A leading economic historian traces the evolution of American capitalism from the colonial era to the present--and argues that the country has reached yet another turning point that will define the era ahead.head
Until the early nineteenth century, "risk" referred specifically to the commodity in marine insurance contracts. This work explores how the modern concept of risk emerged in the United States, transitioning from the high seas to the heart of financial management in an uncertain capitalist future. By examining the hopes and anxieties of everyday people, Jonathan Levy illustrates the evolution of risk through the rapid growth of financial institutions such as insurance companies, savings banks, mortgage-backed securities, commodities futures markets, and securities markets, all while raising profound moral questions. Central to the rise of risk was a new vision of freedom, where being a free individual—whether an emancipated slave, a plains farmer, or a Wall Street financier—meant taking on and managing personal risk. However, this often involved transferring that risk to emerging financial institutions, now collectively known as the "financial services industry." Levy traces the trajectory of this vision of personal freedom within the context of the American financial system. As faith in divine providence waned in the nineteenth century, Americans faced unforeseen challenges to their independence and security amid the unpredictable landscape of capitalism. This work is one of the first to uncover the historical roots of our current financialized existence and risk-oriented lives.
"All children with autism have ways of dropping into their own world, leaving us behind for a minute, an hour, a day." This is the essence of a disorder that is, at its heart, about interaction. Many of the symptoms associated with autism come from either a lack of paying attention to other people or a lack of interest in joining in with the rest of the world. Because this is the case, it is important that when you work with your child, you are addressing the core issue of your child, for one reason or another, is not spending enough time in our interactive world. What You Can Do Right Now to Help Your Child with Autism gives you the best techniques you can do―right now―to work with your child and draw him or her back into our interactive world. The ten techniques in the book are not just explained in detail, they are also illustrated by true stories of Mr. Levy's work with children with autism (and their parents). Topics When parents feel their world spinning out of control, What You Can Do Right Now to Help Your Child with Autism puts the power back in their hands to work with―and help―their child.
Exploring the essence of the economy, Jonathan Levy challenges conventional definitions and critiques the methods of modern economics. He draws on historical debates and the ideas of thinkers like Thorstein Veblen and John Maynard Keynes to propose a more comprehensive theory that embraces empirical and historical analysis. Covering topics such as capitalism, radical uncertainty, and globalization, this work invites a deeper discussion about the economy's meaning and relevance across social sciences and humanities.