This is a superb introduction to this author, who, unfortunately died before making the initial project he had in mind for the book (a graphic 'comic' treatment of the topic) a reality. I will just say that it is a fantastic backgrounder for anyone reading today's economic or financial news. It's also kind of a human 'user's manual' as it tells the tale of how we got to some of the precipices that face us now. We, the readers, or some of us, might recognize ourselves. Though before he speaks of we modern, acquisitive and somewhat damaged humans with predictable reactions to money and income and spending, we look way back on the timeline at history, philosophy, government oversight and more. I enjoyed how he ended by talking about the U shape of happiness (childhood is happy; mid-life meh, and the latter part of life one is made content by less acquisitiveness; in between--the bottom of the U--is the part of life where we are somehow slave to something in our psyches that is wired to spend and spend to feel good but then need to spend more because the need down deep is to 'outspend others' and to feel a bit more prosperous than say one's neighbor or brother in law. At great expense to the planet. Quite a comprehensive and deep dive into the milestones of economic thought, history, competitiveness, with stops for the big crashes ('29, subprime, dotcom, etc.) and brighter days if you consider I'm writing this in April of 2025. Bravo to the author's loved ones and publisher for bringing it to light. I now have to go see what else he wrote--