Man's Worldly Goods

By Leo Huberman

Book Overview

Man's Worldly Goods - The Story of The Wealth of Nations By Leo Huberman Originally published in the 1930s, this is 'an attempt to explain history by economic theory, and economic theory by history'. It charts the path from feudalism to capitalism, and then looks beyond capitalism to a perceived socialist future. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0853450706
• ISBN13: 9780853450702
• Release Date: January 1936
• Publisher: Monthly Review Press
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

very good book for economics and history foundation

when i finished this book, i just wrote 'the great book' on its first page... it was very helpful to build up my historical and economical knowledge.(but it's not boring. rather the author has some sense of humor) and you can find some kind explanations and illustrations of the writer for your better understanding within pages... i would recommend this book for high school students or freshman students of college.

Making economic history exciting!

The late Leo was a master of popularization. He makes the "dull" topic of economic history and theory come alive! A real Marxist classic, even though his chapter on "Russia Has a Plan" is sketchy and weak. He's too uncritical of Stalin. He should have read Trotsky's "Revolution Betrayed." But he does give us a wealth of valuable information and theory. E.g., "The Church taught that there was a right and wrong in ALL man's activities... [Nowadays] a manufacturer will do anything in his power to squeeze out his competitor... St. Thomas Aquinas, the greatest of the religious thinkers of the MiddleAges, condemned the 'lust for gain'... Traders were denied the right to get more out of a transaction than would pay them for their labor." (p.40) Complex material is simplified so that it is very easy reading. History has always been the strong suit for Marxists!

Magnificent in scope and understanding of economics!

Leo Huberman's masterpiece is a fantastic work, unfortunately out of print abroad but published in India and available in select bookstores.In an age where belief in the Left is scorned and the free market rules supreme, this book is as relevant as ever, reminding one of the perils that can arise when a market is too free. Huberman explains economics in its historical background and shows the user the reason why he is against free markets. A valuable work from a brilliant American economist! His bibliography is also excellentThis book is still available in India!

A Fantastic and amusing journey through history!

In this fantastic well written book, history is made easy to understand. Forget school books, the old pedantic approach. Leo Huberman has a way to make the reader understand the changes that occur in the world and be interesting and amusing at the same time. I read it while at school and when my daughter was studying the subject at high school I gave a copy to the school library. Needless to say that it was photocopied by the teacher and given as a compusory reading to all school students. Great book. One of the gems of the century!

History seen with the eyes of working class people.

How com that the moviestar never pay the cabdriver? Where did royalties get their fortune?, from heaven? Huberman explain in a very simple way how the great fortunes where made. How it come to be that the existing economic system come to happen. He point out the actual facts of where welth were created and who rely did it.