Yanis Varoufakis
Born: March 24, 1961 – Athens, Attica, Greece
Yanis Varoufakis is a Greek economist, writer, and politician whose books examine capitalism, debt, democracy, and Europe’s political economy. He is best known for Adults in the Room and Talking to My Daughter About the Economy, and gained international prominence as Greece’s finance minister during the 2015 debt crisis.
Biography & Author's Journey
Yanis Varoufakis was born in Athens on March 24, 1961, and his early life was marked by the atmosphere of Greece’s military dictatorship. Sent to Britain for higher education, he studied mathematical economics at the University of Essex, mathematical statistics at the University of Birmingham, and later completed a PhD in economics at Essex. Academic appointments followed in Britain, Australia, Belgium, and Greece, including posts at Essex, East Anglia, Cambridge, Sydney, Glasgow, Louvain, and the University of Athens, where he helped build an international doctoral program in economics. ((https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu/beginnings-from-the-dictatorship-of-the-colonels-to-the-tyranny-of-economics/))
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Popular Books
Technofeudalism
Yanis Varoufakis
A provocative exploration of how big tech is reshaping capitalism into a new feudal system of digital exploitation.
Adults in the Room
Yanis Varoufakis
An explosive insider account of Greece's debt crisis negotiations, exposing the hidden agendas and power dynamics of European politics.
Talking to My Daughter About the Economy
Yanis Varoufakis
A father's illuminating letters to his daughter, unraveling complex economic concepts through relatable stories and thoughtful explanations.
Technofeudalism
Yanis Varoufakis
A provocative exploration of how big tech is reshaping capitalism into a new feudal system of digital exploitation.
Adults in the Room
Yanis Varoufakis
An explosive insider account of Greece's debt crisis negotiations, exposing the hidden agendas and power dynamics of European politics.
Talking to My Daughter About the Economy
Yanis Varoufakis
A father's illuminating letters to his daughter, unraveling complex economic concepts through relatable stories and thoughtful explanations.
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Community Voices
"Few finance ministers have such a talent for economics as Yanis Varoufakis"
— Joseph Stiglitz
"Greece’s Rockstar Economist Yanis Varoufakis Shares His Vision for Reforming the E.U"
— TIME
"Yanis Varoufakis, the controversial former Greek finance minister, is launching a grassroots political movement in Berlin"
— POLITICO
"A new book by Yanis Varoufakis, one of the most important political figures of our times, is always momentous"
— Ken Loach
"The former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis argues that Big Tech has turned us into digital serfs"
— The New Yorker
"Renegade economist Yanis Varoufakis believes the world’s tech giants are running a rent-based feudal system"
— ABC News
"It’s a humble homage to the truly unusual women who have moulded and enriched Yanis Varoufakis’s unusual life"
— Brian Eno
"The new Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, is a harsh bailout critic who describes himself as a libertarian Marxist"
— The Washington Post
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
