Discomforting to hear but good knowledge to have

The narrator's voice is not always easy to listen to.
A lot of interesting content and sound advice for investors but I often found myself a bit sad after listening to the book. It paints a bleak outlook of life.

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A fitting conclusion to a remarkable quartet

On the heels of the excellent Road to Ruin, Rickards elaborates on many of the themes outlined in the 3 previous entries, Currency Wars, The Death of Money and The Road to Ruin. However, what distinguishes this entry is several sections wherein Rickards outlines both inflation and deflation defeating investment tips.
The Road to Ruin outlines that the world is woefully unprepared for another Financial Crisis, but does not elaborate on how such a crisis could occur. Aftermath outlines that this crisis could emerge from a variety of factors, the most likely is an emerging markets crisis, which would most likely come from one of the BRICS.
A strength of Rickards's work is that is largely non-political. While Rickards does seem to lean toward a conservative position, he nonetheless does not subscribe to full conservative orthodoxy, especially his position that tax cuts paying for themselves as junk science.
Indeed, Rickards's analysis of US government deficits and debt accumulation is definitely non partisan, and avoids many of the familiar clichés.
The backbone of Rickards's analysis is that the ultimate crunch point for the US will come on the form of erosion in the confidence of the Dollar, a factor that will be exacerbated by the accumulation of Gold by China and Russia, a move already well underway, in preparation for eventual Dollar dumping.
The US is already well past the 90% threshold outlined by Reinhardt and Rogoff, and s tipping point is a question of not if, but when.
Although Rickards shows himself to be somewhat wanting in his analysis of Geopolitical issues, particularly North Korea and the unlikely scenario of war (which Rickards considers likely) this hardly matters because this is a work on Economics, and Rickards is a first rate Econonist.
An excellent feature of this audible edition is the narration by Rickards himself, who is simply a pleasure to listen to and adds a very pleasant personal touch.
While this reader preferred The Road to Ruin, due to its pace and excellent narrative, Aftermath is still a solid piece of work that stands proudly tall on its own merits.

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1 person found this helpful

Wow. A perfect, well researched book.

His books are information-heavy but that's what we need in these times - knowledge.

I've loved all of James Rickards' books. He truly is a unique and interesting person.

If you want to actually look at what our global money system is made up of, and the factors affecting it today, this book, along with all his other books, are for you.

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10 hrs of your life for what could keep you alive

Jim is a good guy, an insider; useful to both the elite and the common man - I am reminded of Kipling's poem, If--, "walk with Kings, nor lose the common touch". His line of inquiry resonates with me, as it will many a truth seeker. If you're still reading this, buy the book you won't regret it.

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History, economics and common sense.

Brilliant. Am relistening back to back. So much prophetic information. A must read or listen.

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Superb

Loved it ☺👍🏼👍🏼

a little scary, but good to know about possible future events. Thank you Jim for your efforts to enlighten humanity

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2 people found this helpful

fantastic

this is a great book. you wont hear this om mainstream tv. its great that jim narrates it himself. very intyeresting book

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A Deep Thorough Look at the Financial World

Very well thought out and a good flow to ideas and stories complimented with strong illustrative real life experiences and metaphors. A wide spectrum of future states of the world considered. Sound financial management principles. I've learned a lot from this.

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Very insightful

I have been a follower for some time and found this audiobook incredibly insightful and helpful on my journey to become financial secure. James Rickards is incredibly intelligent and delivers information clearly and succinctly, but at times a bit fast for my simple mind can take in. Overall a fantastic listen and would recommend highly

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A brilliantly constructed forewarning

Jim Rickards is a heavyweight in strategic investment. Not in the overweight, bloated, pin-stripe sense of the term. Not in the Wall Street or City of London mould. Quite the opposite.

When Wall street and the City need answers and insight of how to navigate the future market, it's original thinkers liked Rickards that they turn to.

Rickards is imbued with a fathomless understand of the technical fundamentals of a complexities of market systems. And he has a manner that makes those ideas accessible and entertaining.

Who'd have thought that a narration on the collapse of rhe curre t economic system, and society as we know it, could be delivered in such a disarming and charismatic way? If it wasn't such a serious subject, I swear it would almost be fun..!?

I have followed Rickards for a while now. At first in the context of happening upon him, as he guested on alternative YouTube investment channels. Then with a more energised interest. These days I search him out. Hungry for his balanced, incisive and fascinating assessment.

Aftermath tracks the failure of modern global economics, from the early days of gold as money, through Bretton Woods to the abandonment of the gold standard. He looks at the performance of US administrations (yes, its about the US economy, stupid!) in managing (or not!) spending, deficits, trade balances and international currency markets.

He brings us from the early the monetary policy of the early Republic through Regan, Poppy Bush, Clinton, GW, Barry to Trump, showing how each administration compounded problems of the former, to the point where the US (and therefore the global) economy is now, effectively, bankrupt.

He maps out the choice ahead of us. That is, between a rock and a hard place. He explains why the road ahead will be bumpy, and provides insight as to how best position ourselves to navigate it.

Rickards' lucid, technical, yet grounded, explanation reminds me of the great teachers of spirituality or science. Making complex and sophisticated ideas available to even this most ardent of Luddites.

His voice is that of a trusted friend. He's not selling anything. He has a view of the world. He supports it with empirical, wonderfully robust, personalised information and anecdote.

Aftermath is a great listen, even if you're sceptical of his world view, or not grounded in economics.. But you'd do well to open yourself to his wisdom. Or you may live (if you're lucky) to regret it..

This book is an investment. Buy it. Listen to it. Listen to it again. Then take action. Not simply because Aftermath is a worthwhile investment. But, moreover, because you are..

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4 people found this helpful