Supercrash: How to Hijack the Global Economy

Three sections: (1) Ayn Rand, (2) Supercrash (financial) and (3) The Age of Selfishness. I know something about all of these subjects but this book, with its unique comics with their clarifying texts, stitched it all together into a great read that doesn’t take much time either. I think I will read another of his books because the topics are good, and deserving of his approach.

This is a rare book: an even-handed take on Rand's philosophy by someone who disagrees with her. As such, it's a great read no matter where you sit politically.It's in three parts. One on Rand's life, the second on the 2008- financial crash, and the third on what Cunningham sees as the selfishness that's overtaken Western economies since. Cunningham's theme is that all today's ills started with those who applied Rand's philosopy, Objectivism, to the economy - and his conclusion, "It's time we rejected this selfish philosophy".He's entitled to his opinion, as am I. (I'm a practicing Objectivist, i.e. I agree with Rand, so I believe the opposite.) Yet I still enjoyed the book. It gives a simple walkthrough of how what became known as "neoliberalism" spread across Western governments, caused many ills and shifts in inequality. I feel it gives government far too easy a ride. For example, how much of the banking industry's easy profits have come from the implicit understanding that their private profits can be made at public risk, ie. the bankers know they'll get a bailout? The promise of that bailout is a government problem; without it, the out-of-control risks being taken across the banking world would carry proportionate consequences for the bankers. But I would think that, of course.In the spirit of constructive criticism, he makes several unforced errors. First (p.47) he quotes two early reviewers of Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". (Chambers; 'To a gas chamber - go!" and Kirsch's "arguing for a dictatorship" - both of which are precisely the opposite of Objectivism's celebration of life and the individual; neither reviewer had read the book. Second, the author's view that "an Objectivist was expected to judge and be judged by others" may have been true of Rand's young acolytes, but isn't part of the broader philosophy. And third, the author conflates Rand's Objectivism with neo-liberal conservatism - which it isn't. Both liberal and conservative governments today are Big-Government authoritarians; neither of these approaches are Objectivist.But whether you're on the left or right politically, you'll agree with large parts of it, although perhaps for different reasons. It's an entertaining read and a worthwhile purchase. Go and buy it now on Kindle; you can read it in your lunchhour and it's sure to teach you something.

This book provides a summary of the 2008 economic crash and the causes that lead up to it. It also provides a summary of the life of Ayn Rand and makes a case that the influence of her life philosophy on American politicians and financiers significantly contributed to the social attitudes that created the appropriate conditions for the crash to happen. Indeed, many of these attitudes continue to be exhibited today.I am struck by the effectiveness of Cunningham's use of the cartoon strip/graphic novel as a medium for conveying complex ideas and with this book he must be put in the same class as Larry Gonick and Art Spiegelman, I found his explanation of Derivatives and their use and abuse by the banking industry, masterful.This book points up a lot of the hypocrisy in the attitudes of both politicians and financiers both pre and post crash and is worth reading, You may not agree with all that Cunningham says but he is provocative and makes points worthy of serious consideration, especially within the context of an upcoming UK election. I did not feel that I had wasted my time or money.I bought this in the Kindle edition and in this case found, for once, that the graphic medium did not lose significantly in being read on the Kindle. The bold graphics and texts may be in shades of grey, but they are completely readable on a Paperwhite and the page presentation was not disrupted in any way.

I can see why the rigid right would not care for this this as it comprehensively debunks Rand as a hypocrite, by comparing the her actual actions to her stated philosophy. For those of us who are more flexible in their views it is a very illuminating, well argued and engaging piece.

I have followed Darryl's blog for months now and decided to take the plunge and get one of his books. Excellent, thought provoking look into the Global Financial crash circa 2008. Brilliant.

It's a brilliant comic. It condenses down the driving factors behind the crash, along with what exactly happened and why perfectly. By the end of it I can only hope that anyone else would feel as angry as I do right now about the morally bankrupt state of the finial sector the world over. Filthy swines.