-
Thinking about Capitalism
- Narrated by: Jerry Z. Muller
- Length: 18 hrs and 36 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $41.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Modern Economic Issues
- By: Robert Whaples, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Whaples
- Length: 19 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gross domestic product. Health insurance. Soaring energy prices. Major economic issues dominate today's news, but how do these issues impact the average citizen? This primer in 21st-century economics for the non-economist surveys today's most urgent economic issues that affect both global events and our everyday lives.You'll learn what economics has to say about making the decisions - big or small - that affect our daily lives.
-
-
Great intro, but outdated.
- By Jeffrey on 12-23-14
By: Robert Whaples, and others
-
Crashes and Crises: Lessons from a History of Financial Disasters
- By: Connel Fullenkamp, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Connel Fullenkamp
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professor Connel Fullenkamp of Duke University guides listeners through four centuries of economic disasters - from tulip mania in the 1600s to the Great Recession of 2007-2009. Each of his 24 lectures covers a notable incident of financial misfortune or folly that is worthy of a Hollywood thriller.
-
-
BEST explainer out there hits a new high level
- By Philo on 09-22-18
By: Connel Fullenkamp, and others
-
Capitalism vs. Socialism: Comparing Economic Systems
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Edward F. Stuart PhD
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since we produced our course Thinking About Capitalism, customers have expressed interest in a follow-up course that could help them understand socialism in the same way. After much consideration, we determined that it actually would be more beneficial to create a course that compares and contrasts the two major global economic theories, examining them in ways that move past the polemics many of us are used to and looking at these systems as they relate to one another and the world at large.
-
-
A biased view of economics.
- By David S. Westby on 09-03-19
-
The Conservative Tradition
- By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt
- Length: 18 hrs and 20 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A thorough understanding of Conservatism's lineage, principles, and impact on history is essential to making sense of the 21st-century political dialogue-a dialogue that consumes the television you watch, the newspapers you read, and the radio you listen to.No matter where you place yourself on the ideological spectrum, these 36 lectures will intrigue you, engage you, and maybe even provoke you to think about this political philosophy in an entirely new way.
-
-
Another gem by Prof. Allitt & The Great Courses
- By Quaker on 07-12-14
By: Patrick N. Allitt, and others
-
An Introduction to Greek Philosophy
- By: David Roochnik, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Roochnik
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than 2,500 years later, the fundamental questions asked by the ancient Greeks continue to challenge, fascinate, and instruct us. Is reality stable and permanent or is it always changing? Are ethical values like justice and courage relative? What is justice? What is happiness? How shall we best live our lives?In this series of 24 lectures, Professor Roochnik invites you to join this eternal discussion.
-
-
Gave me much needed contrasts and comparison
- By Gary on 07-01-16
By: David Roochnik, and others
-
Philosophy of Science
- By: Jeffrey L. Kasser, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jeffrey L. Kasser
- Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What makes science science? Why is science so successful? How do we distinguish science from pseudoscience? This exciting inquiry into the vigorous debate over the nature of science covers important philosophers such as Karl Popper, W. V. Quine, Thomas Kuhn, Paul Feyerabend, Imre Lakatos, Carl Hempel, Nelson Goodman, and Bas van Fraassen.
-
-
Apogee of enjoyable intellectual density
- By jms68 on 10-27-14
By: Jeffrey L. Kasser, and others
-
Modern Economic Issues
- By: Robert Whaples, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Whaples
- Length: 19 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gross domestic product. Health insurance. Soaring energy prices. Major economic issues dominate today's news, but how do these issues impact the average citizen? This primer in 21st-century economics for the non-economist surveys today's most urgent economic issues that affect both global events and our everyday lives.You'll learn what economics has to say about making the decisions - big or small - that affect our daily lives.
-
-
Great intro, but outdated.
- By Jeffrey on 12-23-14
By: Robert Whaples, and others
-
Crashes and Crises: Lessons from a History of Financial Disasters
- By: Connel Fullenkamp, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Connel Fullenkamp
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Professor Connel Fullenkamp of Duke University guides listeners through four centuries of economic disasters - from tulip mania in the 1600s to the Great Recession of 2007-2009. Each of his 24 lectures covers a notable incident of financial misfortune or folly that is worthy of a Hollywood thriller.
-
-
BEST explainer out there hits a new high level
- By Philo on 09-22-18
By: Connel Fullenkamp, and others
-
Capitalism vs. Socialism: Comparing Economic Systems
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Edward F. Stuart PhD
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since we produced our course Thinking About Capitalism, customers have expressed interest in a follow-up course that could help them understand socialism in the same way. After much consideration, we determined that it actually would be more beneficial to create a course that compares and contrasts the two major global economic theories, examining them in ways that move past the polemics many of us are used to and looking at these systems as they relate to one another and the world at large.
-
-
A biased view of economics.
- By David S. Westby on 09-03-19
-
The Conservative Tradition
- By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt
- Length: 18 hrs and 20 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A thorough understanding of Conservatism's lineage, principles, and impact on history is essential to making sense of the 21st-century political dialogue-a dialogue that consumes the television you watch, the newspapers you read, and the radio you listen to.No matter where you place yourself on the ideological spectrum, these 36 lectures will intrigue you, engage you, and maybe even provoke you to think about this political philosophy in an entirely new way.
-
-
Another gem by Prof. Allitt & The Great Courses
- By Quaker on 07-12-14
By: Patrick N. Allitt, and others
-
An Introduction to Greek Philosophy
- By: David Roochnik, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Roochnik
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than 2,500 years later, the fundamental questions asked by the ancient Greeks continue to challenge, fascinate, and instruct us. Is reality stable and permanent or is it always changing? Are ethical values like justice and courage relative? What is justice? What is happiness? How shall we best live our lives?In this series of 24 lectures, Professor Roochnik invites you to join this eternal discussion.
-
-
Gave me much needed contrasts and comparison
- By Gary on 07-01-16
By: David Roochnik, and others
-
Philosophy of Science
- By: Jeffrey L. Kasser, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jeffrey L. Kasser
- Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What makes science science? Why is science so successful? How do we distinguish science from pseudoscience? This exciting inquiry into the vigorous debate over the nature of science covers important philosophers such as Karl Popper, W. V. Quine, Thomas Kuhn, Paul Feyerabend, Imre Lakatos, Carl Hempel, Nelson Goodman, and Bas van Fraassen.
-
-
Apogee of enjoyable intellectual density
- By jms68 on 10-27-14
By: Jeffrey L. Kasser, and others
-
Theories of Human Development
- By: Malcolm W. Watson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Malcolm W. Watson
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In these 24 lectures, probe the field of "human development"; the science that studies how we learn and develop psychologically, from birth to the end of life. This very young science not only enables us to understand children and help them develop optimally, but also gives us profound insights into who we are as adults. Professor Watson introduces you to the six theories that have had perhaps the greatest influence on this field
-
-
A basic first year course in human development
- By A on 02-10-14
By: Malcolm W. Watson, and others
-
Origins of Life
- By: Robert M. Hazen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert M. Hazen
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four billion years ago, the infant Earth was a seething cauldron of erupting volcanoes, raining meteors, and hot noxious gases, totally devoid of life. But a relatively short time later-only 100 million to 200 million years-the planet was teeming with primitive organisms.What happened? Now you can find out-in a series of 24 vibrant lectures from a leader of the NASA-supported team studying the origins of life in the universe and also one of the nation's foremost science educators.
-
-
An Excellent Lecture of Life's Origins
- By Kevin on 07-06-15
By: Robert M. Hazen, and others
-
A History of Freedom
- By: Rufus J. Fears, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Rufus J. Fears
- Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It can be argued that one simple idea-the concept of freedom-has been the driving force of Western civilization and may be the most influential intellectual force the world has ever known. But what is freedom, exactly? These 36 engaging lectures tell the dramatic story of freedom from ancient Greece to our own day, exploring a concept so close to us we may never have considered it with the thoroughness it deserves.
-
-
Fantastic listen
- By Tom on 02-13-17
By: Rufus J. Fears, and others
-
Privacy, Property, and Free Speech: Law and the Constitution in the 21st Century
- By: Jeffrey Rosen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Rosen
- Length: 12 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Although the courts have struggled to balance the interests of individuals, businesses, and law enforcement, the proliferation of intrusive new technologies puts many of our presumed freedoms in legal limbo. For instance, it's not hard to envision a day when websites such as Facebook or Google Maps introduce a feature that allows real-time tracking of anyone you want, based on face-recognition software and ubiquitous live video feeds.
-
-
Humanist, socialist perspective on law
- By Ted C. on 10-28-19
By: Jeffrey Rosen, and others
-
Philosophy of Mind: Brains, Consciousness, and Thinking Machines
- By: Patrick Grim, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick Grim
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The quest to understand the mind has motivated some of history's most profound thinkers. But only in our own time are we beginning to see the true complexity of this quest, as today's philosophers draw on the latest evidence from neuroscience, psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, and other fields to probe deeply into the inner workings of the mind.
-
-
Stellar Course!
- By Douglas on 08-25-13
By: Patrick Grim, and others
-
Understanding Investments
- By: Connel Fullenkamp, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Connel Fullenkamp
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Learn how to invest with skill and confidence to attain your financial goals with the 24 timely and informative lectures of Understanding Investments. Economist, Professor Connel Fullenkamp explains the fundamentals of investing to those new to the subject while broadening and deepening the knowledge of more experienced investors. He clearly explains the various kinds of financial markets, the different kinds of investments available to you, and the pros and cons of each - and tells you how to evaluate each of these in terms of your own financial situation and goals.
-
-
Terrible book for audio only.
- By GOFFER on 03-31-20
By: Connel Fullenkamp, and others
-
Mind-Body Philosophy
- By: Patrick Grim, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick Grim
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How is it that our brain creates all the subjective experiences of our lives every single day - the experiences we call reality? That is the mind-body problem. In Mind-Body Philosophy, Professor Patrick Grim of the State University of New York at Stony Brook leads an intellectually exhilarating tour through millennia of philosophy and science addressing one of life's greatest conundrums. But you won't just be a spectator as Dr. Grim engages and encourages each of us to come to our own conclusions.
-
-
Heavy on neuroscience, light on philosophy.
- By Spencer on 06-24-19
By: Patrick Grim, and others
-
The Secret Life of Words: English Words and Their Origins
- By: Anne Curzan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Anne Curzan
- Length: 18 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From new words such as "bling" and "email" to the role of text messaging and other electronic communications, English is changing all around us. Discover the secrets behind the words in our everyday lexicon with this delightful, informative survey of English, from its Germanic origins to the rise of globalization and cyber-communications. Professor Curzan approaches words like an archaeologist, digging below the surface to uncover the story of words, from the humble "she" to such SAT words as "conflagration" and "pedimanous."
-
-
Spoiled by politically correct agenda
- By Slim on 08-31-16
By: Anne Curzan, and others
-
The Development of European Civilization
- By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kenneth R. Bartlett
- Length: 24 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In almost every way that matters, historical Europe was the laboratory in which the world you now live in was conceived and tested. And you'll be living with the consequences for the rest of your life. These 48 lectures lead you through the doors of that laboratory and guide you through the development of Europe from the late Middle Ages through the eve of World War II.
-
-
To sum up; Globalism Good - Nationalism Bad
- By Oliver Murray on 02-13-20
By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, and others
-
Understanding Economics
- Game Theory
- By: Jay R. Corrigan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jay R. Corrigan
- Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Game theory is the study of strategic decision-making in politics, sports, diplomacy, and a host of other areas, but especially in economics, where game theory flourishes. Understanding Economics: Game Theory introduces you to this fascinating field, which combines the fun and challenge of games with the logic of brain teasers. In 12 engaging half-hour lessons, Professor Jay R. Corrigan of Kenyon College analyzes such classic games as the prisoner’s dilemma and the hawk-dove game.
-
-
The best entry point I've seen for game theory
- By Philo on 04-24-21
By: Jay R. Corrigan, and others
-
Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures
- By: Mark Berkson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark Berkson
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After thousands of years of pondering it, we still find death one of life's most perplexing mysteries. Many cultures view death as a window into the true meaning of life. These 24 lectures looking at this often feared subject are an uplifting, meaningful, and multidisciplinary exploration of life's only certainty.
-
-
Everything about death and dying you want to know
- By Jacobus on 03-23-16
By: Mark Berkson, and others
-
The American Identity
- By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt
- Length: 24 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What defines an American? Is it the love of liberty, the pursuit of justice, the urge to invent, the desire for wealth, the drive to explore, the quest for spiritual values? The paradox of American identity is that although the United States is a melting pot of many different traditions, motives, and ideals, there are nevertheless distinctive qualities that define the American character.
-
-
Endlessly Fascinating and Entertaining Stories
- By Quaker on 01-23-14
By: Patrick N. Allitt, and others
Publisher's Summary
In these 36 engaging lectures, Professor Muller takes you deep inside the perspectives on this most important and pervasive force. You'll gain fresh insights that will strengthen your understanding of capitalism's rich history, its fascinating proponents and opponents, and its startling impact on our world.
These lectures take you beyond economic analysis to look at how some of the greatest intellects have thought about capitalism and its moral, political, and cultural ramifications. Covering capitalism from its 17th-century beginnings to today's era of globalization, Professor Muller explores some wide-ranging questions. What effect does capitalism have on personal development? What about the seemingly unending variety of consumer goods made possible by capitalism? Do the facts support our tendency to think about capitalism as the economic system practiced in "free" countries? Or can capitalism exist in a wide variety of political systems? These are just a few of the many provocative and absorbing questions and issues you'll untangle here.
By placing capitalism in its full societal context, these lectures will enhance your ability to consider, discuss, and answer these and other critical questions - whatever your point of view. Genial and disarming, Professor Muller connects the dots from idea to idea, thinker to thinker, and helps you finally grasp the history and the concepts of this vital economic system, as well as its importance on the global economic stage and in your own life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about Thinking about Capitalism
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jake
- 06-21-14
A great intellectual historical look at capitalism
Professor Muller exquisitely weaves the historical dialectic between the eminent thinkers of capitalism with the contexts surrounding it. He evenhandedly addresses each thinker and elucidates why each one was so influential. You will come away with a more nuanced view of capitalism after listening to this course. Leftists will move right and rightists will move left. Prof. Muller constantly intrigues with his knack for storytelling and explication of ideas, never allowing for a boring moment. Highly recommended.
17 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sakari Nurmikko
- 12-09-16
Excellent.
Profoundly interesting storytelling not only about capitalism but also history itself. I have started listening to this for the third time now. Filled with substance.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christopher
- 07-13-15
Dazzling and Essential
This course is a juggernaut. Every chapter feels like a precious jewel has been revealed. The professor is a whirlwind and is able to delicately weave complex themes together. The substance and lessons of this course are indispensable to understanding the world we leave in, historically, politically, economically, culturally, philosophically, etc.
Bravo, a hundred times.
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tim F
- 01-05-19
The best introduction to capitalism one could hope for!
I came at this book with almost no background in economics and understood near perfectly what the professor was putting across. Just wished I had such an engaging mentor during my school days.
If you’ve ever wondered whether capitalism is the culprit behind all the “instability” in the developed world today, there are answers here, though not direct or easy ones. If you think you’d be better off with communism or socialism, you most definitely won’t, and that’s explained here, too.
And if you’re thinking of spending a credit on this title to learn something new that isn’t in the least bit related to your current job or course of studies, you’re a happy participant and beneficiary of this imperfect but thus far unmatched economic system. Heck, you may even proudly call yourself a Capitalist! Who knew?
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- D. Park
- 08-07-18
A terrific tour of the ideas behind capitalism
This one of the best great courses I've listened to. The Professor surveys how different people at different times and places have thought about trade and property, starting from the end of the middle ages up through the modern welfare state. Each lecture is devoted to an individual thinker. Some highlights include Friedrich Hayek, Joseph Schumpeter, Karl Marx, and the incomparable Adam Smith. If you're interested in how and why economies work the way they do and the effects of our economic systems on individual lives, this course is for you. Five stars.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- CHET YARBROUGH
- 03-31-19
CAPITALIST SELF-INTEREST
Professor Muller offers an interesting and insightful defense of capitalism. Jerry Muller’s “Thinking about Capitalism” is an historical account of economic theory.
Muller notes that capitalism is pummeled by many anecdotes of history. Muller does not deny the excesses of capitalism, but Muller suggests societal benefits from capitalism far exceed its detriments. He explores market, command, and mixed economic systems. In his journey through the history of economic systems, capitalism shines brightest.
Muller argues capitalism’s storied failures distort its multifaceted values. In the “Wealth of Nations”, a seminal work on capitalism, Adam Smith clearly explains the value of a capitalist (market) economic system is based on self-interest. Muller notes Smith’s use of the term self-interest is often misinterpreted by the public as greed.
Self-interest comes in many forms. One person’s self-interest may be altruistic in helping others to feel better about themselves. Another person’s self-interest may be to increase personal wealth to improve their family’s standard of living. Smith’s definition of self-interest is founded on virtue; i.e. behavior based on high moral values. The fundamental point is that everyone’s self-interest is a motivation that is ungoverned by an outside force. Self-interest is a part of human nature.
Fundamentally, Muller infers no modern economic system is better than capitalism. One draws that inference by Muller’s cogent explanation of the value of capitalist self-interest. Because Adam Smith’s concept of self-interest is an inborn characteristic of human nature, it will prevail over any economic system that requires command control. America has been a successful capitalist country in great part because of checks and balances that mitigate command control qualities of mixed economies. Hobbes assessment of human nature demands some level of command control; even in a capitalist economy.
One might argue that America’s avoidance of near economic collapse in 2008 is evidence of the importance of a mixed economic theory. (Interestingly, a December 18, 2018 “…Economist” article, written by Schumpeter, notes that China’s communist party control of businesses during Trump’s trade war have fared better than private businesses.)
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Guillaume
- 10-06-17
This book... was really ha.... rd to listen.... to
Poor performance from narator. Odd ponctuation and stops. Read really slowly, had to put it on 1.5X in order to make it listenable in between wierd pause. Good content, bad narator
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Nancy G.
- 10-14-14
Fantastic
If you could sum up Thinking about Capitalism in three words, what would they be?
Clear concise survey
What was one of the most memorable moments of Thinking about Capitalism?
Overview of Smith, Burke and Voltaire
What does Professor Jerry Z. Muller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Anticipation-- economics can be wearisome but the narration made it come alive
What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?
How poignant Marx and Marcuse can appear-- if you take them out of context.
Any additional comments?
I intend on listening to this lecture several times. I wish there was companion material
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sam Motes
- 08-01-13
Deep look at Capitalistc thinking
Digs beneath the usually invoked capitalistic thinkers of Smith and Marx to other intellectuals over the years who have added to the dialogue of talking about Capitalism. The lectures also go beyond the economic and political impacts to discussions on the impact on family dynamics.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- GBecker
- 07-14-17
Worthwhile
Balanced and worthwhile. I highly recommend. Professor Muller is fantastic. Listen to it on 1.10x speed though.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paulo Abelha Ferreira
- 05-25-17
Illuminating
Prof. Muller is incredible at illuminating past thinkers' ideas about Capitalism.
This is really a course about how great thinkers have though about Capitalism.
I could not recommend it more.
Amazing
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Victor Gil López
- 03-19-16
Just a bit too much on th right for my taste
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Depnding on what they are looking for. The author talks about the points of view of many clasic phylosophers and economists about capitalism but avoids dealing with contemporary issues I was more interested on like the inestability of the financial sector or how capitalism affects climate change. In my opinion the author is a bit too much on the right for my own taste.
Would you be willing to try another book from The Great Courses? Why or why not?
Yes, I listened to some before and I will do so in the future, possibly not in economics though.
What does Professor Jerry Z. Muller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Nothing, this isn't conceived as a book but a series of lectures so it wouldn't work in any other way.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Not much, it's quite factual.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- D. J. Wilkinson
- 01-03-15
Brilliant tour of the thinking
A thought provoking course, which has completely changed the way I think about capitalism, what it is, what it does and the effects it has on us.
Highly recommended.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 01-21-19
Great
Loved it, it was really engaging and just flew by. It could benefit a bit from some modern theory, development or an analysis of the financial crisis, as it seemed to go up to thinking in the 70's (although it was more modern in developmental economics)
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Rob
- 09-05-17
Absorbing and Informative
This series of lectures gave me exactly what I was looking for, a broad introduction to the history and philosophy of capitalism. Highly recommended for any looking to build a foundation of understanding from which to explore.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Karol
- 06-03-17
The best on Great Courses
This is my favourite course in the great courses series. I've listened to it two times from start to finish and use it as reference for my essays very often. It's absolutely essential for everyone interested in the topic of international political economy.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 10-09-16
Great book!
Amazing review of the current economic system, it's social and philosophical footings and how was evolved the last 500 years. It tends to be rather soft to its critic on the negative implications to civilisation.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- D. J. Pritchard
- 01-23-16
Thorough summation of 150 years economic thought
So easy to turn in an listen to chapter after chapter. Thoughtfully put together to give a very clear progression of how the philosophy of economics has developed over time. You can't help but come away from this with a profound understanding of the background to today's policies and difficulties.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sean
- 01-10-16
Interesting and informative
One of the most interesting lecture series I've listened to. It explains the dynamism of capitalism and its impact on modern societies. Before listening to this I understood that a combination of capitalism and science had given us the world that we live in; now I understand how capitalism and the free market have driven the establishment of many of the basic rights we take for granted such as Universal suffrage, education, equality and the rule of law. One of the ideas that sticks in my mind is that whilst many types of political systems have tried to harness aspects of capitalism with varying success, all liberal democracies are capitalist in nature.
If you've an interest in the subject matter I highly recommend this exceptional lecture series.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Chin Scratcher
- 02-29-16
Capitalism explained without the literary politics
This is a balanced almost agnostic view of capitalism. It shies neither from rationales nor the dark sides of Capitalism as presented by Left and Right. Regardless of your persuasions this book will teach you something.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 01-28-21
Essential listening.
Well worth the listen, to get a decent gauge on where we have come from.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Luke Piggott
- 09-18-20
Great overview of capitalism's history
A broad sweeping look at the different ideas and concepts put forth in the last 400 years as well as some insight into the context within which their proponents formed these ideas.
Engaging and interesting the whole way through.
-
Overall

- Juka
- 04-01-18
really good critical analysis of capitalism
fantastic analysis oc the theory of capitalism without being biased towards any partocular ideology. a surprisingly enjoyable listen
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Leo T. Hogan
- 01-25-18
Depth, breadth and impartiality
Jerry Muller's lectures on capitalism are outstanding. They are broad ranging and given with a degree of critical thinking and impartiality that is very refreshing . i hope he does more on another topic
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- BookFan
- 11-21-16
Great course
I really enjoyed this course.
As a fan of history there is great depth in details about each age of capitalism.
Looking at the opponents of capitalism and at some of the ages best thinkers provided excellent analysis and some interesting perspectives.
Jerry is a great lecturer and the course is excellent.