Yellen

The Trailblazing Economist Who Navigated an Era of Upheaval

By: Jon Hilsenrath

Narrated by: Jon Hilsenrath, Seth Podowitz

“A vivid portrait of an exceptional woman and a lively history of the economic and financial crises that helped make the treasury secretary and former Fed chair who she is today.” —Sylvia Nasar, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Beautiful Mind

“Captivating. . . . Part biography, part history of ideas, the book provides a fascinating window into the ways thinking on economic policy has evolved in the last 25 years. . . . A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the current economic challenges we face.” —Liaquat Ahamed, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lords of Finance

An engrossing and deeply human chronicle of the past fifty years of American economic and social upheaval, viewed through the consequential life of the most powerful woman in American economic history, Janet Yellen, and her unconventional partnership in marriage and work with Nobel Laureate George Akerlof.

At the dawn of the 21st century, many of America’s leaders believed that free trade, modern finance, technology, and wise government policy had paved the way for a new era of prosperity. Then came a cascade of disasters—a bursting tech bubble, domestic terror attacks, a housing market implosion, a financial system crisis, a deadly global pandemic. These events led to serial recessions, deepened America’s political fractures and widened the divide between those best off and everyone else.

Award-winning economics writer Jon Hilsenrath examines what happened, viewing events through the experiences of two historic figures: Janet Yellen was Treasury Secretary, Federal Reserve Chairwoman and Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Her husband, George Akerlof, was an imaginative Nobel prize–winning economist.

Long before the upheaval of the past two decades, Akerlof warned of flaws in modern economic thinking; then Yellen had to fix the economy on the fly as it cracked.

In telling their story, Hilsenrath explores long-running intellectual battles over the fragile balance between unruly democratic government and unpredictable markets. He introduces readers to the cast of modern intellectuals and policy makers who deciphered, shaped, and steered these systems through prosperity, chaos, and reformation. And he explains what went wrong, why, and what might happen next.

What emerges is an absorbing examination of how humans think and behave, and how those actions shape markets, inform economic policy, and could determine the future of a now-deeply divided nation.

Hilsenrath reminds us that economics is neither science nor ideology, as some once wished or promised.

Economics is an endeavor.

Most good love stories are, too.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Jon Hilsenrath (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Objective Review of the financial Crisis & the Present

A very interesting story about the major economists who guided our economy through the financial crisis of 2008 through our present times.
This book gave me a deeper understanding of our our countries political divide and the need to find common ground.

Good Overview of Yellen

This book is a good overview of Janet Yellen’s career and life. Secretary Yellen will be an important part of US history.

I thought I knew, now I am deeply impressed!

A clear, well written, easy to follow guide to the life and work of Yellen! I am so glad I chose this book to help me understand what she means to our country and the world!

terrific economic narrative book

I loved this book and the honest good hearted people portrayed. of course the star is Janet Yellen . it gives faith in people and perhaps the economy.

History and Economics

If you like history and economics, this book is right up your alley. Those two subjects can be dry, but this narrative held my attention.

Better than title, esp the later chapters

Lots of delightful detail throughout, but this story really works later when it backs in to Leaning In IRL.

Some low key palace intrigue for folks who like that, and some front row stuff on the last 20 years of econ policy, but the novel value add here is the family story, which goes from what feels like a clunky editor’s ask I. The first 2/3 of the book to a really clean through line in the last few chapters. The family story is well developed but may not be perfectly self contained. If you’re familiar with Yellen’s academic career and her closest coauthor, there’s a lot of interesting texture here that you won’t find elsewhere, and it’s v rewarding to read.

Genuine and insightful

This is an insightful analysis not only of Yellen’s career and family but also of the last decades of the US and global economy. I have recommended this book to family and friends who seek to better understand how the economy works and the challenges it faces. Author has done and outstanding job in conveying complex subjects in clear and interesting ways. Well done!

Very good, covers a wide range of economic events and their protagonists

I really enjoy this book, it is informational and well written. A good time. It provides a good insight into Yellen the economists, the person, and the wife of another famed economists, nobel prize winner George Akerlof. Perhaps more importantly the books describes Yellen's experiences as she sat amidst highly influential economists during some of the most important academic debates and economic events in her lifetime. Friedman, Tobin (Yellen's Doctoral advisor at Yale), Samuelson, Bernanke, Larry Summers, Solow are a few examples of the economists that cross paths with Yellen in some way. The book is more a narrative of the events than analytical, though it maintains a pleasant balance between the narrative and the depth of detail it covers.

Historical, factual, informative and interesting.

Historical, factual, informative and interesting. I would recommend this book although it took a while to get into it.

Must read

An honest account of how the most significant decisions impacting our lives are made, not by the dark backroom stabbing and plotting of some degenerated capitalists but by the hard work and the best intentions of true public servants of this great nation. What an inspiring tale of love, determination, discipline, and an unyielding quest for the betterment of life for others. She must be given the highest medal of honor, for she has done what is humanly possible to make a difference in the lives of others— a true heroine.