We read for diversion, we read for knowledge, we read for greater insights into ideas that might be beyond our current grasp, we even read to try to get our minds around events that are swirling around us. The book, "Age of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan combines those things and is a must read for anyone coming to grips with the brutal hole that we have dumped our economy into.
As a person who has been intimately involved in shaping and interpreting every major economic development since the 1950's; Mr. Greenspan is an an absolutely unique position as narrator. Despite the fact that the book is loaded with mountains of Macro Economic jargon it still is entertaining and reads almost as fast as any book that Grisham ever wrote. It is an absolute godsend for any student of political economics who is sick of how absolutely insipid and prosaic most textbooks are.
One of the most informative insights shared was how separate economic and political timing is. For example, Bush Sr. took important but politically questionable actions to help push the economy out of recession. Unfortunately his successor, Mr. Bill, was the one who was around to see those efforts take fruit. It was also interesting but sad to see how we second handedly destroyed our largest budget surplus in history through the bursting of the dot.com bubble, President Bush's stubbornness in not shelving his campaign promises despite of changing circumstances, and Congress and its insatiable desire for pork barrel politics.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a read. Economics have never been more sexy. It is very pertinent and, at the very least, it will make you more interesting at the next coctail party.
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