Heidi moore, why is thomas pikettys 700page book a bestseller. So, in 2014, it seemed highly improbable that a dense near700page book by a french economist would become a surprise bestseller around the world. Wall street guys are like the football players, and the geeks will always resent the jocks. Its time to go beyond capitalism, piketty told a french publication. The film is based on the bestselling book of the same name by french economist thomas piketty, whos research suggests were trending back to a world resembling 18th century style capitalism where a small number of megarich own everything and the rest of us are. Why economist thomas piketty has scared the pants off the. The tome, by french economist thomas piketty, has shot up the charts. Thomas piketty is back with a new economics book and its even weightier than his 20 700 page bestseller capital in. Skip the 700page french economic texts and never forget that life is like high school. Piketty visited campus to talk about capital in the 21st century, which is also the title of his 700page book, which has sold 80,000 copies since being released in english last month. Anyone interested in income disparity in america has been talking about french economist thomas pikettys capitalism in the 21st century, a 700page book covering 200 years of economic history. After all, its 700 pages long, translated from french, and analyzes centuries of data on wealth and economic growth.
Is thomas picketty right about the causes of inequality. Nor need one ask the last time a 700page book written by a french socialist received a chapterbychapter reading in the economist. We have seen nothing like this since tiny tim sang tiptoe through the tulips. A 700 page economics tome about income inequality isnt an obvious hit, but it currently tops the list of bestselling books on amazon. His 700page book capital in the 21st century is certainly not some kind of screed filled with calls for class warfare. Many of the book s 700 pages are spent marshalling the evidence that 21stcentury capitalism is on a oneway journey towards inequality unless we do something. The new book by economist thomas piketty, capital in the twentyfirst century is a runaway hit, perched at the top of s bestsellers chart. Economist thomas pikettys new book capital and ideology. Not every book can bring academic economists, businesspeople, students, central bankers, politicians, policymakers, and social activists into a conversation about the future of capitalism. Thomas piketty is a french economist whose capital in the twentyfirst century has swept american discourse. Capital in the twentyfirst century 2019 capital in. But the book, from economist thomas piketty, is now no. Bernie sanders will be good for american economy, top.
His new book, capital and ideology, weighs in at more than 1,000 pages. When one sets out to interview the author of a 700page book on economics being published by a university. The book was actually published early last month by harvard university press. Seven years ago the french economist thomas piketty released capital in the twentyfirst century, a magnum opus on income inequality. French economist thomas pikettys talk on inequality draws. To say hes a french economist who recently published a dense, 700page tome titled, capital in the twentyfirst century that quickly became an international.
The hot book out right now is called capital in the twentyfirst. Piketty said during his book tour, wealth concentration looks. In that 20 book, piketty, a french economist, describes the history of economic inequality in the west from the 18th century to the present. French economists book tops amazon a 700page tome praised as one of the most important economic works in recent years is outselling game of thrones on amazon. French economist thomas piketty, author of capital in the twentyfirst century.
Its a rather wonky tome about inequality by french economist thomas piketty. Capital in the twentyfirst century piketty was born to militant trotskyite parents and was later politically affiliated with the french socialist party. The book was written originally in french and released there last year. Thomas pikettys capital in the 21st century 700 pages of economic.
That his unreadable 700page book got a huge market will go down as one of the great mysteries of early 21stcentury capitalism. Thomas pikettys book, capital in the twentyfirst century. Remember that name, because pikettys research now resonates throughout the fields practice, hailed by most economists, but not without his detractors. The french economist is a rock star of the left thanks to a book called capital. Popular 700 800 pages books meet your next favorite book. Capital in the twentyfirst century, written by the french economist thomas piketty, was published in french in 20 and in english in march. The english translation of pikettys new book, capital in the twentyfirst century, a formidably rigorous, 700page history of wealth, out barely. Not many people got past page 26 of pikettys book huffpost. It is a clear and thorough analysis of one of the foremost economic. Capital in the twentyfirst century is a 20 book by french economist thomas piketty. Thomas piketty wrote a 700page economics book that all the smart economists who read it agreed was great and all the pseudointellectuals like me who only read the first 100 pages also agreed was. French economist thomas piketty has warned in his bestseller capital in the twentyfirst century that inequality is.
A 700page tome about inequality by a french economist has become a blockbuster hit on amazon, outselling game of thrones, two versions of disneys frozen, and the 10day green smoothie. It seems safe to say that capital in the twentyfirst century, the magnum opus of the french economist thomas piketty, will be the most important economics book of the year. In 20 piketty published in french a book titled capital in the twentyfirst century. That the world of the left literati could take this book seriously indicates the degree of desperation of an entire.
It focuses on wealth and income inequality in europe and the united states since the 18th century. Seven years ago the french economist thomas piketty released capital in. Piketty, arguably the worlds leading expert on income and wealth inequality, does more than document the growing concentration of income in the hands of a small economic elite. The french economist thomas piketty writes a nearly 700page book for harvard university press about longterm trends in inequality and, in the wake of the occupy movement, is rewarded with a.
According to jordan ellenberg, a math professor at the university of wisconsin, most readers didnt get past page 26. In fact, the wonky and mildmannered french economist opens his tome with a. A 700page book of economics was never going to be a walk in the park. Thomas piketty news, research and analysis the conversation. A 700page economics tome about income inequality isnt an obvious hit, but it currently tops the list of bestselling books on amazon. Thomas piketty, author of capital in the twentyfirst century, was the guest of honor, and the daylong event featured five presentations by academics analyzing the book from economic, legal, historical, political science and philosophical perspectives as well as responses from piketty himself. French economist thomas piketty spends less time explaining why excessive wealth inequality matters. Capital in the 21st century, by french economist thomas piketty. The unlikely bestseller, clocking in at nearly 700 pages, is already serving as an.
Thomas piketty, a french marxist, got rich this year on book royalties. The numberone book on isnt a guide to green juice or an erotic romance novel. It is the economics book that took the world by storm. If you havent heard of thomas piketty, the chances are you will before long.
Capital in the 21st century, by french economist thomas piketty according to jordan ellenberg, a maths professor at the university of wisconsin, most readers didnt get past page 26. Thomas piketty on inequality fifty year perspective. Thomas piketty turns marx on his head the new york times. Nprs kelly mcevers went to find just why his 700 page book is so popular. Economist and bestselling author thomas piketty discusses. Thomas pikettys capital in the twentyfirst century wikipedia. Thomas pikettys capital in the twentyfirst century, a 700page economic tome on the dangers of rising income inequality, is the summers most unread book, according to a totally nonscientific analysis conducted by a mathematics professor and published by the wall street journal. It was initially published in french as le capital au xxie siecle in august 20. A french economist turning in a book of 640 closelyargued pages might not sound. Why is a french economists 700page book so popular. The new book by economist thomas piketty, capital in the. The book, which first came out in french last year, tracks empirical economic data about income and wealth that is largely assembled from incometax. Economist michael hudson discusses the popularity of french economist thomas pickettys recent book and says his work fails to link the financialization of the economy to the ascent of the 1% 1 hour ago full transcript and video at link.
Thomas piketty is back with a new economics book and its even weightier than his 20 700page bestseller capital in. The famous french economist is an authority on income inequality. Nprs kelly mcevers went to find just why his 700page book is so popular. Guess how many pages of thomas pikettys 700page book on. French economist thomas pikettys book, capital in the twentyfirst century, has become a sensation. This ridiculously farleft economist is candy for liberals. A memorising journey through time following the flow of wealth across centuries to give insight into where we might be heading. He is a professor directeur detudes at the school for advanced studies in the social sciences ehess, associate chair at the paris school of economics and centennial professor at the international inequalities institute, which is part of the london school. Who would have thought that the way to kick off a media discussion about inequality in the united states would be to publish an english translation of a nearly 700page book by a french economist yet despite criticssome vociferousthomas pikettys capital in the 21st century has received widespread attention for its sobering take on the problem of widening inequality. No, the top seller on amazon right now is a 700page book, translated from french, about rising inequality and the state of modern capitalism.