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Signals: How Everyday Signs Can Help Us Navigate the World's Turbulent Economy by Pippa Malmgren
roshk99's review
3.0
After finishing this book, I'm not entirely sure what the takeaway is, besides that there are signals to pay attention to in the economy. Her recommendation was innovation, but I wasn't sure how she thinks policy makers should approach encouraging that. Some chapters are more interesting than others (e.g. the ones detailing the geopolitical chess between China, Russia, and the US).
daaan's review
2.0
This book seriously overpromised and underdelivered. The worst combination. I only made it to the 10% mark, which is my general rule of thumb for go/nogo. Generally, most books have hit their stride by that point, but this was still wandering around in circles pointing at random things on the horizon. It just lacks focus, it felt like it was trying still to establish the premise "signals are important". I had accepted this and was ready for more, but it was taking forever to get there. The style was also off, too much self reference, sentences that went nowhere. Saved from a 1 because it is genuinely an important subject, but I just couldn't handle the presentation.
helensbookshelf's review
4.0
This book drew me in with the promise of understanding easy to see signals, but it actually turned out to be a crash course on economics with a load of politics thrown in too.
But that's ok because the signals that Pippa Malgren talks about are the sort that you can only see and interpret if you know at least a little bit about these things. There is no easy way to read the economy without knowing something about how it works but you don't need to be an expert to pick up on trends and warning signs.
In the author's own words:
I found I become engrossed in Signals very quickly and I really enjoyed reading it. I actually (for the first time ever) read the economics stories on the news websites, and I felt like I knew what they were talking about!
It promises a quick way to read the economy but very sneakily tries to teach you about economics. I enjoyed it a lot though and recommend it to anyone that wants to become a bit more knowledgeable about economics and politics.
But that's ok because the signals that Pippa Malgren talks about are the sort that you can only see and interpret if you know at least a little bit about these things. There is no easy way to read the economy without knowing something about how it works but you don't need to be an expert to pick up on trends and warning signs.
In the author's own words:
"I have tried to weave together a picture of the world economy, connecting seemingly unrelated and even contradictory pieces of information that actually come together to form patterns. There are endless, easily observable signals that illuminate these patterns on the landscape of the world economy. One need not be an economist or an expert on algorithms to detect and discuss them. In fact, a little common sense might be a welcome addition to the usual conversation about economics."
I found I become engrossed in Signals very quickly and I really enjoyed reading it. I actually (for the first time ever) read the economics stories on the news websites, and I felt like I knew what they were talking about!
It promises a quick way to read the economy but very sneakily tries to teach you about economics. I enjoyed it a lot though and recommend it to anyone that wants to become a bit more knowledgeable about economics and politics.
voraciousreader's review
4.0
A book about the economy and economics that makes sense and is thought provoking at the same time. I agree with a previous review that said that if economics was written about in this way it would have been more interesting. The book definitely made me think, and that's a good thing.
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