Theodore R Aronson

In the last 250 years, the world has gone from poor to rich, sick to healthy, and isolated to connected. How did we get here, and why do some seemingly intractable problems remain? What are the best ways forward? What do the best minds in fields as diverse as economics, social thought, progress studies, and investment management have to say about these questions? In his second book of essays, book reviews, interviews, and other writings, Laurence B. Siegel, author of Fewer, Richer, Greener and Unknown Knowns (to which this book is a sequel), provides a window into some of the greatest minds in these fields, including Steven Pinker, Henry Kissinger, Michael Lewis, Malcolm Gladwell, and Harry Markowitz. Topics include: - Progress, growth, and productivity- Investing and finance- Technology and innovation - Policy and governance, and- Provocative takes on the big questions in economics, investing, human flourishing, and public affairs.Filled with stories, anecdotes, personalities, and vivid graphics, and conveyed with a sense of humor, this book provides refreshing and useful perspectives on the mysteries of economics, investing, and human progress.

In the last 250 years the world has gone from poor to rich, sick to healthy, and isolated to connected. We still face many problems, but we are constantly discovering new ways to solve them. Investment returns have also reflected these improvements, and have rewarded patient investors for providing the capital needed to achieve this progress.Yet we seem to have arrived in this place without much of an idea of how we did it, and many are uncertain about whether the future will be worth living in. In Unknown Knowns, Laurence B. Siegel, author of Fewer, Richer, Greener, shows why the future will be even better than the past. In addition, reflecting on his career as an investment manager, Siegel presents practical advice for investors, based on a solid grounding in economics.This book consists of articles, book reviews, and interviews, many written with Siegel's valued co-authors. The book reviews and interviews provide a window into some of the greatest minds in economics and investment management, including Jack Bogle, Mohamed A. El-Erian, Paul Volcker, and Nassim Taleb. The articles unravel some of the greatest mysteries that now confront us, from the retirement and pension crisis to the future of democracy and liberalism.Some of the ground covered includes: Progress, growth, and productivityInvesting and financeSavings and retirementMonetary policy and inflationPolicy and governance, andProvocative takes on the big questions in economics, social science, and human affairs.Filled with stories, anecdotes, personalities, and data, this book provides refreshing and useful perspectives. It can help you grasp some of the wrenching changes of the last decade and anticipate those to come, leading you more deeply into the fields of economics, investing, and progress - all conveyed with a sense of humor and an appreciation for the folly as well as the wisdom that surrounds us.

An intriguing look at how technology is changing financial markets, from an innovator on the frontlines of this revolution Nerds on Wall Street tells the tale of the ongoing technological transformation of the world's financial markets. The impact of technology on investing is profound, and author David Leinweber provides readers with an overview of where we were just a few short years ago, and where we are going. Being a successful investor today and tomorrow--individual or institutional--involves more than stock picking, asset allocation, or market timing: it involves technology. And Leinweber helps readers go beyond the numbers to see exactly how this technology has become more responsible for managing modern markets. In essence, the financial game has changed and will continue to change due entirely to technology. The new "players," human or otherwise, offer investors opportunities and dangers. With this intriguing and entertaining book, Leinweber shows where technology on Wall Street has been, what it has meant, and how it will impact the markets of tomorrow.