The End of Alchemy by Peter Forrest Summary
Overview of The End of Alchemy
In "The End of Alchemy," former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King reveals why our financial system remains dangerously unstable. What radical reform could prevent the next global meltdown? Translated worldwide, this 2016 masterpiece makes complex banking accessible through Dickensian storytelling.
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Points clés
The Alchemists of Finance: Banking's Dangerous Illusion
What began as a seemingly contained problem in American subprime mortgages in 2007 quickly cascaded into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. At its core lay a profound truth: our entire financial system rests upon a form of alchemy-the magical transformation of risky, illiquid assets into seemingly safe, liquid liabilities. This beautiful deception has powered centuries of economic growth while containing the seeds of its own destruction. Banking's fundamental vulnerability stems from two problems. First, banks operate with minimal equity cushions, meaning small losses can threaten deposits. Second, bank runs are self-fulfilling-if depositors suspect trouble, rational behavior dictates withdrawing funds immediately, potentially collapsing the entire system. This isn't just about individual bank risk but systemic fragility. Imagine 100 banks each engaging in just six months of maturity transformation, collectively creating a system where demand deposits fund 50-year investments. Regulators examining each bank individually might miss this massive system-wide vulnerability. The crisis exposed how deeply we misunderstand money-that familiar yet mysterious force that powers our daily lives. Money evolved from commodity exchange when specialization created the need for trade. Without a "double coincidence of wants," barter proved inefficient, leading to various mediums of exchange-from grain in ancient Egypt to cowrie shells in Asia to standardized coins by 250 BC. For money to function effectively, its purchasing power must remain stable, requiring trust in the issuer-trust that has been repeatedly violated throughout history.
The Perfect Storm: Global Imbalances and Banking Excess
Radical Uncertainty: Why We Never Saw It Coming
Central Banks: From Mystique to Transparency
Europe's Monetary Experiment: A Crisis of Democracy
Ending the Alchemy: A Path Forward
Breaking the Global Prisoner's Dilemma
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Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco
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"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"
Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a 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"
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