The Ascent of Money - highly recommended PBS documentary

[Danascot]

I watched the Ascent of Money on PBS last night. It was an excellent introduction to the world of finance and very helpful to understanding the current financial crisis. Essential viewing for anyone interested in where we find ourselves and how we got there.

At the link below you can view a preview, find times for local re-airings and watch the full program online.

"One week before a new President who campaigned on a promise to fix the economy takes office, public media provider WNET.ORG is putting the meaning of money into context – where it came from, where it goes, and why it has always been (and always will be) the fulcrum of civilization. THE ASCENT OF MONEY, a two-hour documentary based on the newly-released book The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World (Penguin Group USA), will premiere on Tuesday, January 13 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings). The film is written and presented by the bestselling author, economist, historian, and Harvard professor Niall Ferguson. An expanded, four-hour version of THE ASCENT OF MONEY will air on PBS later in 2009.

"In THE ASCENT OF MONEY, Ferguson – whose series War of the World garnered critical attention last summer – traces the evolution of money and demonstrates that financial history is the essential back-story behind all history. “Everyone needs to understand the complex history of money and our relationship to it,” he says. “By learning how societies have continually created and survived financial crises, we can find solid solutions to today’s worldwide economic emergency.” As he traverses historic financial hot spots around the world, Ferguson illuminates fundamental economic concepts and speaks with leading experts in the financial world."

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ascentofmoney/

[Blues Heron]

1. I saw that too - excellent job by Ferguson

Really cool, creative camera work as well. Looking forward to the expanded version.

[earth mom]

2. Thanks, I will check it out! nt

[RedEarth]

3. Thanks for posting... wasn't able to watch it last night... will catch a re-airing

[DemReadingDU]

4. It was good

Try to catch a replay

[Joanne98]

5. Thanks. It's on at 9 in Ohio!

[T_i_B]

6. I've seen it

Be warned though, when he comes to the bit about Pinochet's Chile in the episode about insurance you may well find yourself wanting to throw your shoe at the TV screen.

BBC is doing something similar at present about the City of London.