About this title: '...a tour de force...prepare to be amazed' - John C. Bogle, founder and former CEO, The Vanguard Group. A bold new look at the continuing era of prosperity - how we got here, and where we could be headed. Why didn't the Florentines invent the steam engines and flying machines that Da Vinci sketched? What kept the master metallurgists of ancient Rome from discovering electricity? "The Birth of Plenty" takes a fascinating new look at the key conditions that had to be in place before world economic growth - and the technological progress underlying it - could occur, why those pathways are still ...
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Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover; First Printing
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: Near Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. Hardcover. McGraw-Hill, 2004. 1st Edition/1st Printing. Near Fine Book in Near Fine Dust Jacket. Price Intact. Light shelf wear to Book and Jacket. Spine end wear to book & DJ. Overall, a clean and tight copy to add to a collection or read and enjoy. Dust Jacket protected with a new archival cover. Bubble wrapped and shipped promptly in a box. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Date Published: 2004-04-02
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: New. Book is Brand New, Gift condition. Free tracking # included! International buyers are welcome. We ship every business day. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: McGraw-Hill, New York
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. xii, 420 pp., illus., bib. notes, index; 24 cm. AS NEW. Dust jacket protected in a mylar book cover. "Based upon the premise that mankind experienced virtually zero economic growth from the dawn of time until 1820, this provocative, big picture book identifies the four conditions necessary for sustained economic progress--property rights, scientific rationalism, capital markets, and communications and transportation technology--and then analyzes their ... read more
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: Octavo Size. Near Fine copy in Near Fine dustjacket. DJ now protected in plastic sleeve. Illustrated with black and white charts.420 pages. read more
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education(McGraw-Hill Professional)
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: BRAND NEW HARDBACK. 9 by 5.902 inches. A tour de force...prepare to be amazed. --john c. bogle, founder and former ceo, the vanguard group why didn't the florentines invent the steam engines and flying machines that da vinci sketched? what kept the master metallurgists of ancient rome from discovering electricity? the birth of plenty takes a fascinating new look at the key conditions that had to be in place before world economic growth--and the technological progress underlying it--could occur, ... read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover; Third Printing
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: Fine in Fine dust jacket. Hardcover. McGraw-Hill, 2004. 1st Edition/3rd Printing. Fine Book in Fine Dust Jacket. Price Intact. Overall, a clean and tight copy to add to a collection or read and enjoy. Dust Jacket protected with a new archival cover. Bubble wrapped and shipped promptly in a box. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Date Published: 2004-04-02
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: Very Good. *WITHDRAWN LIBRARY COPY* with customary stamps and stickers; No markings in text; Being sold on consignment for the library. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Date Published: 2004-04-02
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: Good. Excellent customer service. May ship from alternate location depending on your zip code and availability. Satisfaction guaranteed! ! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Date Published: 2004-04-02
ISBN-13:9780071421928ISBN:0071421920
Description: Good. Excellent customer service. May ship from alternate location depending on your zip code and availability. Satisfaction guaranteed! ! read more
Description: Please note that deliveries to addresses in the UK and Europe will be in 4-14 business days. Other countries should refer to Alibris standard times.., . "a tour de force...prepare to be amazed. " — John C. Bogle, Founder and Former CEO, The Vanguard Group A bold new look at the continuing era of prosperity— how we got here, and where we could be headed Why didn't the Florentines invent the steam engines and flying machines that Da Vinci sketched? What kept the master metallurgists ... read more
"I enjoyed this book for the thesis it presents -- that the four pillars of wealth creation: (1) Rational/scientific thought process, (2) Private Ownership, (3) Capital Markets, and (4) Speedy communication, were finally aligned for the world to experience a radical trajectory shift in broad based prosperity beginning around 1820 and continuing through the the current day. Bernstein's defense of this theory is interesting to read, and is presented in many cases in chronological and geographical order. My greatest take away from the book was to become acquainted with the enormous foundation laying work in the key pillars that occurred first in the Netherlands and then in England preceding the super explosion of prosperity that then included America's participation."
"In Alma 44, Moroni recognizes God as why the Nephites prevailed over the Lamanites(verse 3); Zerahemnah disagrees and attributes the victory to the Nephites' superior armor (verse 9). Zerahemnah's error was in identifying the how, not the why behind the Nephites' victory.
In this book, Bernstein falls into the same error as Zerahemnah - while he gives a very interesting and possibly fairly accurate account of how prosperity has come about, he completely misses the why (given Chapter 10, he is likely very opposed to recognizing the why). Overall, I thought the book was pretty good and probably pretty close to as good as man can do on his own. I found it well-written and interesting. Much of what he says is convincing, but it misses the foundation (which Bernstein may have recognized, given the title of his final chapter - "When, Where, and Whither" - noticeably absent is "Why"). I did appreciate his recognition that wealth is not happiness and found the insights into relative wealth's effects on happiness accurate and interesting. His recognition that wealth is not happiness and does not create it limits the relevance of the book and was probably delayed till the 10th chapter for that reason, but I think the book is still useful for those with politico/economic interests.
For those of you interested in the why behind the symptoms Bernstein identifies, see President Hinckley's talk, Living in the Fulness of Times in the November 2001 Ensign.
BTW - I had not heard of the experiment involving the monks and electricity discussed on pages 181-82, and that is hilarious."
"The book discusses the era of prosperity. It very narrowly defines the beginning as 1820, which for LDS followers is a significant year. The book is OK, a bit long for the subject it covers. I did like the discussion towards the end on the relative wealth difference based on original country of origin - i.e. those that descended from Great Britain faired substantially better than those from Spain/Portugal."
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