Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: A Brief History of Capitalism

Excellent read - the author is extremely knowledgeable and able to convey global and geopolitical matters into everyday meaningful events. Highly recommended - I did, to my daughter.

My eldest son (a 30 year old chartered engineer), discovered this book and read it because he wanted to have an understanding of economics. This prompted me to read it, although I did study economics at school sometime last century! This book is an engrossing read, opening my eyes as to why particular economic norms have come about and the far reaching effect they have on life. The author doesn’t shy away from saying it how he sees it, rather than pandering to saying what is perhaps expected of an economist. The book is written in a clear, engaging, conversational style, but never condescendingly so. There are many historical references that illustrate points being made and so makes for an interesting read. Ideas and arguments are carefully set out so that the reader understands what is being said and is left to pause and reflect, before making up his or her mind on the point in hand. It is an eye opening and thought provoking book - recommended.

I have Yanis Varoufakis’ new book, Talking to My Daughter About the Economy, to thank for keeping me up all night reading page and page, to the early hours of the morning, unable to put this book down. Yanis Varoufakis is that rarest of writers who can make the subject of economics interesting. To say this book is a page-turner is an understatement, not because it is a thrilling read with action, but because it is just a beautifully written piece of literature. It is a contemplative work. In this book he attempts to answer the question, “How did we get into this mess?” In answering his question he is thinking through the answer on paper and the result is this book. His tone is pensive, his voice is muted, and his ideas are presented carefully and methodically. That question has been asked before, so his subtitle is “A Brief History of Capitalism,” which is functionally the same. He could have simply answered his question with, “The System,” but that would have been too easy and not enough. So what Varoufakis does is choose significant events in human development, compare those events with responses from other societies, all of which lead to the present economic system. He knows the answer to his question in advance of course — he is after all a leading economic theoretician — so he uses a literary device of answering that question in the first person to his fourteen-year old daughter. Brilliant! His real daughter may not be the intended audience of Varoufakis’ book and may or may not be genuinely interested in Varoufakis’ explanation of how we got here, but we are, because we are Varoufakis’ fourteen-year old daughter. I like to think of this book as “Marx Light” or “Marx 101.” The fact that the cover of this book is in a bright red cover is a tip-off right there. Not that there is anything disparaging about this remark. Better than any other economist, before or since, Marx understood the strengths and weaknesses of Capitalism and his works are read by the movers and shakers in Wall Street (along with Milton Friedman). Varoufakis wisely avoids names and labels in this work. The result is a thorough work which one would be hard-pressed to argue. You could still disagree with his methods or conclusions, but Varoufakis is a good writer and you will still be amazed at literary quality of this work.

Having flunked Economics spectacularly at school, I have always avoided the subject in my adult life. After watching a youtube interview during which this author explained some very complex issues around govt finance, world bank loans, and the plight of his beloved nation (Greece), I realised that I understood every word he said! I was not stupid! I just needed an Economics teacher - this guy is a genius! - who knew how to explain the subject to a disinterested and uninformed audience! Of which I had been one: No longer! The former Greek minister for finance, Yanis Varoufakis - doting father and gifted teacher of Economics - tried to explain, in simple terms, his work to his daughter, who lives in Australia, far from the Greece in which she grew up and knew well as a younger child. He uses stories of personalities she knows well, characters from well-known classical literature and even a prison-of-war camp to explain the quite compex ideas he lays out in plain English for the soon-to-be very informed reader. It feels like one is imvited into an avuncular relationship with the author the entire time, but the sense that he is TALKING TO HIS DAUGHTER is tangible from the beginning to the end. Loved the book, and I now feel qualified to be an adult member of the human race, in 2023! I am confident that, should I decide to pick up the financial times, or a copy of The Economist I would have more than a vague notion of what is written therein. I never felt talked down to, even though the author must have had to break things down quite a bit to make his message understood. Perhaps that is because it is written, primarily for, and to, his daughter. I recommend everyone over 21, read the book, in order to better participate in post-school life! Since many leave school, not really knowing how life works!!! Now, I wish someone would write a book like this for (or about) The Law!

An interesting read. Since listening to the first book, I have enjoyed written work by Yanis Varoufakis. I may need to re-read most of the concepts newly introduced to me but I feel I have grasped a miniscule concept of economy. Not much. The first few chapters were more easier to digest, and the anecdotes are wonderful too. I like that personal touch. 3/5 because the end did not match the end in terms of style.

The author's description of how capitalism came about and its benefits and shortcomings was excellent and easy to follow although at times it did take some concentration. It was devoid of the normal "propaganda" that economists promote. I learnt a lot.

It helps understand and explain how the economy and capitalism work. Insightful and non-technical. Great read.

Me ha encantado la claridad de la exposición. Como dice su autor, la economía es demasiado importante para dejarla en manos de los economistas. Varoufakis brillante, como siempre. Su conocimiento de la historia es asombroso y preciso. Genial

Great book on economics , so interesting and simplified to the point that could be digested and easy to understand the economics basics .. highly recommended

J’aime le style imagé et plein de charme de Varoufakis, qui explique simplement les rouages de notre monde mais qui ne manque pas de nous prodiguer des conseils pleins de bon sens et d’humanité. J’aime aussi son effort (acharné?) de garder une lueur d’espoir après tout ça. Il s’adresse à sa fille donc à un lecteur qu’il aime plus que tout. Donc ne pas hésiter à vous jeter sur ce livre et le dévorer.