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The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years' War over the American Dollar Audiobook
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(3.01) - 101 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From the first days of the United States, a battle raged over money. On one side were the democrats, who wanted cheap money and feared the concentration of financial interests in the hands of a few. On the other were the capitalists who sought the soundness of a national bank—and the profits that came with it.
In telling this exciting story, H. W. Brands focuses on five "Money Men": Alexander Hamilton, who championed a national bank; Nicholas Biddle, whose run-in with Andrew Jackson led to the bank's demise; Jay Cooke, who financed the Union in the Civil War; Jay Gould, who tried to corner the gold market; and J. P. Morgan, whose position was so commanding that he bailed out the U.S. Treasury.
The Money Men is a riveting narrative, a revealing history of the men who fought over the lifeblood of American commerce and power.
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"Great short history of the 4 key individuals who shaped the American capitalist, banking, economic and monetary system. Recommend it to all who have an interest in economic history of the US."
— Greg (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“With dramatic stories like that of Jay Gould’s manipulation of the gold market, Lloyd James gets to do more than recite facts. He’s always easy to listen to, bringing history alive as stories while avoiding melodrama and making sure the facts come across.”
— AudioFile -
[Lloyd James is] always easy to listen to, bringing history alive as stories while avoiding melodrama and making sure the facts come across.
— AudioFile -
“Brands, historian and author, identifies five Americans who played critical roles in America’s formation of a monetary system and hence the history of this country from 1776 until the eve of World War I.”
— Booklist
The Money Men Listener Reviews
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" This was a good overview of American economic history but knowing next to nothing about that, I wish the author had gone into a little more detail in his explanations of some theory and concepts. "
— LeeFrances, 6/7/2013 -
" Oh boy, I thought I would like this better than his more recent book I just read. I was sorely disappointed to find the majority of this book appears in that book. "
— Lewis, 1/24/2012 -
" Short, sweet, and enlightening. Very enjoyable. "
— Sarah, 1/11/2012 -
" Interesting but occasionally dry, and not really a subject that I cared enough about to delve so deeply into, but it wasn't my pick. "
— Kim, 12/29/2011 -
" A quick basic overview of the financial leaders that have shaped the US financial system, both in good ways and poor ways. Not one part of the history is view in depth, so do not view this as providing answers, just raising many more questions. "
— Glenn, 10/14/2011 -
" Profiles of five important figures in American monetary history. Book has sort of a jumbleed feel to it with some interesting stories but overall, not one of Brands' best efforts. "
— Craig, 7/12/2011 -
" Readable book about the formation of monetary policy in the United States. Surprisingly interesting and understandable. "
— Hthayer, 6/1/2011 -
" Short, sweet, and enlightening. Very enjoyable. "
— Sarah, 1/15/2011 -
" Oh boy, I thought I would like this better than his more recent book I just read. I was sorely disappointed to find the majority of this book appears in that book. "
— Laura, 12/27/2010 -
" Interesting but occasionally dry, and not really a subject that I cared enough about to delve so deeply into, but it wasn't my pick. "
— Kim, 9/30/2010 -
" Profiles of five important figures in American monetary history. Book has sort of a jumbleed feel to it with some interesting stories but overall, not one of Brands' best efforts. "
— Craig, 5/31/2010 -
" Readable book about the formation of monetary policy in the United States. Surprisingly interesting and understandable. "
— Hthayer, 5/20/2008 -
" Here's what I learned from the book: <br/> <br/>The banksters and speculators having been screwing up (and over) the United States for the entirety of it's existence. "
— keatssycamore, 3/2/2008
About H. W. Brands
H. W. Brands has written more than a dozen biographies and histories, including the The General vs. the President, a New York Times bestseller. Two of his biographies, The First American and Traitor to His Class, were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. He holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin.
About Lloyd James
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.