In the Market: The Illustrated History of the Financial Markets (Hardcover)

~ Christopher Finch (Author), John M. Angelo (Preface)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The ever-popular coffee-table book, filled with striking pictures or slick graphics, tends to exalt travel or cooking. But Finch, the best-selling author of The Art of Walt Disney and Highways to Heaven, tries for something different. He takes on the history of humankind as seen through the dealings of people in different marketplaces, whether it is the Athenian "agora" or the New York Stock Exchange. The trajectory of the study goes from 3500 B.C.E. right up to the present. Finch has produced a sumptuous book with a narrative that guides the reader from century to century, accompanied by lavish illustrations and a timeline of historic events. A glossary of financial terms and a section containing short biographies of over 100 famous (or infamous) men and women are also welcome additions. It seems almost churlish to complain about the overabundance of pictures or the lack of footnotes that might have clarified the text, as this is a beautifully designed and written book that will appeal to any business reader. Recommended for larger business collections with plenty of shelf space. Richard Drezen, Washington Post, New York City Bureau

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

The impact of capital markets on every aspect of business and daily life at the dawn of the 21st century--and how those markets have evolved since antiquity--is explored in this sumptuously illustrated volume.

The dynamism of today's international economy and the fascinating history of world markets come together in this unprecedented volume. With its accessible text and exciting visuals, In the Market combines historical understanding and contemporary savvy.

A chronological narrative explains the origins of market economies in the ancient world, tracing the evolution of markets from the Greek agora and medieval fairs to the first joint stock companies, and detailing the rise of today's commodity and financial markets. Accompanying this text are seventeen highly visual features; each is devoted to a type of market transaction, from "cash on the barrelhead" to the most sophisticated speculation in derivatives. These features take the reader from the world of bartering to those of the commodity trader, government finance, and business investments in industries ranging from transportation to entertainment, aerospace, and the Internet. The illustrations emphasize the financial market's practical and profound effects on businesses' and workers' production of goods and services. Also included are one hundred biographies of men and women who have reshaped the international marketplace, from John Jacob Astor to Victoria Claflin Woodhall, in addition to an illustrated timeline of financial history from 2000 B.C. to 2001 A.D.

Other Details:
325 illustrations, 250 in full color. 352 pages. 10 x 12" trim size. Published in 2001.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; 1 edition (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789200147
• ISBN-13: 978-0789200143
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 10.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,104,839 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise but a Big Book, August 22, 2005

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book covers the market in the broadest, widest sense. The authors have collected illustrations on every conceivable market from camel caravans crossing the Sahara to the latest scenes on Wall Street. You don't think of a coffee table picture book as having the world's financial markets as a suitable subject, but that's what this is.

The book goes back a few thousand years and covers the basic development of trade that began in the fertile cresent. Major epochs since then are given chapters. These include the depression, the wars, OPEC and so on.

As big as the book is, 350 pages, 10 x 12 inches and six pounds in weight, I'm reluctant to use the term 'concise history.' But's that's really what it is. The book, both because of its illustrations and it writing is very good, it's enjoyable reading, much better than what you would expect to find in the usual coffee table book.