The Story of Silver, William L. Silber
The Story of Silver, William L. Silber
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The Story of Silver
How the White Metal Shaped America and the Modern World

Author: William L. Silber

Narrator: Jim Meskimen

Unabridged: 10 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/05/2019


Synopsis

How silver influenced two hundred years of world history, and why it matters todayThis is the story of silver’s transformation from soft money during the nineteenth century to hard asset today, and how manipulations of the white metal by American president Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1930s and by the richest man in the world, Texas oil baron Nelson Bunker Hunt, during the 1970s altered the course of American and world history. FDR pumped up the price of silver to help jump start the US economy during the Great Depression, but this move weakened China, which was then on the silver standard, and facilitated Japan’s rise to power before World War II. Bunker Hunt went on a silver-buying spree during the 1970s to protect himself against inflation and triggered a financial crisis that left him bankrupt.Silver has been the preferred shelter against government defaults, political instability, and inflation for most people in the world because it is cheaper than gold. The white metal has been the place to hide when conventional investments sour, but it has also seduced sophisticated investors throughout the ages like a siren. This book explains how powerful figures, up to and including Warren Buffett, have come under silver’s thrall, and how its history guides economic and political decisions in the twenty-first century.

About William L. Silber

William L. Silber is the Marcus Nadler Professor of Finance and Economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business. His many books include When Washington Shut Down Wall Street (Princeton) and Volcker (Bloomsbury). He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.

About Jim Meskimen

Jim Meskimen is a stage, film, and television actor who has appeared in many well-known movies and television shows. He acted in Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon for director Ron Howard, both of which were nominated for Best Picture Oscars. His television appearances include The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Friends, Lie to Me, Criminal Minds, and Parks and Recreation. He is also a painter, award-winning audiobook narrator, and audiobook director for Galaxy Audio.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jacopo on January 07, 2020

'The Story of Silver' offers a captivating glimpse into the role the precious metal has played in the US from its founding to the modern era. Among its numerous points of interest are Alexander Hamilton's tenure as treasurer, the Coinage Act of 1873 (aka, "the Crime of 1873"), William Jennings Bryan......more

Goodreads review by James on April 16, 2022

Interesting story about the monetary history of silver in the US. A highlight for me was how Roosevelt’s Silver Purchase Act of 1934 impacted China.......more

Goodreads review by Andrew on April 15, 2022

This book is not for readers looking for multiple millennia worth of analysis on silver’s long arc as a store of value. Anyone expecting to learn about the usage of silver in the Roman empire or other ancient civilizations needs to look elsewhere. In Silver: How the White Metal Shaped America and th......more

Goodreads review by Frank on March 24, 2019

Silber's book takes an appropriately detailed look at the other monetary metal in American history. He shows that debates about silver have remained some of the most fraught in American history, and just as silver has made and ruined fortunes, it has also made and ruined political careers. Many are......more

Goodreads review by Athan on June 10, 2019

The story of silver, this ain’t. It’s the story of the Hunt brothers squeeze, with a 100 page introduction about “the crime of 1873,” when silver was demonetized, William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” crusade to reintroduce bimetallism, FDR’s attempted ramp with Pittman and Morgenthau, and some r......more


Quotes

“Enlightening as well as fun to read, William Silber’s The Story of Silver reminds us that the economic history of the world is inseparable from the history of this precious metal.” Robert J. Shiller, Nobel Laureate in Economics

“Deeply researched and authoritative…A well-informed history of silver’s allure.” Kirkus Reviews

“This sound and impressive book examines the political economy and monetary role of silver. Engaging and often humorous, The Story of Silver is quite a good read.” Richard Sylla, author of Alexander Hamilton: The Illustrated Biography