We’ve already had a raft of books delineating the economic crisis, but it takes a brave soul to suggest ways to stop the rot. Enter Philippe Legrain, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics’ European Institute, who sets out to determine how the global economy is changing, and what reforms are needed to make it work better for everyone.
Says Ireland’s Sunday Business Post.
Have we learned all the right lessons from the global financial meltdown?
Or are we destined for a repeat performance some time in the future, by making the same mistakes that got us into the mess of the past two years?
Philippe Legrain, globalisation expert, academic and former writer with the Economist magazine, uses his third book to drum into readers his ideas on how to solve the world’s problems. Readers already familiar with his first two efforts, Open World: the Truth about Globalisation and Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them, will know where he is coming from.
For those who are not, however, this will be their first exposure to Legrain’s ability to pack a book with huge detail, quality research and generous use of the soapbox. It is an ambitious effort.
Writes David Clerkin, the Post’s markets correspondent.
He concludes on a mixed note, though:
Perhaps conscious of the sheer density of the text and the likelihood that non economists will find this tough going, Legrain tries to lighten the load where possible.
‘‘Tourists love it,” he says of Iceland.
‘‘I did . . . Any visitor to Reykjavik can also confirm that it is bubbling with culture – music, art, fashion; personally, I love GusGus’s electro-house music.”
With unnecessary diversions like this, it is little wonder that the book swells to almost 400 dense pages. It is undoubtedly good work. But hard work.
I hope you will read Aftershock and judge for yourself.