it readable for a general audience) and the metaphors get to be a bit much.
piccoline's review against another edition
5.0
Really vivid and great explanation of not just the 2008 meltdown (and fraud) but the whole key stretch of economic history from 1900-2012. And all in less than 300 readable pages.
But let me recommend Brian Collins' sharp appreciation of Varoufakis and this book if you remain unconvinced (from the very fine Los Angeles Review of Books):
https://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/the-great-shock
But let me recommend Brian Collins' sharp appreciation of Varoufakis and this book if you remain unconvinced (from the very fine Los Angeles Review of Books):
https://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/the-great-shock
sinelce's review
5.0
I have to hold my hands up and admit to being a virtual novice when it comes to the intricacies of economics. Like many, I find both the study and application of economic theory testy at best, but reading The Global Minotaur behooved me to question what it was that made me so about the never-ending obsession with the world of monetary policy and globalised finance.
This book helped me understand just how much of what we are told about the global economy, austerity and international trade is either extremely skewed or outright fallacious.
Like many acclaimed leftist economists, the-many-times-vindicated Varoufakis is often treated by mainstream pundits and commentators (yeah, *those* guys) as little more than a dogmatic marxist technocrat.
Of course, Varoufakis (who has time and again imbibed a frankness and dynamism into a rapidly stagnating contemporary Westernised political arena) is anything but. Always communicated in an accessible yet mercurial style of prose, his methodology is informed more by statistics and hard facts than basic neo-Marxian ideology. This shines threw in the depth of his research, his interrogation of ideas, anecdotes concepts and dissection of predominant "economic actors". In many sections of the book, it actually read more like a historical text, such was the quality and comprehensiveness of the research contained within.
Put simply, Varoufakis is a breath of fresh air amidst all of the neoliberal apologia we see on our tv screens, and one of the most brilliant thinkers of out times. For those looking to make sense of the state of global economics since the end of ww2 and the role of the U.S. in enslaving us all to the whim of capital (or as Varoufakis appropriately refers to it, "The Minotaur") put Picketty et al to one side for now and read this instead. You won't regret it.
This excellent extrapolation of mid to late capitalism is too good not to read immediately.
This book helped me understand just how much of what we are told about the global economy, austerity and international trade is either extremely skewed or outright fallacious.
Like many acclaimed leftist economists, the-many-times-vindicated Varoufakis is often treated by mainstream pundits and commentators (yeah, *those* guys) as little more than a dogmatic marxist technocrat.
Of course, Varoufakis (who has time and again imbibed a frankness and dynamism into a rapidly stagnating contemporary Westernised political arena) is anything but. Always communicated in an accessible yet mercurial style of prose, his methodology is informed more by statistics and hard facts than basic neo-Marxian ideology. This shines threw in the depth of his research, his interrogation of ideas, anecdotes concepts and dissection of predominant "economic actors". In many sections of the book, it actually read more like a historical text, such was the quality and comprehensiveness of the research contained within.
Put simply, Varoufakis is a breath of fresh air amidst all of the neoliberal apologia we see on our tv screens, and one of the most brilliant thinkers of out times. For those looking to make sense of the state of global economics since the end of ww2 and the role of the U.S. in enslaving us all to the whim of capital (or as Varoufakis appropriately refers to it, "The Minotaur") put Picketty et al to one side for now and read this instead. You won't regret it.
This excellent extrapolation of mid to late capitalism is too good not to read immediately.
joaotjesus's review against another edition
4.0
Very informative book, in which the author, apart from showing us facts of where the world is now, economically speaking, also gives us his theory of why and how we got here.
Although I was not entirely convinced by his Global Plan and Global Minotaur theories, I have to admit that he makes a strong case for how Japan and Germany came to rise as very strong economies.
I will probably read it again soon, as some of the economic concepts didn't really sink in, me being somewhat new to this whole economy business.
Finally, I'll just mention that the book is written in a clear and enjoyable style, with references to popular culture (the Matrix movie, for instance), which should make the economic discussion more easy to follow for a layman.
Although I was not entirely convinced by his Global Plan and Global Minotaur theories, I have to admit that he makes a strong case for how Japan and Germany came to rise as very strong economies.
I will probably read it again soon, as some of the economic concepts didn't really sink in, me being somewhat new to this whole economy business.
Finally, I'll just mention that the book is written in a clear and enjoyable style, with references to popular culture (the Matrix movie, for instance), which should make the economic discussion more easy to follow for a layman.
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