Reviews
"Utilizing a very long telescope, one that sees back as far as the DarkAges, Fischer investigates the history of price changes to expound on afascinating theory that can possibly foretell nothing less than the furture ofthe United States, whether we're headed for an era of greater prosperity, or acatastrophe like that of the Great Depression.... Economics has been called thedismal science, but Fischer's work offers a cautionary story that is readilyunderstandable and surprisingly compelling to the general reader."--TheHerald, "A bold overview of how ordinary men and women have been protagonists in a drama that was (in retrospect) nothing less than the modernization of economic life."--Civilization, "The breadth and depth of Mr. Fischer's knowledge, his facility withlanguages and his expertise in handling both quantitative and qualitativeevidence exemplify the historian's craft.... He has described the past andpresent in ways that inspire interesting questions and offer novel insights intoour condition. Can a historian make a finer contribution?"--Thomas J.Archdeacon,The New York Times Book Review, "Very persuasive....A major work that deserves the attention of all historians."--Nancy Gordon, Bloomberg Quarterly"This year's best book for investors."--The New York Times Annual Survey of Books in Business and Economics"A powerful piece of historical analysis and ought to become part of everyone's framework of understanding."--New Statesman and Society, "Utilizing a very long telescope, one that sees back as far as the Dark Ages, Fischer investigates the history of price changes to expound on a fascinating theory that can possibly foretell nothing less than the furture of the United States, whether we're headed for an era of greaterprosperity, or a catastrophe like that of the Great Depression.... Economics has been called the dismal science, but Fischer's work offers a cautionary story that is readily understandable and surprisingly compelling to the general reader."--The Herald, "No economist or historian will agree with everything [Fischer] says. Manywill vehemently disagree; but most will learn a great deal."--LexingtonHerald-Leader, "No economist or historian will agree with everything [Fischer] says. Many will vehemently disagree; but most will learn a great deal."--Lexington Herald-Leader, "After reading this superbly written and potentially controversial book,you'll never glare at a price tag in quite the same way again."--San FrancisoExaminer, "The breadth and depth of Mr. Fischer's knowledge, his facility with languages and his expertise in handling both quantitative and qualitative evidence exemplify the historian's craft.... He has described the past and present in ways that inspire interesting questions and offer novel insightsinto our condition. Can a historian make a finer contribution?"--Thomas J. Archdeacon,The New York Times Book Review, "After reading this superbly written and potentially controversial book, you'll never glare at a price tag in quite the same way again."--San Franciso Examiner, "An informative and readable history of price revolutions.... Fischer combines a lively narrative with cogent analysis and sound advice."--Library Journal, "It is rare to find a history book that tells an important story withoutputting you to sleep, especially perhaps if the subject is economic history. ButDavid hackett Fischer's The Great Wave is just such a book, both informative andcompelling."--Stanley W. Angrist, The Wall Street Journal, "The Brandeis historian David Hackett Fischer gives us a brilliant boldanalysis of the relationship between economics--the prices of things--and humanwelfare over 800 years.... All that research, bold assertion, vast scope oflearning, swift writing is simply the product of a historian who, for all of hisseriousness, has a great zest for the craft.... Fischer has, in fact, given usone of our classic American jeremiads."--William S. McFeely, The BostonGlobe, "Very persuasive....A major work that deserves the attention of all historians."--Nancy Gordon, Bloomberg Quarterly "This year's best book for investors."--The New York Times Annual Survey of Books in Business and Economics "A powerful piece of historical analysis and ought to become part of everyone's framework of understanding."--New Statesman and Society, "It is rare to find a history book that tells an important story without putting you to sleep, especially perhaps if the subject is economic history. But David Hackett Fischer's The Great Wave is just such a book, both informative and compelling."--Stanley W. Angrist, The Wall StreetJournal, "Mr. Fischer looks at a thousand years of European history, and documentswith fascinating detail long periods of rising pricees that are accompanied bysocial unheaval and even war, followed by long periods of stable pricesaccompanied by social clam."--Wall Street Journal, "The Brandeis historian David Hackett Fischer gives us a brilliant bold analysis of the relationship between economics--the prices of things--and human welfare over 800 years.... All that research, bold assertion, vast scope of learning, swift writing is simply the product of a historian who,for all of his seriousness, has a great zest for the craft.... Fischer has, in fact, given us one of our classic American jeremiads."--William S. McFeely, The Boston Globe, "An informative and readable history of price revolutions.... Fischercombines a lively narrative with cogent analysis and sound advice."--LibraryJournal, "This year's best book for investors.... too often, historical perspective on Wall Street means going back a decade or two. Mr. Fischer instead traces inflation data from medieval times forward, finding evidence of repreated long patterns of rising prices, followed by long periods ofstability. In the process, he demolishes some theories of what causes inflation."--Floyd Norris, The New York Times, "Mr. Fischer looks at a thousand years of European history, and documents with fascinating detail long periods of rising pricees that are accompanied by social unheaval and even war, followed by long periods of stable prices accompanied by social clam."--Wall Street Journal, "A bold overview of how ordinary men and women have been protagonists in adrama that was (in retrospect) nothing less than the modernization of economiclife."--Civilization, "Very persuasive....A major work that deserves the attention of all historians."--Nancy Gordon,Bloomberg Quarterly "This year's best book for investors."--The New York Times Annual Survey of Books in Business and Economics "A powerful piece of historical analysis and ought to become part of everyone's framework of understanding."--New Statesman and Society, "This year's best book for investors.... too often, historical perspectiveon Wall Street means going back a decade or two. Mr. Fischer instead tracesinflation data from medieval times forward, finding evidence of repreated longpatterns of rising prices, followed by long periods of stability. In theprocess, he demolishes some theories of what causes inflation."--Floyd Norris,The New York Times
