2024 summer book list

1) Unexpected Revolutionaries by Manuela Moschella

Unexpected Revolutionaries is a must read that offers a nuanced understanding of the complex role of central banks in modern economies. Moschella’s insights are particularly relevant for discussions on the future of neoliberal economic policies and the democratic oversight of monetary policymaking. This book is essential for anyone interested in the intersection of economics, politics and central banking.

Why we liked it: Reading this book greatly aids our work at Positive Money Europe, where every day we work towards a central banking system that is fit to address the 21st century challenges. 

2) Repensons l'économie ! by Eva Smets (Dutch: Kantelen!)

This book links global trends with the experience of innovative individuals from the world of business and research in Belgium. These people are living proof that it is possible to carry out profitable projects that reconcile social and environmental objectives by adopting the donut philosophy.

Why we liked it: Eva Smets’ book draws on both theory and practice in an exploration of how to manage some of Belgium's most critical social and ecological dilemmas.

3) Figures du communisme by Frédéric Lordon

In this essay, French economist and philosopher Frédéric Lordon explains the impossibility of continued human existence under neoliberal capitalism. Faced with a system that destroys both people and the planet, and the repeated failures of social democracy to curb this destructiveness, we have a choice: end capitalism or perish with it. This ending must also mark the beginning of a new society, one founded on human wellbeing and freedom to create, unbound by the tyranny of markets and wage work.

Why we liked it: This book is a stirring call to rethink how we organise our coexistence, both with each other and with our habitat. What is most striking is the utopia it envisions: a world where income is not tied to work, but is a fundamental human right.

4) I bugiardi del clima by Stella Levantesi

This book meticulously investigates climate denialism. It sheds light on the political and economic interests that drive those who deny the climate emergency with the aim of protecting profitable production and consumption practices over the health of the planet and our own future. Levantesi exposes climate denialists’ arguments, tactics and strategies used to create an alternative reality in opposition to scientific evidence.

Why we liked it: This book delves into the shady role played by the fossil fuel lobby and by the politics within the climate denialist machine. Taking readers on a journey through different times and countries, the author helps us grasp the complex relationship between power, politics and the psychology of climate deniers. By shedding light on this phenomenon, the book ultimately provides essential insights into how to address climate denialism.

5) The rise of central banks by Leon Wansleben

This book studies the ascent of central banks’ power and influence in policymaking circles since the 1970s. Leon Wansleben analyses the operations of central banks and their entanglement with the financial sector. He concludes that the rise of the contemporary quintessential inflation-targeting central bank has been driven by the use of finance as an infrastructural vehicle for macroeconomic governance.

Why we liked it: This well-researched book stands out for its multidisciplinary approach. Its focus on the interrelationship between central banks and the financial sector, and how this endows the latter with ‘infrastructural power’, is particularly insightful. Focusing on this relationship to analyse the trajectory of central banking in Western economies during the last 50 years, the book not only offers a very clear picture of how we arrived here, but also provides a requisite framework to understand central banking in the current conjuncture. For anyone aiming to reduce the financial sector's overwhelming influence, this book is an essential read.

6) A political theory of money by Anush Kapadia

This book explores the age old question: what is money? Anush Kapadia investigates the political and institutional foundations of money, arguing that the monetary system is inherently hierarchical, rooted in the interplay between political and economic institutions. Kapadia illustrates his theory through case studies, including cryptocurrencies and the Eurozone.

Why we liked it: Kapadia's book illuminates the intricate relationship between politics and economics in the realm of money. In our quest to reform the money system, it is essential to understand the main tenet of this book: money is underpinned by social formations. Therefore, the reform of our political settlements is a precondition to reform our money system.