Customer Reviews
Market meltdown coming to a town near you... - By: Daniel A, 07 Jul 2008 
Having read the authors' previous effort 'Fantasy Island', which was a well written, if devastating, critique of New Labour's failed agenda, I must admit to being a little disappointed with their latest book. Not so much in terms of what they are saying - which I believe to be another accurate assessment, this time of the the economic mess the Western World is in, indeed just how much worse things are likely to get - & it isn't looking good - but in terms of style. They have chosen to use metaphor instead of just straightforwardly making their case, relying on a comparison with the 12 Greek gods, though in place of Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena & so forth, we have globalisation, liberalisation, privatisation & competition etc. The problem with this approach is that it is very cumbersome & hard to pull off. It would be a challlenge for any creative writer, let alone a couple of economic journalists. As a result, the book is very stodgy and, at times, hard to follow.
That said, if you are struggling to understand why the Government, the City & a whole range of related institutions are suddenly starting to panic; why the property market is fallling through the floor; & why America, the UK & much of Europe are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, but are unsure of what alll the fuss is about then this might be the book for you.
Accurate diagnosis - By: Dr. Nicholas P. G. Davies, 03 Jul 2008 
This is an important book. It's a follow on from Fantasy Island but this time it's a fantasy world.
The book begins slowly with a forensic deconstruction of current problems. It's detailed, & not the easiest reading. However it summarises down to the fact that money has been created & lent beyond the worth of assets & incomes. The scale of this, & the hiding of it in obscure off balance sheet transactions, is a scandal, that will come home to roost. Inevitably there will be a devaluation from such financial recklessness. The USA & UK are particularly vulnerable to this "correction." We will be paying for the problems created for many years to come.
The authors suggested remedies are at the back of the book (last 15 pages out of 310)
I found this book's argument convincing. I liked the author's set of suggested remedies. I recommend this important book to other readers. And may it send shivers down Mr Brown & Mr Darling's spines.
