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  • Doom

  • The Politics of Catastrophe
  • By: Niall Ferguson
  • Narrated by: Niall Ferguson
  • Length: 16 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (184 ratings)
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Doom

By: Niall Ferguson
Narrated by: Niall Ferguson
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Disasters are inherently hard to predict. But when catastrophe strikes, we ought to be better prepared than the Romans were when Vesuvius erupted or medieval Italians when the Black Death struck. We have science on our side, after all. Yet the responses of many developed countries to a new pathogen from China were badly bungled. Why?

While populist rulers certainly performed poorly in the face of the pandemic, Niall Ferguson argues that more profound pathologies were at work - pathologies already visible in our responses to earlier disasters.

Drawing from multiple disciplines, including economics and network science, Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe offers not just a history but a general theory of disaster. As Ferguson shows, governments must learn to become less bureaucratic and more 'antifragile' if we are to avoid the impending doom of irreversible decline.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Niall Ferguson (P)2021 Penguin Audio

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What listeners say about Doom

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Should have waited

Well written and we'll delivered. Sadly, by the time published, the Covid information was out of date as the author and publisher knew must be the case. An example is the acceptance of the lab leak cover up. Should have waited for at least 12 months information before publishing. The rest of the book is excellent.

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8 people found this helpful

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Curates Egg

I found the book to be an interesting and well written account of the history of natural and man-made disasters and succeeds in setting into context our own experience of Covid19. My reservation is that when he analyses recent history I feel the Author shows bias. Eg. Donald Trump's behavior is glossed over yet Obama and Clinton are harshly criticized Clintons piccadillos are dwelt upon particularly heavily.

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Highly interesting listen

An overall excellent listen, however I was very disappointed by Ferguson's blind acceptance of certain narratives, in particular that surrounding the Syrian conflict. this calls into question much of what seems to be an excellent analysis of the subject matter.

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Great helicopter view of covid 7n context

I enjoyed the Sci fi review could have benefitted from waiting a year to conclude.

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1 person found this helpful

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Classic Ferguson

I love Niall Ferguson as a historian and this didn’t disappoint. Ferguson narrates this book and he is excellent and extremely listenable. I feel that it brings the book alive and places his passions and feelings into it. The content of the boom is interesting and provides some thought provoking ideas that link with some of his previous works. There has been criticism that he wrote this book in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t wait until it’s end. But as he explains in the book, what end? When? That’s not his point and the book doesn’t need it. All disasters are to some extent political and I feel from reading this book that is true more than ever. Will need to listen again to fully take in all of the ideas, however this book was not boring and therefore that’ll be not difficult to do. Not a showstopper, but a solid piece of work.

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not his best work

Covid element feels a bit like an I told you so type account, a stopped clock is right twice a day. best stick to explaining the past. To be fair this is mainly a book about other disasters and it is interesting there. I cringed a bit when he tried his hand at explaining science, the guy is clearly just regurgitating things he has read without really understanding them. But he knows his political and financial history and I always enjoy his fresh take on perceived wisdom.

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Boring

Long and boring. Didn't see the point or relevance. Felt like homework. First time I haven't finished a book on Audible. Got to over 75% and then just had to give up!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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First Class history it seems to me.

With his depth of knowledge, honest style of appraisal and compelling story telling voice, I could listen to Niall Ferguson talk all day and through the next; and I just did. 😀 Looking for the next one from him. Mick the Hick

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Excellent.

A fascinating journey as always from NF. The breath and depth of knowledge and the connections made between and within it are revealing.

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Loved it

A strangely enjoyable book considering the subject matter. There is something disturbing when you realise how little we know and how little we learn from history

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