AMERICA'S GREAT DEPRESSION

In today's shaky economic times, this authoritative tome—first published in 1964—has discovered newfound credibility and, in this version, narrator Tom Weiner's voice is a key element to the book's magisterial air. The argument is that before the government intervention of the thirties all market shake-ups were short-lived. It was only after the government started printing more money without the gold to back it that things went awry. Called "the Austrian theory," Rothbard's economic vision—which many economists have since echoed—is that the best way for the government to manage a financial catastrophe is to employ a laissez-faire approach. Weiner's voice is almost musical in its bouncing rhythms and resonating clarity. His sterling tone suits the dry prose and complex theories of the book. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]