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Doom

The Politics of Catastrophe

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Doom

By: Niall Ferguson
Narrated by: Niall Ferguson
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Disasters are inherently hard to predict. But when catastrophe strikes, we ought to be better prepared than the Romans were when Vesuvius erupted or medieval Italians when the Black Death struck. We have science on our side, after all. Yet the responses of many developed countries to a new pathogen from China were badly bungled. Why?

While populist rulers certainly performed poorly in the face of the pandemic, Niall Ferguson argues that more profound pathologies were at work - pathologies already visible in our responses to earlier disasters.

Drawing from multiple disciplines, including economics and network science, Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe offers not just a history but a general theory of disaster. As Ferguson shows, governments must learn to become less bureaucratic and more 'antifragile' if we are to avoid the impending doom of irreversible decline.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Niall Ferguson (P)2021 Penguin Audio Disaster Relief Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences Middle Ages
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I am a fan of Niall Ferguson's earlier work, but this book felt very long and lacked an original theme and perspective.

A long series of facts and historical cases

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I thoroughly enjoyed this very scholarly work. Absolutely fascinating. Very well written and read. A subject that deserves more attention and exposure.

Brilliant.

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I find Ferguson when interviewed an interesting speaker, so i expected an engaging treatise.
Unfortunately each point is laboured by an interminable catalog of facts that are the epitome of overkill.
What he has to say could have been amply said in a 5000 word essay.
Worse, there is a dearth of insight, and in summary the book is an illustration that humans learn nothing from history, the history of pestilence being no exception.

A long essay as a book

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Despite being written in August 2020 Ferguson provides perspective to Covid pandemic. As all evidence indicates that Covid emanated from China as most other viruses such as SARS, the 1957/58 Asian flu etc did one has to stand up for democratic values and not bend to a one world power system under President Xi. Inevitably as Ferguson points out we are entering a new Cold War with a much cleverer enemy than Soviet Russia. Essential reading for all those who wish to live in a Democracy.

Excellent as always

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I enjoyed it but if I had been reading rather than listening I doubt I would have got into it. At half the length it would still be too long.

Very interesting but way too long

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Am intensive book and needs time to absorb but makes its case well . Worth a read

Intensive and illuminating

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I am big fan of the author but this book misses the mark.

Niall should stick to history that is well entrenched and known. His biases and the sources he uses have been shown to be incorrect since publishing. He doesn’t even address the failure of doctors to look at early treatment and the misinformation campaign of the media which is now obvious to all but the ideologues.

Disappointing

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Started reading with excited anticipation but on hearing how he says he was right on COVID, as an early predictor of its severity, I tuned out. Not the book I want to read. Covid is recent history and more facts are being revealed. It is premature to write a fact based dissertation and draw conclusions. Very disappointed.

Disappointing

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