|  | Author: Gerald F. Davis
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $17.42
as of 11/23/2009 11:53 CST details
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New (31) Used (10) from $16.08
Seller: Florida Panhandlers
Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 275576
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 0199216614
Dewey Decimal Number: 332.0410973
EAN: 9780199216611
ASIN: 0199216614
Publication Date: June 15, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: brand new hard cover with dust sleeve as arrived from publisher - ships with tracking #
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 38
 Very good book to understand transition to current finance system August 20, 2009
Dan Sherman (Alexandria, VA USA)
This is a dense book in the best sense of the word. It covers a lot of material in a fairly brief space and in a way that you really needed to pay attention to individual sentences. A lot is said in this relatively short (250 page) book and it really is not for skimming. I found myself going back and ready short sections over again, to make sure I understood all they contained. The book is well written, and is easy to read in terms of language- it just needs to be read carefully.
I have read many books on economic history and found that this book gives a nice short history (some may say too short) of how major institutions developed in the country (book mostly has an American perspective), right up to the present place where financial institutions became predominant before their collapse in late 2008. The focus of the book is the past 30 or so years, with shift to an international, highly securitized economy. The book is neither a business book (i.e., how to invest) or really a history book per se, but more of a sociology book that shows how institutions changed and ultimately affected individuals -- i.e., moved from a one-employee career with benefits at a manufacturing firm to a day trader/401(k) who may own mutual funds or individual stocks but is very distant from any enterprise.
This is a very, very good book that doesn't have a particular view (e.g., capitalism is good or evil). I found it easy to read with lots of interesting content -- the (academic) author has done his research and knows his sources (there is a good set of references and endnotes).
I suppose my only complaint is that it really doesn't extrapolate things into the future (a dangerous thing I suppose). Although it has a very short "What's next?" section, it would have been nice to read how financial system might change after events of 2008 and what possible policies might be. There was so much good groundwork in this book, a little speculation would have been good.
 Adaquate August 18, 2009
Eliezer Kolatch (Bronx, NY USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mr. Davis's expose on the reshaping of the american economy from an industrial economy to a service economy is, well written, and provides and adequate description of the events that helped first, reshape or economy, then bring it to its knees. However, as somebody who works in finance, I felt that it wasn't particularly inspired, and that it didn't cover that much new ground. Perhaps my issue with the book is that I was too close to the subject, I just didn't feel as though I either, a) learned something very new, or b) learned something again in a clearer fashion.
So for those who are unfamiliar with US economic and financial history this is probably a good starting point, but if you already know your stuff or work in the field I would look elsewhere.
Stays on target, but gets a bit repetitive in places August 12, 2009
Joshua Davies (Dallas, TX United States)
This book is a historical look at the impact that financial markets have had on business, starting from the rise of the earliest financial markets and tracing how business has evolved to keep up with changes in financial markets. The analysis is tilted toward an American view, but occasionally other markets are compared. The subject material is kept interesting throughout; the research is indepth and authoritative, but the reader isn't expected to have any prior knowledge of the subject of finance or financial markets.
I would have expected more history from such a book, but most of the analysis covers the past 30 years or so - very little time is spent looking at the impact that the markets had on, say, the great depression. More time is spent analyzing how current economic problems are tied to financial market changes and how "market think" has permeated most aspects of modern life (often invisibly).
The author takes a fair and balanced approach to the material - at times, a hint of what might be a disdain for capitalist free markets creeps into the discussion, but for the most part, facts are presented and the reader is left to draw his or her own conclusions. My one real gripe is that he repeats the same (admittedly intriguing) examples over and over - for example, Liberia being a haven for cruise ship registration (a fascinating example, actually) is repeated at least a half-dozen times, in different contexts, and he mentions "Bowie-bonds" (David Bowie sold interest in his future album sales at one point) three separate times.
Still, I walked away from the book having learned a lot that I didn't know, and with a new perspective on how financial markets, which always seemed very distant, play a central role in my day to day life.
Understanding the Chaos July 25, 2009
David Zimmerman (Baton Rouge, LA USA)
Davis does a nice job in leading me through a 200+ page book on a subject on which I have little inherent interest - finance. Perhaps I should pay better attention, given how the world of finance apparently controls my current life and how much it will even more greatly control the adult life of my now teenage daughter.
Because I worked for a manufacturing company for more than 30 years, I was particularly interested in Davis's analysis of the changing role of the industrial corporation in society. Fortunately as a newly retired person (medical disability), my place as a recipient in the corporate social welfare network appears to be secure. My daughter will have to be savvier than I've been in managing funds for her own retirement or possible disability, as the corporate pendulum swings away from providing for these needs. She'll also probably work for several employers rather than one.
I've seen the change in corporate culture first hand, though I've been relatively unaffected. Also going on around me has been a change in the role of state - Davis insightfully calls states and nations "vendors of laws" as corporations move around the country and globe in search of the most favorable labor, environmental and tax laws.
Davis helps the reader understand a potentially pedantic subject by using a presenter's format - tell 'em what you're going to say; tell 'em; tell 'em what you just said. The reader gets three looks at the key concepts.
While the result isn't as breezy or fun to read as Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.), "Managed by the Markets" is a mostly successful attempt to bring the chaos of the world's financial system into focus for lay persons who stand in its path. Davis even seems a little prescient as his book, written prior to the current economic collapse, foreshadows some of its crises.
What happend to the American Dream! July 16, 2009
V. Ghazarian (New York)
Prior to reading this book I read several highly publicized books on the current US economic crisis, but this book was by far the best. As suggested by the title Finance has revolutionized the American economy and society. The author utilizes historical evidence and illustrates how America transitioned from an industrial to a financial economy. The book has many interesting statistics that demonstrate the average employment life of an American in different sectors, and how this rapidly changing labor market has destroyed social mobility. The book discusses how America became more and more dependent on the market as a result of the destruction of the social safety nets and the rapid growth of portable 401ks, and contract employment, which has created this disloyal employers.
I agree with some of the reviewer about the repetitive nature of the theme but it is still very readable, full of interesting ideas and insightful.
Showing reviews 6-10 of 38
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