Business book recommendation: ‘The Ascent of Money,’ by Niall Ferguson

Published 8:18 pm Tuesday, December 15, 2009

“The Ascent of Money,” by Niall Ferguson.

Recommended by James McCusker, a Bothell economist, educator and consultant who also writes for the Herald and the Snohomish County Business Journal.

“Books make great gifts, and this is one on my ‘don’t miss’ list. Niall Ferguson’s ‘The Ascent of Money’ (Penguin Books) is an insightful and thoroughly readable account of how money and finance have played a key role in history. For business people especially, his account of how — and why — New World gold proved indigestible to Spain’s economy is worth the price of the book by itself. The lesson in it applies to every business opportunity that has ever come our way. The book would make a great gift for yourself, too, for it is now out in a paperback edition.”