Money

Do we really need another book on American numismatics? In the case of Richard Doty's new book, the answer is an enthusiastic yes.

Unlike other important histories such as Q. David Bowers, The History of United States Coinage, based on the Garrett collection, this book is about America's money, not just coins. Doty examines early forms of money such as wampum and barter objects, the great influence of Spanish colonialism, and local monetary forms during our own colonial period. What may surprise some coin collectors is the importance of paper money in our history, especially non-Federal issues through the Civil War. Private bank note issues and merchant scrip-"obsolete notes"-were a vital part of circulating money during a long period when U.S. and other coins were scarce. Doty examines how vignettes used on many of these notes represented real or ideal views of our society, our relationship with Native Americans, enslaved people, women, and national heroes. One of the nine chapters examines early paper money in detail-"Rag Times: The Era of the Private Bank Note (1789-1865)." Paper is also a major part of the significant changes to our money during the Civil War era ("Civil War and Money's Change"), when private bank notes were essentially taxed out of existence and replaced with U.S. paper money.

Throughout the book, Doty places money and monetary change in historical and cultural context. Our money evolved as our experience as a nation grew--money changed and stabilized (some might say fossilized) as we developed from a struggling nation into our modern superpower status.

Richard Doty is perhaps the preeminent U.S. numismatic scholar of the 20th century. A historian with academic credentials, the book's special claim is his historian's view of the evolution of American money. His writing style is eminently readable-he has a way with words, an ability to use the language that to this reviewer is more appealing than that of any other numismatic writer.

Running 248 pages (8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, softcover), America's Money -- America's Story is extensively indexed and includes more than 250 large-size photographs of everything from items traded during the pre-European settlement days to the coins and bills that have changed with America.

Chapters cover The Thirteen Colonies and Their Monies; The War for Independence and Its Aftermath; "Hard Money" and the Young Republic; "Rag" Times: The Era of the Private Bank Note; Gold!; Civil War and Money's Change; The Gilded Age; Isolation, Depression, Intervention; and Cold War and Beyond.

Rounding out America's Money -- America's Story is a section featuring an in-depth list of suggested reading material to help enthusiasts acquire even more knowledge of the history of America and its money.

"Regardless of time or place, any exchange medium must satisfy a number of requirements," the book says." If it does so, it is viable money, likely to remain in fashion; if it does not, it will soon be replaced by something else. To be money, an object must be durable. It must be practical, either directly or indirectly. It must be easily quantifiable. It must be of moderate scarcity, rare enough to carry an aura of desirability, plentiful enough so that everyone can see it and have a minimal chance of obtaining it. Finally, attractiveness, either for display or for other reasons, gives some potential trading objects an advantage over others--without being an absolute requirement for any of them.

Doty is curator of numismatics for the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, where he is responsible for the national collections of U.S., Latin American, and medieval coinage, as well as U.S. and foreign paper money and foreign tokens. A former professor of U.S., Latin American, and world history, Doty is a numismatic scholar who has written five books and more than 100 articles concerning numismatics.

John Mills, author of the excellent 'Europe's economic dilemma', has written a fascinating book about America's economy, which has many lessons for us in Britain. Particularly important, he shows how vital manufacturing industry is to a flourishing economy.

He shows that productivity increases are much easier to achieve in manufacturing than in services: for example, output per head in US manufacturing has recently been growing by 4% a year, while in services it has fallen by 14%. But since manufacturing now accounts for only 17% of US GDP, it does not have enough weight to pull the whole economy forward. Consequently, most American workers' living standards have stagnated or declined over the last 30 years. The rundown of industry has caused a consistent fall in real US earnings per hour.

The domination of finance capital has imposed literally counterproductive policies both in the USA and in Britain. It has kept the currency overvalued, so exports wither, manufacturing, investment and living standards all fall.

The EU embraces the same policies. The European Central Bank puts price stability above all else. Mills shows that this is the wrong goal, because lower inflation does not cause greater growth. For instance, between 1953 and 1969, Britain's cumulative inflation rate was 3.4%; Japan's was 4%. Yet Japan's annual growth rate was 10% while Britain's was only 2.8%. Japan grew faster because the prices of its exports rose by only 33%; Britain's export prices rose by 380%! This was because the pound was grossly overvalued; the yen was not.

What should we do? We have to make the Government do the job it was elected to do. So when Gordon Brown talks about full employment, or Tony Blair calls for a technological revolution, we must say yes, and insist that they put our money where their mouth is, and invest in manufacturing industry.

If there's a better brief overview of American history and contemporary culture, I'd like to see it. Though the author's chapters here are essentially essays on a lot of big topics-- foreign policy, capitalism, celebrity, race, romantic love, and gender--they are held together by a common theme: America's extreme optimism. I wish Rapson had included a chapter on religion, because it perfectly fits his thesis. But he's done more than enough. I should also comment on the writing style: completely accessible, lively, and witty. And he's not afraid to be personal. This book is fun to read and it offers a completely persuasive way of understanding this country. Highest recommendation.

Don't be mislead by the title. The Armed Robbery Orgasm is a serious piece of sexological research, which delivers an important message. In order to cure a sexological disorder, you must first expose it. Mr.Keyes' book is a candid account of how an untreated sexologic disorder can be damaging to one's self and sometimes others.

As a therapist, I hand this book to patients that had hinted of any sexologic problems that were reluctant to say too much. After reading The Armed Robbery Orgasm, they arrive at their next session primed to discuss openly their sexologic concerns.

The authors'willingness to be completely open about behavior, thought, and feeling, especially relative to material which causes most people extreme embarrassment has paved the way for others to expose their secret lives in order to be helped.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a sexological question, as well as, to professionals to treat sexologic impairments. This book gives individuals permission to be honest with themselves and others, especially about taboo topics.

This well researched interdisciplinary study shows the somewhat complex relationship between the `artist' and the 19th century marketplace. The importance of patronage and the idiosyncracies of inidividual taste and control are carefully revealed. The north/south divide in terms of taste and preference for subject matter proves another interesting dimension in this fascinatingly detailed study. In short, there is so much, it is an excellent reference manual for anyone interested in this period of art history. You will want to return time and time again. It is just a shame, that although the quality of research, writing and production justifies its price, it will neverthesless be beyond the pocket of most students and enthusiasts of this important period of art history.

This review is written from a unique perspective.

You see, I was once conned into becoming involved in L Ron Hubbard's Scientology.

One of the still lucrative efforts of Scientology is called W.I.S.E. - "The World Institute of Scientology Enterprises". They sell Hubbard's voluminous "Management Technology" to doctors, dentists, chiropractors and veterinarians and the like. These folks then give a percentage of their income to WISE for the priviledge of using Hubbard's management technology.

Well... Instead of spending literally thousands and thousands of dollars on that scam... You should just purchase PT Barnum's book The Art of Money Getting...from Amazon.com, for the cost of this one book you will get a far more readable, succinct version, and as well, a far less expensive version that is an in-context version of some of the same materials used by Hubbard to run his scam, without proper attribution.

Having been extensively trained in Hubbard's gobble-de-goop, no one was as amazed to read this book after leaving the clutches of Hubbard's empire of lies that I was.. when I found that PT. Barnum's, Art of Money Getting is one of the major sources Hubbard used to create his Empire, and the basis of Hubbard's "Financial Management Policy"

So get it from the real "source".. PT Barnum himself, and save yourself and your company thousands of dollars.

Arnie Lerma
Ex-Financial Manager for what is now
Scientology's Bridge Publications......

This book shows you how to protect yourself before you get sued by some yahoo.

I had trouble putting the book down. Having visited the Sunshine Coast, I was totally enthralled with not only the suspense in the novel, but also being able to envision how it was all taking place. Highly recommended reading!!

IT IS A VERY GOOD BOOK! I WONDER WHY YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS LOOSEN THE BELT? A SCHOLAR IN PRC HAVE HAD THE SAME IDEA(WITH STUDY IN PRC) 5 YEARS AGO,EVEN GAVE USA AS AN EXAMPLE! BUT NOW! IT IS HORRIBLE TO LET THE COMMERCIAL BANK TO DO NON-COMMERCIAL BANK BUSINESS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO PRO.DYMSKI`S ANSWER.

THAMK YOU!

Professor Bernhard has written a lucid yet dense explanation of phenomenon that, while much commented on, remains unexplained: Central Bank Independence. Considering the relationship between legislators, parties and central bank independence, Bernhard inserts politics back into a topic where it was previously neglected.

A valuable contribution to political economy and comparative politics.