Book Watch: When Money Dies

In 1975 Adam Fergusson published what has become something of cult legend.  “When Money Dies” is a riveting account of the German Weimar hyperinflation of the 1920’s.  It drew massive interest when first published and quickly sold out.  However instead of meeting the surge in demand with a fresh print, the book rather mysteriously went out of print.  Perhaps it is not too surprising however considering how deeply invested the political establishment of the 1970’s was in monetary inflation.  Let us just say it is not impossible that there was some, uh, ‘pressure’ from some influential corners of the politosphere to keep the book from breaking into the mainstream consciousness.

Either way, the book succumbed to a dearth in physical supply in an age before digital and network technologies made resurrecting lost works so easy.  Even in recent years it was common for copies of When Money Dies to sell in second hand book stores or via E-Bay and Amazon for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars – a screaming business opportunity if there ever was one!

Today it is good news that the book is finally in full re-print by publishers Perseus Books, and selling for a more respectable and palatable $10-15.

If you want to know how Germany was brought to its knees in the 1920’s, paving the way for the political radicalism of Adolf Hitler, look no further than this excellent account.  Furthermore, this book will shed light on present day monetary catastrophes such as Zimbabwe and, still to come, the United States and Europe.

Buy it from here or here.  South African consumers may prefer to shop here or here.