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Keeping At It

The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government

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Keeping At It

By: Paul A Volcker, Christine Harper
Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
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About this listen

 The extraordinary life story of the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, whose absolute integrity provides the inspiration we need as our constitutional system and political tradition are being tested to the breaking point.

As chairman of the Federal Reserve (1979-1987), Paul Volcker slayed the inflation dragon that was consuming the American economy and restored the world's faith in central bankers. That extraordinary feat was just one pivotal episode in a decades-long career serving six presidents.

Told with wit, humor, and down-to-earth erudition, the narrative of Volcker's career illuminates the changes that have taken place in American life, government, and the economy since World War II. He vibrantly illustrates the crises he managed alongside the world's leading politicians, central bankers, and financiers. Yet he first found his model for competent and ethical governance in his father, the town manager of Teaneck, NJ, who instilled Volcker's dedication to absolute integrity and his "three verities" of stable prices, sound finance, and good government. Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Banking Government Capitalism Socialism Taxation Central Banking

Critic Reviews

"Paul Volcker is the greatest man I have known. He is endowed to the highest degree with what the Romans called virtus (virtue): moral courage, integrity, sagacity, prudence and devotion to the service of country. This book is more than an account of his life. It is his credo."—--Martin Wolf, Financial Times
"If there were a Nobel Prize for government service, Paul Volcker's name would surely be on the short list...It paints an accurate personal portrait. The picture that emerges is of a man of granitic integrity, committed to what he perceives as wise policies-committed, that is, to what he calls The Verities: stable prices, sound finance, and good government...There are few people like Paul Volcker in the U.S. government today, or in business, for that matter-respected and trusted by everyone, whatever the disagreements, and motivated by public service."—Charles R. Morris, The Atlantic
"Engaging...'Keeping At It' is part autobiography, part monetary history, part plea for the restoration of trust in American political institutions...Humility is one of the charms of both the man and his book."—James Grant, Wall Street Journal
"Arguably the greatest Fed chairman all time, this book is at the top of my list."—Barry Ritholtz, Bloomberg
"Who is the most influential political figure alive? The Queen? Henry Kissinger? Donald Trump, Bill Gates or the Google founder Larry Page? Wrong. It's Paul Volcker. Some of you may not have heard of this 91-year-old American but it is hard to think of another living person who has had more influence on the world today."—Ed Conway, The Times (UK)
"[a] frugal and charming autobiography is filled with illuminating stories from Volcker's seven decades of public service."—Richard N. Cooper, Foreign Affairs
"Never has a message like Paul Volcker's been more important. At a time of deep divisions in this country, his courageous fight for America's financial and economic stability--under six different U.S. presidents--provide a model that should unite us all."—--President Jimmy Carter
"This book is a monument erected by a man who played a key role in the world financial affairs over more than 50 years. Paul Volcker was the only one to master inflation in the early '80s. He devoted himself to public service with exceptional integrity and energy."—--Jacques de Larosiere, advisor to the chairman of BNP ParibasSA, chairman of the strategic committee of Agence France Tresor, and formerdirector of the International Monetary Fund
"Paul Volcker is an American hero who has seen more and done more to shape the world economy than anyone else over the last 50 years. His memoir Keeping at It is a must read."—--Ray Dalio, founder ofBridgewater Associates and author of Principles
All stars
Most relevant
I was somewhat underwhelmed by this autobiography. Having read excellent biographies on Greenspan and Bernanke, and been fascinated by the world they inhabit, I was expecting a really dramatic insight into the drama and intrigue of the Fed chairman who famously defeated the inflation doves. I don't know whether it was Volcker's humility, or his inability for storytelling (probably both) but his whole career seemed to pass very uneventfully within the covers of this book. So by the time I got to the end I was left thinking, "Is that it?"

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