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A World of Wealthby Thomas G. Donlan (Financial Times Management, 300 Pages) This is a book about economics that avoids charts and graphs and dull discussion. This is a book about money, wealth, power and society. It explains contemporary issues from a capitalist perspective and provides historical depth for understanding the issues. Throughout history people have tried many ways of building wealth and driving progress. One has consistently worked best: capitalism. This book explains why free markets and free enterprise are so successful, and demonstrates how they offer the best solutions for today's most challenging problems. Long-time Barron's editorial page editor Tom Donlan starts by explaining why markets are such efficient allocators of wealth, income, labor, goods, and everything else. It's possible to imagine kinder, more just, more equitable outcomes than markets deliver, says Donlan, but it's virtually impossible to engineer those outcomes without creating disastrous consequences. Then, one issue at a time, he focuses on the greatest challenges facing America and the world. Donlan reveals what economic history teaches us about poverty, inequality, taxes, globalization, trade, immigration, energy, health care, retirement security, and population growth -- and how we can harness the power of free markets to address these challenges today. Donlan has written the year's most compelling, engaging, passionate book about money, wealth, power, and society -- and the most powerful case for capitalism in a generation. |