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Boomerang

The Meltdown Tour

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Boomerang

By: Michael Lewis
Narrated by: Dylan Baker
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In this hilarious, fascinating, timely must-read, Michael Lewis reveals the true natures of the countries caught up in - and exacerbating - our boomerang economies, showing how the financial meltdown hit us all in the face. Right now, Europe is in serious financial chaos. In Greece, infrastructure costs mean it would be cheaper to transport all Greek rail passengers by taxi, and hairdressing is classified as arduous for tax avoidance purposes. In Iceland, Range Rovers frequently explode as owners collect the insurance to pay for them. Ireland saw the entire country put up for sale - to itself, while the Germans expected the whole world to behave like them. But the whole world didn't.

'A highly enjoyable exercise in financial disaster tourism... politically incorrect, often very funny, and shot through with genuine insight' Robert Harris, The Times

'Chock-full of extraordinary characters, amusing anecdotes and shocking insights' Observer

'A tour de force... All those questions you've half-asked yourself: nowhere else will you find them answered with such incisive wit or terrifying clarity' Mail on Sunday

© Michael Lewis 2011 (P) Penguin Audio 2011

 21st Century Economic History Economics Europe International Modern Banking Global Financial Crisis Taxation Socialism Capitalism
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Critic Reviews

Lewis is the finest storyteller of our generation. (Malcolm Gladwell)
He is so good everyone else may as well pack up
Fascinating...the book could not be more timely...a sharp-edged narrative that leaves readers with a visceral understanding of the fiscal recklessness that lies behind today's headlines (Michiko Kakutani)
Michael Lewis's bravura journey through Europe's economic underbelly brilliantly charts the consequences of a world plagued by debt...highly enjoyable...nicely politically incorrect, often very funny, and shot through with genuine insight (Robert Harris)
Michael Lewis meets some extraordinary characters in his excursion through the barely controlled madness that is modern finance ... lucid, entertaining (Tony Barber)
All stars
Most relevant
Interesting true story of the relationship of culture and human greed. Shows how people on mass or via government creat irrational boom bust cycles

Great listening

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super interesting loved it. couldn't put it down, love the economic/cultural examples Michael Lewis selects to illustrate the macroeconomic consequences of cheap financing available in the 2000s.

another great book by Michael Lewis

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love michael lewis' work ... entertaining 4 nerds mebbe but there's always the unveiling of more human stupidity when it comes to collecting stuff ... money and it's relatives. incredible work.

suoerb

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There is nothing more to say. The author has summed up problem clearly. We are still working from the early post-WWII handbook for social and cultural rehabilitation. Population growth, location and creeping obsolescence have been ignored.

Laurie O’Neill

Well written, researched and narrated

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Lots of very well explained insights how societies use debt, mainly for short term ends. Entertainingly told, often through the eyes of people that Michael meets.

Another great story and insights

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