wamc: : TTBOOK: Money, Debt & Unbridled Capitalism (2009-11-14)

RADIO

TTBOOK: Money, Debt & Unbridled Capitalism

TTBOOK: Money, Debt & Unbridled Capitalism

Liaquat Ahamed draws parallels between the recent financial meltdown and the events that led up to the Great Depression. Woody Tasch touts the benefits of supporting locally produced agriculture and “green” companies. Margaret Atwood says it’s a mistake to think about debt as simply a matter of money. Anne Heller’s biography of Ayn Rand discusses the power of capitalism, and her appeal for young people. Liaquat Ahamed is a longtime hedge fund manager and the author of "Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World." He talks with Steve Paulson about the parallels between the recent financial meltdown and the events that led up to the Great Depression. Both situations involved bubbles, and errors by the Federal Reserve System.

Woody Tasch, chairman emeritus of the Investors' Circle, is the author of "Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms and Fertility Mattered." He talks with Jim Fleming about the benefits of supporting locally produced agriculture and "green" companies.

Margaret Atwood is a celebrated novelist and an astute social critic. Her latest book is called "Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth." She tells Steve Paulson that it's a mistake to think about debt as simply a matter of money. Debt is embedded in our psyche and rife in our literary and religious history.

Ayn Rand died in 1982 but she's going through a revival. Her books "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" still sell hundreds of thousands of copies. "The Fountainhead" also endures on DVD. And now there's a new biography by Anne Heller called "Ayn Rand and the World She Made." Anne Strainchamps talked with Anne Heller about her subject, the power of capitalism, and her appeal for young people.

To the Best of Our Knowledge is an audio magazine of ideas - two hours of smart, entertaining radio for people with curious minds.

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