A richly original look at the origins of money and how it makes the world go ?round

Niall Ferguson follows the money to tell the human story behind the evolution of our financial system, from its genesis in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest upheavals on what he calls Planet Finance. What?s more, Ferguson reveals financial history as the essential backstory behind all history, arguing that the evolution of credit and debt was as important as any technological innovation in the rise of civilization. As Ferguson traces the crisis from ancient Egypt?s Memphis to today?s Chongqing, he offers bold and compelling new insights into the rise? and fall?of not just money but Western power as well.

Our prediction for global economies and global asset markets heading into the turbulent 2016–2017 period is not meant to be alarmist, or a “Dr Doom” style forecast, but a realistic assessment of the facts around debt, demographics and disinflation, and then an extrapolation from those factors to individual economies and markets. Rather than simply being doomsayers, we intend to pen another book in 2017–2018, to take advantage of the expected undervaluation of global assets and economies that will occur as a result of the next recessionary phase. As such, we like to be contrarians, in both boom and bear cycles. Our strong sense is that the bull cycle that started in 2009, now nearly 7 years old, is slowly maturing. The time to make major asset allocation changes, whether you are a small investor or a major pension fund investor, is now, in advance of the turmoil. We are clear that we expect shares, property and other growth assets to fall by 30–50% in the coming 2 years. Commodities will fall by more than that, and currencies will fall by a fraction less. Either way, some major opportunities are there for the picking. We strongly advise our readers to think outside of the square, challenge consensus, be contrarian, and think for themselves, logically and sensibly. If they do, that is the path not just to profit but importantly to capital preservation in the turbulent years that lie ahead of us.

Winner of the 2015 Moon City Short Fiction Prize

In her debut collection of stories, Laura Hendrix Ezell assembles a harmonious chorus of resilient female voices—many speaking from the margins of their own lives, all contemplating their complicated relationships with the men who influence their trajectories. Set against rural backdrops whose emptiness and isolation hint at constrictive forces rather than wide open spaces, Ezell’s stories capture their characters not only at their most vulnerable and desperate, but also at essential moments of self-discovery, of purposeful recognition of the extenuating circumstances that have shaped their respective fates.

Throughout A Record of Our Debts, Ezell weaves together diverse, distinctive tales with remarkably fluid yet muscular prose that belies the desolate imagery contained within. These are striking, memorable odes to overcoming, though not always in ways that leave the characters whole. These are people who somehow manage to find themselves in the aftermath of loss, who uncover their own modest strengths while surrounded by so much weakness. This is a long, winding road of adolescents forced into prostitution by their own fathers, healers still haunted by the men they could not save, and widows who convert abandoned churches into makeshift diners in the hopes of luring back their husbands’ spirits. In short, this is a powerful exploration of the human spirit at both its best and its worst.

Ezell’s figures extend well off the page, lingering in one’s memory long after the final line. For that, readers owe Ezell a debt of gratitude.

From the author of the international bestseller Debt: The First 5,000 Years comes a revelatory account of the way bureaucracy rules our lives  

Where does the desire for endless rules, regulations, and bureaucracy come from? How did we come to spend so much of our time filling out forms? And is it really a cipher for state violence?
 
To answer these questions, the anthropologist David Graeber—one of our most important and provocative thinkers—traces the peculiar and unexpected ways we relate to bureaucracy today, and reveals how it shapes our lives in ways we may not even notice…though he also suggests that there may be something perversely appealing—even romantic—about bureaucracy.
 
Leaping from the ascendance of right-wing economics to the hidden meanings behind Sherlock Holmes and Batman, The Utopia of Rules is at once a powerful work of social theory in the tradition of Foucault and Marx, and an entertaining reckoning with popular culture that calls to mind Slavoj Zizek at his most accessible.
 
An essential book for our times, The Utopia of Rules is sure to start a million conversations about the institutions that rule over us—and the better, freer world we should, perhaps, begin to imagine for ourselves.

Examine the high yield market for a clear understanding of this evolving asset class

High Yield Debt is the one-stop resource for wealth advisors seeking an in-depth understanding of this misunderstood asset class. The high yield market provides a diverse opportunity set, including fixed and floating rate debt, high and low quality debt issues and both short- and long-term duration; but many fail to understand that not all high yield exposure is the same, and that different market segments and strategies work best at different points in the economic cycle. This guide addresses the confusion surrounding high yield debt. You’ll find the information you need to decide whether or not to buy in to a high yield fund, and how to evaluate the opportunities and risks without getting lost in the jargon.

The U.S. corporate high yield market is worth $2.4 trillion—more than the stock markets of most developed countries. Market growth has increased the number of funds with high yield exposure, as well as the types of debt products available for investment. This book breaks it down into concrete terms, providing the answers advisors need to effectively evaluate the opportunities on offer.

Understand the high yield asset class Learn the debt structures, performance and defaults Evaluate risk and investment opportunities Penetrate the jargon to make sense of high yield investment

Over 300 publicly traded funds provide exposure to U.S. high yield, but despite it’s size and ubiquity, understanding of the asset class as a whole remains somewhat of a rarity—even among participants. A lack of transparency is partially to blame, but the market’s evolution over the past fifteen years is the larger issue. High Yield Debt explains the modern high yield market in real terms, providing a much-needed resource for the savvy investor.

“Rajay Bagaria has written the first book that captures a 360 degree view of the high yield debt market. Whether you are an investor, investment banker, corporate lawyer, CFO or layperson simply trying to gain insights into the fundamentals of high yield debt, this book translates financial and legal concepts, trends and structures of high yield bonds and leveraged loans into a simple, understandable format. Mr. Bagaria’s book is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the new issue or secondary leveraged finance markets.”
—Frank J. Lopez, Co-Head Global Capital Markets, Proskauer

“Bagaria does a great service for both high yield professionals and beginners by providing an accessible, well-written, insightful market primer.”
—Steven Miller, Managing Director, S&P Capital IQ, Leveraged Commentary & Data

“High-Yield Debt – An Insider’s Guide to the Marketplace is a comprehensive book that provides an in-depth understanding of the history, growth, basics and details of high-debt and the high-yield market. The author gives insights that only an experienced professional can provide. The book will be invaluable to readers both starting out and knowledgeable about an important segment of corporate finance, dealing with concepts, structures and performance.”
—Arthur Kaufman, Retired Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP / Member of Adjunct Faculty, Columbia Law School

Do debt: Pay as we go use cash and debit cards rather than credit cards. Live without debt. No delinquencies: Pay bills on time avoid late payments and late fees. No deficits: Live below our means spend less than we earn. My goal is that you will discover more about yourself than you do about money by the time you complete this experience. That is why I call it the dfree® lifestyle. I never learned to manage money. What I did learn was to manage my life and then use money to reach my goals. That is what this workbook is designed to help you accomplish also. Our motto is Say Yes to No Debt. Our foundational Bible verse is Proverbs 22:7 (NIV): The rich rule over the poor; and the borrower is slave to the lender. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.

A “New York Times”-bestselling author–and one of the most controversial men in corporate America–blows the lid off the banking and credit card industries.

Strategies and tools to live debt free

The world of borrowing and debt management has changed dramatically, leaving people confused about how best to secure their financial future. This book is the only guide with detailed advice to help you become debt free or master the debt you have, based on the latest laws and new government programs and policies implemented under the Obama administration.

Is the information and advice on debt management different than in years past? Definitely. In this savvy, engaging guide, bestselling financial expert Jordan Goodman will tell you how to

Win the mortgage game: avoid foreclosure, obtain the best refi, and modify your mortgage even if it is “under water” Clean up your credit report and dramatically boost your credit score Negotiate new terms and payments for burdensome medical bills, student loans, and credit cards Protect yourself from the devastation of identity theft Master the new credit card rules, and avoid the rate and fee traps Learn a revolutionary strategy that will help you become mortgage free in 5 to 7 years, change the way you pay all your bills, and save hundreds of thousands of dollars

Master Your Debt recommends many pioneering strategies as it lays out an innovative plan for achieving the elusive goal of financial success. The book is filled with helpful web sites, toll free numbers, associations and government agencies, and vetted companies and services to help you implement this advice. In today’s volatile economy, getting out of debt is the key to surviving and thriving, and author Jordan Goodman provides you with the strategies and tools to live debt free.

Debt is just like cholesterol. Too much of the wrong kind can kill you. But too little of the right kind can be a problem too.

Just as not all kinds of fat are equally bad for your health, not all kinds of debt are equally bad for your wealth.

Jon Hanson learned about debt the hard way, barely surviving his own “near-debt experience.” Now he can help you avoid the same fate. Good Debt, Bad Debt doesnÂ’t offer quick-fix solutions. This isnÂ’t optimistic taffy to soothe your ego. ItÂ’s about embracing the reality of where you are financially and working to improve your position. Hanson explains that “debt takes more than your money. It takes your freedom, time, peace of mind, and opportunities. Debt makes cowards of us all.”

Good Debt, Bad Debt concentrates on what you can do using your present income. It blends personal stories, research, history, and humor to build the argument for living life with a plan, instead of allowing yourself to be controlled by your emotions and impulse spending. With a new chapter on debt warfare, Jon Hanson will bring you out of the financial trenches and show you how to wage war against the most difficult personal economic pitfalls.

Product Features

• Used Book in Good Condition

No Matter Where You Start, David Bach Can Help You Live and Finish Rich

With his national bestsellers Smart Women Finish Rich and Smart Couples Finish Rich, renowned financial advisor and educator David Bach has taught millions of people of all ages and incomes how to take control of their financial future. His message, that the key to building wealth is “values first, stuff second,” has inspired people all over the world. Now, The Finish Rich Workbook gives couples and singles alike a new opportunity to tailor his advice for their individual circumstances. Combining the down-to-earth, jargon-free approach that has made him so popular with the hands-on practicality of a workbook, this new addition to the Finish Rich series is like having a one-on-one session with David Bach. You will learn how to:

• Use the power of the Latte Factor™, David Bach’s international recognized approach to building wealth on a few dollars a day.

• Apply the Debt Free SolutionTM, a powerful way to reduce debt quickly and repair your credit in the process.

• Organize your financial life in minutes with the FinishRich Inventory Planner™ and File Folder system, including a pull-out summary of where you stand financially.

• Craft a personalized FinishRich QuickStart™ plan–a to-do list for today, this month, and this year, so you can get started right away.

• Find the perfect financial advisor by using the FinishRich Advisor Questionaire™ to find, interview, screen, and score an advisor before you hire them.

Whether you’re working with a few dollars a week or quite a bit more, Bach’s nine-step program will help you put the Finish Rich wisdom right to work for you.