A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II

By: Murray N. Rothbard

Narrated by: Matthew Mezinskis

In what is sure to become the standard account, Rothbard traces inflations, banking panics, and money meltdowns from the colonial period through the mid-20th century to show how government's systematic war on sound money is the hidden force behind nearly all major economic calamities in American history.

Never has the story of money and banking been told with such rhetorical power and theoretical vigor. You will treasure this volume.

From the introduction by Joseph Salerno:

"Rothbard employs the Misesian approach to economic history consistently and dazzlingly throughout the volume to unravel the causes and consequences of events and institutions ranging over the course of US monetary history, from the colonial times through the New Deal era. One of the important benefits of Rothbard's unique approach is that it naturally leads to an account of the development of the US monetary system in terms of a compelling narrative linking human motives and plans that oftentimes are hidden and devious, leading to outcomes that sometimes are tragic. And one will learn much more about monetary history from reading this exciting story than from poring over reams of statistical analysis. Although its five parts were written separately, this volume presents a relatively integrated narrative, with very little overlap, that sweeps across 300 years of US monetary history."

©2005 Ludwig von Mises Institute (P)2010 Ludwig von Mises Institute

A bit puzzling at times

One might question why the House of Morgan seemed so divided at times. Or why credit is bot different to money aka legal tender.

Counter narrative

To anyone schooled in traditional economic history this represents a pretty bracing counter, narrative and alternative history of monetary policy in the United States. You may not agree with all the conclusions, but it’s useful to one’s thinking to be able to read a radically alternative history of events.

A must listen!

If you want to know why things are the way they are with our economy & government then you need to listen to this book. As the saying goes, there is nothing new under the sun.

Must read. History repeats itself...

this is one of those must read books. Rothbard is brilliant and compiles history into an engaging timeline with important implications to our understanding of money and government.

Great history!

I finished reading Rothbard's five volumes of "Conceived in Liberty", and was a little sad that the series ended where it did, at the adoption of the US Constitution. Fortunately, this series picked up in the early US pretty much where that left off, and told the story of US politics up to WWII, from Rothbard's perspective, of course, defending the losers of history that most historians disparage and dismiss, like the Anti-federalists, the Jackson Democrats, and the mono-metalists (as opposed to bi-metalists, who wanted a official/fixed exchange rate between gold and silver, which is economically fated to be problematic via Gresham's law). Excitement awaits-- to learn more, just read this book!

If you haven't read Rothbard's "The Case Against the Fed," you may find it easier to understand this book if you read that one first. (Reading his "Conceived in Liberty" would also help a little, but not everyone has 75 hours to put into reading like that. The Bible is a 76-hour read, if that puts it into perspective.)

Rothbard brings the receipts

Very detailed look at monetary policy leading up to the Fed's takeover of the money supply, highly recommend.

Vocal fry unlistenable

The narrator's vocal fry is distractingly painful.

The content is compelling, but could not finish.

Nazi Germany was a victim?

Gimme a break. Ch 62 it's actually suggested that Germany was a victim? Completely ignores the non economic factors that led to WW2, and suggests that it was in fact caused by Germany attempting to undermine the US UK balance of economic clout, and western aggression against that. Lost me at that point, and makes me call into question, everything said prior.

A lot to take in.

I like the way Rothbard relays the facts. He distinguishes clearly between his analysis and the actual history of money and banking. This book changes my view of the history in general.
About the narration: Very well enunciated at a comfortable speed, given the complexity of the subject. Minor issues with word stress; stressing correct words among groups of words.

Gold is Best

Wonderful synopsis of the fluctuation of currency in the United States. Sad to see the effects of centralization on economics.