4 ms·

Thanks for the comprehensive comment. I completely agree on the discussion here and that Piketty has struck a nerve. I was just a bit annoyed that no one was e

by cwal37 13y ago

Thanks for the comprehensive comment. I completely agree on the discussion here and that Piketty has struck a nerve. I was just a bit annoyed that no one was even attempting to claim actual knowledge of the book at hand, but was ready to make statements on its content, without any kind of qualifier (really, all I wanted). I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books whose influence, at least in discussion, will be greater than expected given the people in those conversations who didn't read it. I have found it an easier read than I expected though. Right now I alternate between it or Infinite Jest each night, which is a really nice change of pace in either direction. I got the ebook on my tablet to just speed through in bed, but I've realized this is going to be one I'll need a physical copy of eventually to annotate. Thanks for the link to your subreddit, I've subscribed.

dredmorbius 13y ago
My attempt at uninformed commentary: http://www.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/23njva/piketty/ http://www.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/23njva/piketty/ Well -- informed by Thomas Edsall's review in The New York Times, specifically: According to Piketty, those halcyon six decades [from 1914 - 1974] were the result of two world wars and the Great Depression. The owners of capital – those at the top of the pyramid of wealth and income – absorbed a series of devastating blows. These included the loss of credibility and authority as markets crashed; physical destruction of capital throughout Europe in both World War I and World War II; the raising of tax rates, especially on high incomes, to finance the wars; high rates of inflation that eroded the assets of creditors; the nationalization of major industries in both England and France; and the appropriation of industries and property in post-colonial countries. While all of that is true, it's a still very incomplete picture of what resulted in the six golden decades.

by cwal37 13y ago

dredmorbius 13y ago

My attempt at uninformed commentary: http://www.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/23njva/piketty/ http://www.reddit.com/r/dredmorbius/comments/23njva/piketty/ Well -- informed by Thomas Edsall's review in The New York Times, specifically: According to Piketty, those halcyon six decades [from 1914 - 1974] were the result of two world wars and the Great Depression. The owners of capital – those at the top of the pyramid of wealth and income – absorbed a series of devastating blows. These included the loss of credibility and authority as markets crashed; physical destruction of capital throughout Europe in both World War I and World War II; the raising of tax rates, especially on high incomes, to finance the wars; high rates of inflation that eroded the assets of creditors; the nationalization of major industries in both England and France; and the appropriation of industries and property in post-colonial countries. While all of that is true, it's a still very incomplete picture of what resulted in the six golden decades.